Oklahoma Scholars
The Tulsa Metro Chamber in partnership with Tulsa Public Schools, recently implemented the Oklahoma Scholars Initiative into the public school system. It is a simple, low-cost, high-impact strategy to motivate students to complete high school courses that prepare them for college and careers. The program encourages eighth grade students to enroll in a more rigorous curriculum in high school, thus better preparing them for success in the workforce. Students participating in the Oklahoma Scholars course of study receive incentives to continue the coursework, and those who complete the program earn special recognition at graduation.  

The Initiative places business people in classrooms to promote the study of math, science, language arts, and social studies. The Initiative also provides technical assistance to business/education coalitions working to align state policy with the Scholars course of study. More than 50 business representatives have completed the two-hour training session required to become a classroom presenter in Tulsa. 

In Texas and Arkansas, students in the Scholars program have higher ACT and SAT scores, take fewer remedial courses at the college level, and demonstrate better college completion rates. After two years, Tulsa has also seen results from their involvement in the Oklahoma Scholars program.   

Tulsa Community College Scholarship Program
Tulsa Community College recently announced the inception of the Tulsa Achieves scholarship program. Tulsa Achieves will offer every Tulsa county high-school graduate, who is also a Tulsa county resident, free tuition for up to 60 credit hours. High school students can earn concurrent credit for high school graduation and college work at TCC. Tulsa Achieves is a gap-funding scholarship program, meaning that funds will be applied to tuition and fees after all state, federal and private scholarships and grants are applied. If there is a remaining balance, Tulsa Achieves will pay the rest so there is no cost to the student. 

To receive the Tulsa Achieves scholarship, the Tulsa county student must graduate from high school with a 2.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale. Home-schooled students living in Tulsa county must provide parent verification. Students must meet the following criteria to remain a Tulsa Achieves scholar while at TCC:

 - maintain good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher)
 - enroll continuously each fall and spring semester (summer optional)
 - complete a financial aid application (FAFSA) each year
 - provide 40 hours of community service per academic year

Tulsa Achieves is one of the many scholarship opportunities giving students access to higher education. Visit the following useful sites for student information:

Oklahoma’s Office of Accountability – annual reports by district and school site

State Department of Education – average yearly progress reports, state testing results

Just for the Kids - click on Oklahoma to compare schools and identify best practices

Oklahoma's Promise - Oklahoma’s college tuition program