Hope Scholarship

Purpose

The Oscar Washington, Jr. Educational Fund (OWJEF) is excited to announce a partnership that will further fuel our mission to help Arkansas youth get a quality, post-high school education. The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas, through an anonymous donor, has established The Hope Scholarship which will benefit low-income undergraduate students in Arkansas. 

The Hope Scholarship, while administered through OWJEF, will be offered as an independent award. 

Qualifications

In order to be eligible to receive this scholarship, the student must be a high school senior residing in Arkansas and intending to continue their education at a four-year accredited college or university located in Arkansas. Consideration will be given primarily given to financial need. 

Guidelines

All applications will go through a blind review process by a scholarship review committee. The review committee will recommend finalists to the executive team, and those finalists will be interviewed (in-person or via video conference) to determine the scholarship recipients. All applicants will be notified of their status by late February 2022.

Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and disbursed in two equal payments in August and January. Cashier’s checks are made payable to the school and are sent directly to the student’s financial aid office. A copy of the cashier’s check and a cover letter will be sent to the student for proof.

Amount

There is a total scholarship allocation of $25,000. Awards are given to qualified students based on need. The number of awards given will be based on the number of qualified students selected and the need of each student.

Deadline

The online application form will open from October 15, 2021 – November 30, 2021.

Renewal Process

If scholarship criteria are met, this scholarship is renewable on an annual basis for a maximum of four years.

Applicant Requirements

• A completed scholarship application
• An official high school transcript (PDF)
• A resume (PDF)
• A report summary of student’s highest composite ACT score (PDF)
• A completed Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA
• One, type-written letter of recommendation (from any of the following: teacher, principal, school counselor, community worker, church volunteer, or employer) that includes the following information (PDF):
  • Applicant’s name
  • Relationship to the student
  • Signature
  • Printed name
  • Contact number
• 300-500 word written essay on one of the following prompts:
  • Prompt 1: Identify one problem that exists, either locally or nationally, and explain how you could use your degree of choice to eradicate the problem. 
  • Prompt 2: Oscar Washington, Jr. valued education and was committed to helping students achieve academic excellence. Explain why you value education, and what it means to you.

Annual Awards Ceremony

All selected scholarship recipients are required to attend the OWJEF Annual Awards Ceremony. The date will be available online several months prior to the scholarship application deadline. Those who cannot attend are not eligible for the scholarship, except in cases of emergencies.

Additional Requirements

• Must submit written updates on progress towards graduation
• Must submit a written essay on how this scholarship is making a positive difference in their life by the end of their sophomore year and the end of their senior year
• Required to participate in an interview with the executive committee (either in-person or via video conference)