University Of Oklahoma's Award Of Excellence Recipients Explored

The University of Oklahoma offers a range of scholarships and awards to its students. The number of students who receive the Award of Excellence depends on the award in question and the eligibility criteria. For example, the First-Year Composition Program received the 2017-2018 Writing Program Certificate of Excellence, while the Graduate Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Graduate Students is given to one faculty member per year. The University also offers freshman scholarships, transfer scholarships, and international scholarships, with varying eligibility criteria and award amounts.

Freshman scholarships

Resident Freshman Scholarships

The university offers a range of scholarships for resident freshmen, including:

• National Merit Semifinalist: $16,000 ($4,000 x 4 years)
• Oklahoma State Regents' Academic Scholars Program: $16,000 ($4,000 x 4 years)
• Distinguished Scholar: $12,000 ($3,000 x 4 years)
• University Scholarship: $10,000 ($2,500 x 4 years)
• Academic Achievement: $8,000 ($2,000 x 4 years)
• Test-Optional Scholarships: Scholarships are also offered to test-optional students based on a holistic review of their application.

Non-Resident Freshman Scholarships

Non-resident freshmen are also eligible for a range of scholarships, including:

• National Merit Semifinalist: $68,000 ($17,000 x 4 years)
• Distinguished Scholar: $60,000 ($15,000 x 4 years)
• University Scholarship: $52,000 ($13,000 x 4 years)
• Academic Achievement: $44,000 ($11,000 x 4 years)
• Test-Optional Scholarships: Scholarships are also offered to test-optional students based on a holistic review of their application.

Application Process

To be considered for freshman scholarships, students must submit their application for admission by December 15. No additional application is required for OU's merit-based awards. Students are encouraged to retake the ACT and/or SAT through April 30 and send their seventh-semester transcript for scholarship update consideration.

OU uses scores from national or residual tests taken before April 30 and superscores ACT/SAT scores. The university also allows students to self-report scores for admission and scholarship purposes, which must be verified at the time of enrollment.

Transfer scholarships

The University of Oklahoma offers a range of scholarships for transfer students based on criteria such as academic performance, leadership, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. There are two main categories of scholarships for transfer students: academic and competitive scholarships.

To be considered a transfer student, you must have completed 24 college credit hours post-high school graduation and must not have previously attended OU as a degree-seeking student. Online degree completion students are not eligible for these scholarships.

The following scholarships are available for transfer students:

Resident Transfer Scholarships

• Transfer Academic Excellence Scholarship: $6,000 ($3,000 x 2 years)
• Transfer Academic Distinction Scholarship: $4,000 ($2,000 x 2 years)
• Transfer Academic Achievement Scholarship: $2,000 ($1,000 x 2 years)
• Transfer Leadership Award: Awarded competitively based on academic performance and demonstrated leadership. Transfer students who participated in Phi Theta Kappa at their transferring institution are eligible.

Non-Resident Transfer Scholarships

• Transfer Academic Excellence Scholarship: $18,000 ($9,000 x 2 years)
• Transfer Academic Distinction Scholarship: $14,000 ($7,000 x 2 years)
• Transfer Academic Achievement Scholarship: $10,000 ($5,000 x 2 years)
• Transfer Leadership Award: Awarded competitively based on academic performance and demonstrated leadership. Transfer students who participated in Phi Theta Kappa at their transferring institution are eligible.

The above scholarships are for students entering OU for the fall 2025 semester. The application deadline for these scholarships is March 1 for Fall and Summer entry terms and October 1 for Spring entry terms.

International scholarships

The University of Oklahoma offers a range of scholarships for international students. These scholarships are based on the student's completed application for admission to the university and their SAT or ACT exam scores. The university offers the following scholarships for international students:

Freshman International Scholarships

• $68,000 ($17,000 x 4 years): For students with a 31 ACT or 1390 SAT (or greater) score.
• Distinguished Scholar: $60,000 ($15,000 x 4 years) for students with a 29-30 ACT or 1330-1380 SAT score.
• University Scholarship: $52,000 ($13,000 x 4 years) for students with a 28 ACT or 1300-1320 SAT score.
• Academic Achievement Award: $44,000 ($11,000 x 4 years) for students with a 26-27 ACT or 1230-1290 SAT score.
• Non-Resident Merit Award: $36,000 ($9,000 x 4 years) for students with a 24-25 ACT or 1160-1220 SAT score.
• Test-Optional Scholarships: Scholarships are also offered to test-optional students based on a holistic review of the application, with the highest weight given to academic rigor and high school performance.

