Foundation gives opportunity to college hopefuls
Ravi Patel is a softspoken 18-year-old with a heart for social justice. The journey to his upcoming graduation from Southmoore High School has been influenced by his experiences both as an American and as a young man of Indian descent.
My family emigrated from India about 25 years ago and came to Oklahoma. I was born here in Oklahoma City,” he said. “My parents wanted me to experience our heritage and culture, so I studied in India for four years, then returned in the eighth grade.”
Now, with the help of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Patel is planning to take his experiences to Cornell University, where he will study business and law. He was one of 200 Oklahoma high school seniors to receive a $2,000 scholarship this year from the organization.
“As a first-generation immigrant, students like me tend to keep their heads down and attain a degree in the STEM fields,” Patel said. “I started understanding American policy and seeing the difference the government can have in an immigrant’s life. I want to use my ability to provide perspective. I want to be able to provide a divergent voice in the government that answers to people in my community.”
Patel will begin his college education this fall at the University of Southern California, where he will participate in an exchange program the school has with Cornell.
‘It’s an opportunity’
Seventeen-year-old Abril Escobedo is a member of the Southeast High School pom squad. Her name comes up often in the context of leadership roles at the school.
Like Patel, Escobedo received a $2,000 scholarship from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, which she will use to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall.
“I’m going to OSU to study veterinary medicine. I have a passion for animals,” she said. “I’ve always had a lot of pets, and it has always been my job to take care of them. I have five now.”
Escobedo says she is not sure whether she will specialize in small animals or large ones, but she’s keeping an open mind.
“I would say to those thinking about college, don’t think of it as a privilege — think of it as an opportunity,” she said. “A lot of people think it is a privilege, but it is made for everybody, so don’t be discouraged. Apply for scholarships even though you think you won’t get them, because you never know, you might.”
Lending a hand
The Community Foundation expanded its 20-year-old scholars program this year to include two additional high schools and increased scholarship awards by $24,000, totaling $410,000, said Nancy B. Anthony, Oklahoma City Community Foundation president.
Community Christian School in Norman and Crossings Christian School in Oklahoma City were added to the list of 54 participating high schools in central Oklahoma.
“We’re very pleased to provide educational opportunities to so many promising students through our Community Foundation Scholars Program,” Anthony said.
The program awarded $2,000 scholarships to a total of 205 seniors from high schools in Oklahoma City, Moore, Norman, El Reno, Yukon, Midwest City, Edmond, Deer Creek and many other communities across the region.
Many students benefiting from the program may not have been eligible for the most competitive academic scholarships, but they are good students and are active in their communities. The scholarships frequently help students close funding gaps, so they can afford the costs of tuition, books, fees and other expenses, Anthony said.
“This is just one component of our scholarship program, which continues to grow each year, thanks to the support of many generous donors,” Anthony said.
The Community Foundation awards nearly $2 million in college scholarships to students throughout Oklahoma each year, she said.
To ensure students are eligible for the awards, each school’s guidance counselor must participate in the Central Oklahoma Guidance Counselor Network, a free program that provides training opportunities on college admissions and financial aid practices.
For more information about Oklahoma City Community Foundation scholarships, go to www.occf.org/scholarships.