The 2024-2025 Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship recipients. Registration opens January 2, for the 2025-2026 program.
The application window for the 2025-26 Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship program officially opens on Thursday, January 2, 2025. The program offers scholarships, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, for Garland County residents pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies at accredited institutions.
Students must submit all required materials, including proof of residency, a personal essay, transcripts, and references, by the application deadline of Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at midnight. Traditional and non-traditional students are encouraged to apply. Scholarship applications can be found online at arcf.org/oaklawnscholarship.
Applicants must meet eligibility requirements, including residency in Garland County and enrollment in an accredited community college, technical school, or public or private college or university. Scholarships are awarded to cover tuition, fees, and book expenses for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and/or Summer 2026 terms.
This year introduces a new process for recommendation letters. Instead of uploading letters themselves, applicants must provide the email addresses of two references who will submit their recommendations directly via a secure link.
“We’ve seen students struggle in past years with meeting the deadlines for their recommendation letters, and this updated process is designed to make things easier for both students and their references,” said Joyce Whitfield, Executive Director of the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation. “However, it’s crucial for applicants to understand that the submission deadline is earlier than many assume. With the February 18 deadline now in its second year, we encourage students to start early and avoid last-minute delays.”
Administered by the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation, the Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship program has awarded more than $4.7 million in scholarships to local students since its inception in 2007.
This year’s scholarship recipients will be notified in early April 2025. Detailed program information and application requirements are available online at arcf.org/oaklawnscholarship. For assistance with the process, call Joyce Whitfield at 501-372-1007.