Transfer International Scholarships

The University of Oklahoma also offers a variety of scholarships for admitted transfer students based on criteria such as academics, leadership, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. The main categories of scholarships for transfer students are academic and competitive scholarships. It is important to note that to be considered a transfer student, an individual must have completed 24 college credit hours post-high school graduation. Here are the specific scholarships offered:

• Transfer Academic Excellence Scholarship: $18,000 ($9,000 x 2 years).
• Transfer Academic Distinction Scholarship: $14,000 ($7,000 x 2 years).
• Transfer Academic Achievement Scholarship: $10,000 ($5,000 x 2 years).
• Transfer Leadership Award: Competitively awarded based on academic performance and demonstrated leadership. Transfer students who participated in Phi Theta Kappa at their transferring institution are eligible.

These scholarships must be applied for individually and include:

• Ted H. Greenberg Memorial Scholarship: For international students from Denmark, Finland, Norway, or Sweden.
• International Student Emergency Relief Scholarship: Administered by the Office of Global Engagement, this scholarship provides emergency assistance to international students facing unexpected financial obligations due to emergencies such as sudden illness, loss of employment, or dramatic personal or political events.

First-Year Composition awards

The University of Oklahoma's First-Year Composition (FYC) Program received the Conference on College Composition and Communication's 2017-2018 Writing Program Certificate of Excellence. Dr. Roxanne Mountford, Director of the FYC Program, and her team of lecturers and assistant directors, accepted the award in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 16, 2018.

The Office of First-Year Composition presents awards to outstanding students for major projects in English 1113 and English 1213. A grand prize winner is also selected for each course, with the winners demonstrating exceptional growth and understanding across all their projects.

The FYC Program's award-winning curriculum is designed to teach writing through rhetorical education and with an emphasis on contributing to civil discourse. The curriculum is shaped by intentional design within and across English 1113 and English 1213, allowing students to practice slow argumentation. Students are taught to spend time listening to and understanding the perspectives of others before intervening in a public issue.

The First-Year Composition Program at the University of Oklahoma is committed to rhetorical education and building respectful and effective participants in civil discourse. The program's curriculum works to help build a citizenship composed of individuals capable of rhetorically analyzing discourse and using that analysis to communicate productively in the public sphere.

Graduate Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Graduate Students

The Graduate Deans Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Graduate Students is designed to recognise the outstanding efforts of graduate students who consistently and effectively mentor their peers. The award highlights the university's commitment to fostering a culture of mentoring, where graduate students play a crucial role.

This award acknowledges graduate students who have actively taken on the responsibilities of traditional mentors, supervisors, and sponsors. These students have demonstrated a dedication to supporting their colleagues' professional development and well-being. They embody the spirit of mentoring by offering guidance, emotional support, and career advice.

Nominees for the Graduate Deans Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Graduate Students must be currently enrolled master's or PhD students. The selection committee, composed of postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, faculty members, and administrators, evaluates nominees based on specific criteria. These criteria include the frequency and duration of interactions with mentees, the impact on the mentees' success, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion.

The award recipients are chosen for their exceptional contributions to three key areas of mentoring: research mentoring, career and professional mentoring, and social and inspirational mentoring. In research mentoring, they provide hands-on training and guidance related to scientific learning and research goals. In career and professional mentoring, they assist mentees in exploring career options, developing relevant skills, and navigating professional challenges. In social and inspirational mentoring, they serve as role models, guiding mentees through personal and professional obstacles and inspiring them to achieve their goals.

The Graduate Deans Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Graduate Students is a prestigious recognition of the significant impact graduate students can have as mentors. By honouring these outstanding individuals, the university reinforces its commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive mentoring culture.

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