Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships
Appalachian Scholars Program
The Appalachian Scholars Program is a prestigious merit- and need-based scholarship program for high school graduates residing in one of the Appalachian counties of Ohio. The program provides scholarship support to students with demonstrated financial need and academic achievement, coupled with the desire and motivation to succeed.
The Appalachian Scholars is a four-year, renewable scholarship program that includes:
- Scholarship valued at $12,500 annually and renewable for a total of four years
- LINKS, a first-year college transition and support program
- Peer Mentoring
- Support Advising
- Academic enrichment opportunities
- Specialized Living and Learning Community
- Focused Programming
- Special access to OMSAR campus partners for social and educational programs
- Multicultural Intersectional Support Programs
- Nationally Competitive Awards Preparation
- Counseling & Psychological Services Multicultural Support Groups
- Office of Global Opportunities Study Abroad Preparation
- Career Network Career and Leadership Coaching, Job Fairs, Workshops, and Consultation
- Individual Counseling and Psychological Services Appointments
Renewal Criteria
- Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Earn 30 credit hours per year
- Complete 16 hours of community service
- Meet three times per semester with OMSAR advisor
- Participate in enrichment activities
- Complete four required courses
How to Apply
- Ohio University first-year applicants who apply for University admission by the November 15 early action deadline and meet the eligibility criteria for Appalachian Scholars will be sent an email from Undergraduate Admissions inviting them to submit the following essay response in a secondary application:
- Please share information about a meaningful community engagement experience you’ve had within Appalachia. What motivated you to get involved? What did you do? How did the experience impact you? (350-500 words)
Fall 2023 Appalachian Scholarships
- The Folley Family Foundation Appalachian Scholarship
- The Jones-Perry-Doxee Appalachian Scholarship
- Funding courtesy of the Doxee Appalachian Scholars Inquiry Project Fund, the Marnette and Paul Perry Scholarship, and the Richard E Jones Scholarship
- The Ron and Ruth Wilson Lykins Family Scholarship (for students graduating from an Adams County high school)
- The Appalachian General Scholarship
- The Peggy Viehweger Scholarship (for students in the College of Arts and Sciences)
DC-CAP/OHIO Scholars
DC-Cap/OHIO Scholars is a new initiative starting fall of 2021 in collaboration with Admissions, OMSAR, and DC-Cap. In this program, up to twenty first-year students from the DC area will attend OHIO starting fall 2021. DC-CAP will annually select 20 new qualifying scholarship recipients who will receive a DC-CAP scholarship and OHIO institutional aid as a DC-CAP/OHIO Scholar. OHIO will provide annually renewable scholarships to 20 entering first-year students in fall 2021 who are new, qualifying DC-CAP/OHIO Scholars selected by DC-CAP in collaboration with OHIO's Office of Admissions. OHIO will support this cohort of students with extensive academic support services. In partnership with DC public and private charter school systems, DC-CAP provides direct counseling and financial assistance to students who might otherwise never have the opportunity to attend college. Every DC private and public charter high school student is eligible for DC-CAP services.
The scholars program offers:
- Academic Enrichment Opportunities
- Free Tutoring
- OMSAR Academic Enrichment Courses
- Student Support Advising
- LINKS First Year Program
- First Year Peer Mentoring
- Support Advising
- Specialized Living & Learning Community Opportunities
- Division-wide Leadership Opportunities
- Study Abroad Opportunities
- Community Engagement and Service Opportunities
- Focused Programming
- Special access to OMSAR campus partners for social and educational programs
- Multicultural Intersectional Support Programs
- Nationally Competitive Awards Preparation
- Counseling & Psychological Services Multicultural Support Groups
- Office of Global Opportunities Study Abroad Preparation
- Career Network Career and Leadership Coaching, Job Fairs, Workshops, and Consultation
- Individual Counseling and Psychological Services Appointments
Requirements are set by DC-Cap and OHIO Admissions. Please email admissions@ohio.edu for more information.
Ebony Bobcat Network Urban Scholarship Fund
On April 18,2020 OHIO’s Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) surpassed its $300,000 fundraising goal, endowing its Urban Scholarship Fund in perpetuity and reaching a significant milestone for an alumni group whose roots lie in OHIO’s Urban Scholars Program.
