contact@owjscholarship.com   |   (501) 779-1806   

Ernest Leverett Vocational Scholarship

Ernest Leverett Vocational Scholarship

Ernest Leverett

Ernest Leverett was a man of unwavering dedication and remarkable talent, whose life’s work left a lasting mark on his community and beyond. He graduated from S.A. Jones High School in 1956 before answering the call to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps, where he spent three honorable years. During his military service, he advanced his education in carpentry and drafting—skills that would shape his future. He also pursued further studies at Arkansas Baptist College.

These formative experiences laid the foundation for what would become a distinguished career in construction. As a master builder, Leverett’s work spanned more than six decades, during which he became known for his craftsmanship, leadership, and commitment to excellence. He led the construction of majestic churches across the state and played a pivotal role in several Urban Renewal projects in North Little Rock, helping to shape the city’s landscape and enrich its communities.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ernest Leverett was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He shared over 61 loving years of marriage with his wife, Jeanette Leverett, building a life centered around faith, family, and service. He was a proud father to three children and found immense joy in spending time with his grandchildren, cherishing every moment of laughter and love they brought into his life. Known for his warmth, humility, and steady presence, Ernest was a source of strength and inspiration to all who knew him. His legacy lives on not only in the buildings he helped create but in the family he cherished and the countless lives he touched with kindness and integrity.

Purpose

This scholarship honors the legacy of Mr. Leverett, whose dedication to excellence in the field of carpentry left a lasting impact. The Oscar Washington, Jr. Educational Fund (OWJEF) recognizes and supports high school students pursuing further education through trade school.

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. Additionally, the student must have no lower than a 3.2 GPA at the time of application. Consideration will be given to academic achievement, financial need, and the student’s record of community service and involvement. Students should submit the online scholarship application through the OWJEF website.

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, who will then determine the final scholarship recipients. All applicants will be notified of the final decisions by late March 2025.

Please make sure to add oscarwashingtonjr.ef@gmail.com to your email address book to ensure that our notifications are successfully delivered to your inbox and not your spam folder. Status changes and updates regarding your application will be sent primarily via email. Unread, deleted, or ignored emails could result in you missing important details or deadlines and disqualifying you from further consideration

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.

Award Package

Each scholarship awarded will be a minimum of $1,500. Ten students are selected to receive scholarships each application period. In addition to the scholarship award, each recipient will receive a college pack that includes a monogrammed OWJEF backpack, an Alexa Echo, and a laptop, if a student expresses a need for one. 

All scholarship recipients will be encouraged to attend a free college preparatory workshop addressing financial literacy and pitfalls and protecting mental health as a college student. The workshops will be conducted by Andrea Lewis, business development and CRA officer at First Security Bank, and Sharita Bilson, CEO of Grace Place Therapy. Students will receive a free lunch, as well as a $50 gift card as a thank you from the OWJEF for attending. Details for each year’s workshop will be distributed to scholarship recipients once they’re selected and notified.

Deadline

Nominating will begin on January ##, 2026, and will close on February ##, 2026.

Renewal Process

This scholarship is non-renewable. Previous scholarship recipients are not eligible to reapply.

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)
  • 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 and explain what adjustments will be necessary for you to achieve success in college, and what steps you have taken to make those adjustments. 
    • Prompt 2: Identify one problem that exists, either locally or nationally, and explain how you could use your degree of choice to eradicate the problem. 
    • Prompt 3: 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.

 

We highly suggest all applicants review our Application Tips and Tricks page to ensure their application is the best it can be. You can visit the page by clicking here.

Scholarship Recipient Requirements

Annual Awards Ceremony

All selected scholarship recipients are required to attend the OWJEF Annual Awards Ceremony on April 25, 2025. Those who cannot attend are not eligible for the scholarship, except in cases of emergencies.

Important Notes :

The online application will automatically close after the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be submitted to the review committee. All documents must be uploaded through the online application, and faxed or emailed documents will NOT be accepted.

If you have problems with the application or have questions about any aspect of the requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us at contact@owjscholarship.com.