All scholarships require full-time attendance (12 hours for undergraduate; 6 hours for graduate) unless indicated otherwise.
All scholarships require a 3.0 cumulative GPA unless indicated otherwise.
All scholarships are for fall and/or spring semester only (summer not included) unless indicated otherwise.
All scholarship recipients are recommended by the department, with final approval by the ECU Foundation Scholarship Committee.
Any exceptions must be approved by the department chair and the Foundation Scholarship Committee.
JON ARRASMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in Criminal Justice or related field. Preference will be given to a current member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. A minimum 2.5 GPA is required. This scholarship was established by Gil and Jeanine Morgan, longtime supporters of ECU, and friends and family members of Jon Arrasmith.
DR. RICHARD BAUMGARTNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (Undergraduate)
This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior student who has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA, who has exhibited leadership qualities, and who shows the potential to make a positive and lasting impact in a human services profession. Dr. Baumgartner was a long-time faculty member in the Human Resources department and this scholarship was established in his memory by family, friends, and colleagues.
DR. RICHARD BAUMGARTNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (Graduate)
This scholarship will be awarded to a graduate student who has completed at least 9 hours in the MSHR program and has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Dr. Baumgartner was a long-time faculty member in the Human Resources department and this scholarship was established in his memory by family, friends, and colleagues.
BRIDGES/BURKE SOCIAL WORK SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior student in the Social Work program who has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants must have completed at least 12 hours in this program for consideration. Both Dr. Bridges and Dr. Burke were long-time members of the ECU faculty and this scholarship has been established by friends, former students, and colleagues to honor their dedication to teaching.
DR. BURKE & JUDGE KILGORE SOCIAL WORK SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to full-time students with a declared major of social work. The recipient must be classified as a junior or senior, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and have completed at least 12 hours at East Central University in the social work program with a 3.0 GPA. This scholarship was established to honor Dr. Jim Burke and Judge Martha Kilgore by their family, friends and colleagues.
BRILES SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded based on need and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Originally established as a part of the Federal Student Loan Program, this scholarship was transferred to the ECU Foundation in 1995.
GILLETTE CONN SCHOLARSHIP
Jack Conn established this scholarship in memory of his wife Gillette. This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior who has maintained a 3.0 GPA or above. The recipient will have a declared major within the Human Services Department. This scholarship is also awarded to a student with a declared major of Political Science or Legal Studies.
DCT COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to graduate students pursuing a Master of Science in Human Resources. The recipient's graduate GPA must be a 3.5 or above and he/she must be enrolled in a minimum of three hours of graduate coursework in their program area. Financial need will also be a consideration.
BENITA WALLACE ERWIN MEMORIAL SOCIAL WORK SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a student that has completed at least 75 credit hours, has maintained at least a 3.0 GPA, and has been accepted into the Social Work Program with 12 hours of completed work at ECU. The recipient should demonstrate interest and commitment to social justice, social change, and advocacy. The recipient should possess leadership qualities to have a positive impact in the social work profession. This scholarship will be awarded during the spring semester each academic year as funds are available. This scholarship was established by Benita's family to honor her legacy as a helping professional and servant.
RAY FARMER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (summer only)
This scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in the COPS program who has maintained a minimum 2.8 GPA and who also possesses the potential for success as a CLEET officer. Mr. Farmer was the chief of police at ECU and this scholarship was established by his family, friends, and colleagues in his memory.
PETE GRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (summer only)
This scholarship will be awarded to a student selected by the department with a concentration in Law Enforcement. Mr. Gray was chief of police in Ada and this scholarship was established by his family, friends, and colleagues in his memory.
LOWELL GREEN HUMAN RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior student who has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA and who has a major in within the Human Services Department, preferably in the Rehabilitation Counseling area. Preference will be given to a student with a disability.
DANIEL HAYS SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to students with a declared major within the Master's Degree Program of Clinical Rehabilitation and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Recipients must be enrolled at ECU full-time and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. This scholarship was established by Judy Goforth, PhD, ARPN and her children; Wyas Parker, M.MFT and Mahate Parker, MD, MPH.
HIGGINBOTHAM FAMILY HUMAN SERVICES SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to students majoring in any of the programs and/or concentrations in the Human Services Department, and includes students attending at any outreach sites. The recipient must have completed at least 75 hours, maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA, and been accepted to his/her program. Dorothy Higginbotham was an ECU alumna who understood and recognized the value of higher education and established this scholarship as part of her estate planning.
