Free Money for Oklahoma Colleges
I know how expensive college is from personal experience. I have two kids who are out and my last one is a senior this year. And, unfortunately, from the Governor’s recent budget proposal, it looks like less of our tax dollars will be going to higher education, meaning tuition will probably be going up instead of down. But that’s a blog for another day. I wanted to let you all know about some great scholarship opportunities if you have kids who know their Oklahoma history and are going to state schools.
The first one is 2014 John W. & Mary D. Nichols Oklahoma Heritage Scholarship. This is a FOUR-YEAR scholarship, totaling $10,000, for an Oklahoma high school senior. The scholarship is given by the Oklahoma Heritage Association and Gaylord-Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City. It is based on the student’s demonstrated knowledge and appreciation of Oklahoma history and geography, overall academic achievement, citizenship and leadership. The student must commit to attending an Oklahoma college or university to be considered.
To be considered for this scholarship, the student must be a current senior in high school and the person who nominates the student cannot be a relative. Students must be nominated by teachers, school administrators, counselors or any other adult not related to them.
The deadline to nominate a student for this $10,000 scholarship is FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28. Go to www.oklahomaheritage.com or call 1.888.501.2059 for more information and an application.
The other scholarship is the Oklahoma Heritage Scholarship, which is open to students in grades 9 through 12. There are actually several $1,000 scholarships available in Tulsa County in addition to a full four-year tuition grant to Bacone College in Muskogee and an $8,000 tuition grant to Langston University. Tulsa County scholarships provide $1,000 to several Oklahoma colleges and Universities. Other Oklahoma Counties have several scholarships available as well.
To earn one of these scholarships/tuition grants, students will take a test on Oklahoma history. Those with high scores in each county receive a minimum of a $1,000 cash scholarship or tuition grant to an Oklahoma college or university.
Students must register by Wednesday, MARCH 26, and be available to take the test, which will be given on Saturday, April 5 at 9 a.m.
The test covers Oklahoma’s history, people and geography. AND, there’s a study guide on the Oklahoma Heritage website, www.oklahomaheritage.com. Go there for complete information about the test and scholarships available.
If you have a child or if you know someone with a child who might be interested in competing for these scholarships, spread the word! Also, just a tip from someone who’s been there – school counselors have files with information about all kinds of scholarships. One of my children got $1,000 to use at any school she wanted just for writing an essay. Have your students take a look at what’s out there – sometimes money is just waiting to be given to deserving young people.
