Oaklawn Foundation to accept applications online

The Oaklawn Foundation announced Friday it is now accepting online applications for scholarships for the 2018-19 academic year.

This is the first year the submission process will take place entirely online, the foundation said Friday in a news release.

To apply, visit the Arkansas Community Foundation’s online application portal http://www.arcf.org/oaklawnscholarship. The community foundation administers the scholarship program.

The Oaklawn Foundation has now provided $2.172 million in 694 scholarships since 2008. The 2017-18 awards included 115 $3,000 scholarships and three designated $5,000 awards.

The scholarships are made available each spring for residents of Garland County pursuing higher education. The only requirements for the Oaklawn Foundation Scholarships are residency in Garland County and at least a high school diploma to be eligible to pursue

higher education.

This year’s recipients included students ages

17 to older than 60. The Oaklawn Foundation received 469 applications for the 2017-18 scholarships. Another $44,000 was allocated to the Wellness Fund for Garland County schools.

Applicants will need to provide information about their financial need, educational history and community/extracurricular involvement, the release said.

Applicants will need to upload the following:

• A personal essay describing their educational plan, goals and personal story.

• Two letters of recommendation.

• A copy of their transcript or GED certificate. The scholarships are available to any eligible Garland County resident who is or will be enrolled at an accredited community college, technical school or four-year public or private college or university, including graduate or post- graduate level studies.

“Our Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship is unique in the state of Arkansas,” Kerry Lockwood-Owen, Oaklawn Foundation scholarship chairwoman, said in the release. “This is the only program that offers scholarships to vocational education, two and four-year colleges and universities, Masters and Ph.D. programs.”

Workshops to provide applicants with assistance will be held at two Hot Springs locations. The first will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave. The second will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Webb Community Center, 127 Pleasant St.

“It is a joy to know that 695 Garland County students have been awarded scholarships since our inception. Our goal is for each recipient to be able to fulfill the amazing potential he or she has with the gift of education,” Lockwood-Owen said in the release.