The EBN Urban Scholarship Fund will provide life-changing tuition assistance to students accepted into OHIO’s Urban Scholars Program, which provides scholarships and professional development support to high-achieving students from urban school districts across Ohio.
Ohio University President Emeritus Roderick J. McDavis, BSED ’70, OHIO’s first black president, announced the Urban Scholars Program at his inauguration in September 2004. Launched that semester, the program was tied directly to his goal of increasing campus diversity, an initiative that continued to be embraced by McDavis’ successor, M. Duane Nellis, whose Strategic Pathways to Ohio University’s Future include becoming a national leader for diversity and inclusion.
The EBN formed in the spring of 2010 after some of OHIO’s black alumni met with President McDavis during the Black Alumni Reunion and he called on the graduates to support the Urban Scholars Program with their time, talent and treasure.
Support the Ebony Bobcat Network Scholarship Fund and other Ohio University scholarships
Harry and Ruth Rankin Scholarship Program
The Rankin Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for students of Native American, Native Alaskan, and/or Native Hawaiian descent who will make outstanding contributions to the intellectual, cultural, and social diversity of Ohio University. Funded by Harry W. (Bill) Rankin (class of 1947) and Ruth L. Rankin (class of 1948), the couple’s gift was inspired by the knowledge that indigenous people have been historically excluded from higher education in the United States. The Rankin Scholarship emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, cultural exchange, and community service.
The Rankin Scholars is a four-year, renewable scholarship program that includes:
- Scholarship covering the cost of full, in-state tuition; double room occupancy; and a traditional 20 meal plan (a total value of $26,010 annually for the fall 2022 cohort, renewable for four total years). Recipients who are non-residents additionally are awarded funding to fully cover the out-of-state surcharge.
- Academic Enrichment Opportunities
- LINKS, a first-year college transition and support program
- Peer Mentoring
- Support Advising
- Academic enrichment opportunities
- Specialized Living and Learning Community Opportunities
- Focused Programming
- Special access to OMSAR campus partners for social and educational programs
- Multicultural Intersectional Support Programs
- Nationally Competitive Awards Preparation
- Counseling & Psychological Services Multicultural Support Groups
- Office of Global Opportunities Study Abroad Preparation
- Career Network Career and Leadership Coaching, Job Fairs, Workshops, and Consultation
- Individual Counseling and Psychological Services Appointments
Renewal Criteria
- Maintain 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Earn 30 credit hours per year
- Complete 24 hours of community service
- Meet three times per semester with OMSAR advisor
- Participate in enrichment activities
- Complete four required courses
How to Apply
- Ohio University first-year applicants who apply for University admission by the November 15 early action deadline and meet the eligibility criteria for Rankin Scholars will be sent an email from Undergraduate Admissions inviting them to submit the following essay response in a secondary application:
- Please describe your understanding of your Native heritage and share how it has (or has not) shaped your identity, perspective, or goals. (350-500 words)
John Newton Templeton Scholars Program
In 1828, John Newton Templeton became OHIO’s first African American graduate—and the fourth nationwide. Arrested in 1835 for teaching other African Americans to read and write, he persevered to become a teacher and a principal. We’re so inspired by his legacy of making education more accessible to all, we created a scholarship program in his name. It’s one small step toward educational equity and enriches OHIO’s educational environment by supporting the recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented groups and who exhibit high potential for academic success.