DR. RAY QUIETT/GERLACH COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior student who is majoring in Counseling and who has maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to those students who have also maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA in Sociology courses. Dr. Quiett was a long-time faculty member at ECU and established this scholarship to reward excellence in Counseling.
ESSIE ROARK COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to graduate students pursuing a Master of Science in Human Resources. The recipient's graduate GPA must be a 3.5 or above and he/she must be enrolled in a minimum of three hours of graduate coursework in their program area. Financial need will also be a consideration.
JEFF SEWELL MEMORIAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a student with a declared major in Criminal Justice that has and maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA. Jeffery "Jeff" Sewell, was a resident of Atoka, OK and a 1988 graduate of East Central University. Jeff graduated from OHP Academy in July 1988 and began his 32- year career, reaching the rank of Captain. In his first year of duty as an OHP Trooper, he was wounded in the line of duty and then provided lifesaving first aid to his assailant. As a result of his heroism and dedication to duty, he was named the 1988 Oklahoma Trooper of the Year. Jeff was a dedicated member of his community, husband, father, grandfather, church Deacon, high school referee, and athlete. He passed away in 2020 due to COVID related complications. Family and friends have established this scholarship to honor his memory and recognize his contributions to public safety and the state of Oklahoma.
TOM AND MADELINE SORRELLS SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will serve students who have met the department requirements to enroll in a required departmental internship, student teaching, or clinical in the last semester at the end of their undergraduate degree program. The internship, student teaching, or clinical requirement must be a full-time semester enrollment. An individual may receive this award for one semester only. The award is intended to help students who cannot otherwise work during that semester. The maximum award for any single student may not exceed $1,000, but a lesser amount may be awarded based on need. This scholarship was established in the last will and testament of Pansy Cradduck Bates. Eligible students are those completing undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice, Human Services Counseling (Aging Services, Human Services Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Services to the Deaf), and Social Work. The Chair of the Department of Professional Programs in Human Services and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences shall be the recommending committee.
SELMA CODY STRUNK SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a graduate student majoring in Human Resources; additional guidelines may be obtained from the department.
VIRGIL TAYLOR REHABILITATION SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a senior majoring in Human Service Counseling with a concentration in Rehabilitation or Services to the Deaf. The student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and must submit an essay describing his/her desire and willingness to work in the field of rehabilitation and with individuals with disabilities. Mr. Taylor was an ECU alumnus who excelled in the area of Vocational Rehabilitation. This scholarship was established in his memory by family, friends, and colleagues, and is supported on a yearly basis by the Virgil Taylor Golf Tournament.
COLONEL TOM A. THOMAS HUMAN RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to a qualified MSHR graduate student who has completed at least 12 hours at ECU in the MSHR program with a cumulative GPA or 3.5, with preference to applicants from the Administration options. Applicants should possess leadership qualities and have strong potential to make a positive and lasting impact in the public sector service. This scholarship will also be awarded to a Department of Human Resources undergraduate student who is at the junior or senior level and has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5. Additionally, applicants must have completed at least 12 hours at ECU in their program with a GPA of 3.5. Students from the outreach sites are also eligible to apply for this scholarship. Funds for this scholarship were provided by Colonel Tom A. Thomas, who also established a Chair in Human Resources.
CONNIE LANCASTER TWEEDY PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS IN HUMAN SERVICES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship will be awarded to full-time students in good standing with the University that have a declared major within the Department of Professional Programs in Human Services. Preference will be given to no-traditional and/or 1st generation college students. Connie Lancaster Tweedy attended ECU as a non-traditional student working a full-time job and raising a family at a time when non-traditional students were not the norm on a college campus. She took classes at night and during 'mini semesters', earning her bachelor's and master's degrees from ECU. Although Connie finished her career as the Pontotoc County Director for the Department of Human Services, she considered herself a social worker for her entire professional life. In the spirit of Connie helping countless people throughout her career, her family and friends funded this scholarship to help future ECU graduates do the same.
NATASHIA WRIGHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (summer only)
This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the department. Ms. Wright completed Oklahoma’s first Police Corps Academy at ECU in 2001, joined the Ada Police Department in October 2001, and was killed in a car accident in November 2002. This scholarship was established after her death by her family, friends, and colleagues.