Scholarships

Jack and Pansy Bates Transfer Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to incoming transfer students from two-year colleges who have completed a FAFSA and meet the need for a Pell Grant. This award is for two semesters only and will not exceed $500 in either semester. Priority shall be given to students receiving limited financial aid, including loans. This scholarship was established in the last will and testament of Pansy Cradduck Bates.

Black Alumni Association Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior, African American student pursuing a degree in the following fields, with no preference of order: business administration, communications, criminal justice, education or human resources. Recipients must be full-time ECU students and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.75.

Applicants are required to submit the ECU Foundation Scholarship Application as well as a typed essay, no longer than three pages in length that describes the applicant’s future goals, commitment to equality, their financial need and how this scholarship will benefit their level of commitment to African American causes. This essay needs to be emailed directly to the BAA Scholarship Committee at ecubaa7@gmail.com. Recipients will be recommended each year by the Black Alumni Association scholarship committee, with the final decision made by the ECU Foundation scholarship committee. This scholarship was created in 2019 by the seven founding members of the Black Alumni Association who all share a passion for ECU and the quality of education they received while students here.

Frank and Johnny Stephens Drew Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to an incoming freshman from one of the smaller school systems in Oklahoma. This scholarship was established by Slover Cape, an ECU alumnus who was raised by his uncle Frank and aunt Johnny Drew. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

ECU Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to incoming freshmen students who have a parent, grandparent or guardian who are current members of the ECU Alumni Association, to join the ECU Alumni Association click here. Other guidelines may be established at the discretion of the alumni association.

Jack and Gladys Eldridge Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to a junior or senior in good standing and performing satisfactory work toward a degree, with preference to a student from Garvin County. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

Foundation General Scholarship

Applicants must be admissible to East Central University, have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and achieved a minimum ACT score of 22 to 24 (ACT requirement for incoming freshmen only). Full-time enrollment at ECU is required and a GPA of 3.0 must be achieved during the fall semester in order to qualify for the second half of the scholarship in the spring semester. Other factors may be considered at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee and the amount of the scholarship will also be determined by this committee.

Foundation Special Scholarship

Applicants must be admissible to East Central University, have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and achieved a minimum ACT score of 25 to 27 (ACT requirement for incoming freshmen only). Full-time enrollment at ECU is required and a GPA of 3.5 must be achieved during the fall semester in order to qualify for the second half of the scholarship in the spring semester. Other factors may be considered at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee and the amount of the scholarship will also be determined by this committee.

Foundation Award of Excellence

Applicants must be admitted to East Central University, have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 and achieved a minimum ACT score of 28 (ACT Requirement for Incoming Freshmen Only). Full-time enrollment at ECU is required and a GPA of 3.75 must be achieved during the fall semester in order to qualify for the second half of the scholarship in the spring semester. Other factors may be considered at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee and the scholarship amount will also be determined by this committee.

Ivan and Mary Jo Keatley Centennial Scholarship

The Keatleys are ECU alumni who have recognized the value of higher education. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

Kiwanis Club of Ada Centennial Leadership Endowment

This scholarship is for full-time students, attending ECU as a first time, incoming freshman with preference given to students that graduate from a Pontotoc County high school in Oklahoma. The recipient must have graduated high school with a 3.0 GPA or above and must maintain a 3.0 GPA or above to receive the spring portion of the award. The recipient needs to show leadership abilities through school, civic and/or community involvement. This scholarship can be used to provide assistance with books, tuition, room and meals, as well as out-of-classroom experiences. The recipients will be chosen by the ECU foundation scholarship committee.

Marguerite E. Lowry Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

W.E. and Minnie Curtis Martin Centennial Book Endowment

This scholarship will be awarded to ECU students to assist with book purchases. The families of Pete Duncan and Don Martin established this scholarship to honor their grandparents, W.E. and Minnie Martin, who are ECU alumni. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

John Boyce and Grace McKeel Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

Once A Tiger, Always A Tiger Centennial Endowment

This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

Martha Eubank Wallace Rhynes Centennial Endowment

This scholarship will be awarded to a female student age 25 to 45, who is widowed or divorced and has one dependent or more. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required or GED certification is acceptable for an incoming freshman. Rhynes is an ECU alumna, teacher and author who established this scholarship to assist young women in their pursuit of higher education. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

Cecil and Selma Gladden Smith Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded preferably to Pontotoc County students who plan to attend ECU, but can be awarded to students outside of Pontotoc County. The student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a minimum ACT score of 22. The Smiths’ son, Kenneth, established this scholarship in his parents’ memory for financial and academically deserving students from Pontotoc County. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.

Unterkircher Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the foundation’s scholarship committee.