The Templeton Scholars is a four-year, renewable scholarship program that includes:
- Scholarship covering the cost of full, in-state tuition; double room occupancy; and a traditional 20 meal plan (a total value of $26,010 annually for the fall 2022 cohort, renewable for four total years)
- LINKS, a first-year college transition and support program
- Peer Mentoring
- Support Advising
- Service opportunities and participation in various Templeton Scholars Program activities
- Academic enrichment opportunities
- Specialized Living and Learning Community Opportunities
- Focused Programming
- Special access to OMSAR campus partners for social and educational programs
- Multicultural Intersectional Support Programs
- Nationally Competitive Awards Preparation
- Counseling & Psychological Services Multicultural Support Groups
- Office of Global Opportunities Study Abroad Preparation
- Career Network Career and Leadership Coaching, Job Fairs, Workshops, and Consultation
- Individual Counseling and Psychological Services Appointments
Renewal Criteria
- Maintain 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Earn 30 credit hours per year
- Complete 24 hours of community service
- Meet three times per semester with OMSAR advisor
- Participate in enrichment activities
- Complete four required courses
How to Apply
- Ohio University first-year applicants who apply for University admission by the November 15 early action deadline and meet the academic eligibility criteria for Templeton Scholars will be sent an email from Undergraduate Admissions inviting them to submit the following essay response in a secondary application:
- Please describe your understanding, involvement, leadership and/or advocacy regarding diversity, inclusion and traditionally marginalized populations, which may include, but is not limited to, people marginalized in terms of race, ethnicity and gender. (350-500 words)
Urban Scholars Program
The Urban Scholars Program is a prestigious merit- and need-based scholarship program for high school graduates of urban school districts in Ohio. The program provides scholarship support to students with demonstrated financial need and academic achievement, coupled with the desire and motivation to succeed.
The Urban Scholars is a four-year, renewable scholarship program that includes:
- Scholarship valued at $12,500 annually and renewable for a total of four years
- LINKS, a first-year college transition and support program
- Peer Mentoring
- Support Advising
- Academic enrichment opportunities
- Specialized Living and Learning Community
- Focused Programming
- Special access to OMSAR campus partners for social and educational programs
- Multicultural Intersectional Support Programs
- Nationally Competitive Awards Preparation
- Counseling & Psychological Services Multicultural Support Groups
- Office of Global Opportunities Study Abroad Preparation
- Career Network Career and Leadership Coaching, Job Fairs, Workshops, and Consultation
- Individual Counseling and Psychological Services Appointments
Renewal Criteria
- Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Earn 30 credit hours per year
- Complete 16 hours of community service
- Meet three times per semester with OMSAR advisor
- Participate in enrichment activities
- Complete four required courses
How to Apply
- Ohio University first-year applicants who apply for University admission by the November 15 early action deadline and meet the eligibility criteria for Urban Scholars will be sent an email from Undergraduate Admissions inviting them to submit the following essay response in a secondary application:
- Please share information about a meaningful community engagement experience you’ve had in your own or another urban community. What motivated you to get involved? What did you do? How did the experience impact you? (350-500 words)
Fall 2023 Urban Scholarships
- The Charles R. and Marilyn Y. Stuckey Urban Scholarship (for students in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology)
- The James W. Bartholomew Urban Scholarship
- The Urban General Scholarship
- The Ebony Bobcat Network Urban Scholarship
Leadership Awards
Blackburn/Spencer Scholarship and Achievement Awards
The Blackburn/Spencer Scholarship and Achievement Awards were established by the Black Student Cultural Programming Board in 1979 in honor of Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn, the first African American woman to graduate from Ohio University and Donald A. Spencer, the first African American to serve as chairman of the Ohio University Board of Trustees. Recipients are selected based on a combination of financial need, academic performance, and outstanding contributions to Ohio University.
The Blackburn/Spencer 2020 Scholarship and Achievement Award applications deadline is Saturday, October 12, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Application Guidelines [Word] (download document)
Application [Word] (download document)
Application (Orgsync)
Reference Form [Word] (download document)
Once you have completed the application, select "File," then "Save As" to save this application to your desktop. Print out the completed application and submit all application materials (including your two letters of reference) to the Office of Multicultural Programs, 205 Baker University Center, by Saturday, October 5, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
You may also send your two letters of reference via e-mail to raineyt@ohio.edu.
Francine Childs Diversity Leadership Award
Latino Heritage Achievement Awards
The Latino Heritage Achievement Awards were established to recognize outstanding students of Latino descent. Recipients are selected based on a combination of financial need, academic performance, and outstanding contributions to Ohio University.
The Latino Heritage Achievement Award application deadline is Saturday, February 10, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
Application [Word] (download document)
Application (Orgsync)
Once you have completed the application, select "File," then "Save As" to save this application to your desktop. Print out the completed application and submit all application materials to the Office of Multicultural Programs, 205 Baker University Center, by Saturday, February 10, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.