The Oklahoma City Community Foundation is excited to announce it is awarding $591,000 in scholarships to 197 central Oklahoma graduating high school seniors, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. These students were honored during a celebration event held on March 26th in Oklahoma City.
These $3,000 scholarships are made possible through the Community Foundation and New Opportunities Scholars programs at the Community Foundation, and this is the largest amount awarded through these scholarship programs since they began. These scholarships are available to students attending 54 high schools participating in the Community Foundation’s Central Oklahoma High School Counselor Scholarship Network. Students and their high school counselors attended.
My students and I enjoyed meeting the other scholarship recipients today during the OCCF Scholarship Event. I’ve been attending for 10 years as a school counselor with my students, and each year I am so grateful for the recognition the event offers the recipients. They leave feeling valued and special, and are so thankful for the scholarships that they are awarded!
I want to sincerely thank the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and all the generous donors for making this event—and this opportunity—possible.
This scholarship has given me the chance to focus on my education, take leadership roles and explore what I’m passionate about without constantly having to worry about finances.
The Community Foundation Scholars program is just one of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation scholarship opportunities that benefit more than 900 students with a total of $4.5 million in scholarships yearly.
This year’s Scholarship Celebration featured Sophia Conduff, a former Community Foundation Scholar who has gone on to receive the Dr. Ruth Mershon Scholarship from OCCF.
“The Dr. Ruth Mershon Scholarship has been an absolute blessing in my life that I’m so very grateful for. It’s given me the chance to focus on my education, take leadership roles and explore what I’m passionate about without constantly having to worry about finances.”
Ms. Conduff continued, “But more than that, this scholarship is a symbol of perseverance. Dr. Ruth Mershon’s life is such a powerful example of breaking barriers and rising above the odds. Her story reminds me and all of us that we are capable of so much more than we think.”