Since 1996, OPSF has awarded more than 100 scholarships to Okemah’s outstanding students.
The Sophomore Challenge Scholarship is unique to Okemah Public Schools. Sophomores are introduced to college scholarship requirements through this award-winning program, which has awarded XXXXXX dollars over the last 30 years. Read below for our best practices when submitting your application.
Stand out in the crowd.
Applying for the Sophomore Challenge Scholarship should be a fun and exciting process. All the hard work you’ve put in over the years is starting to pay off, and you get to show it with your outstanding application! Here are our 4 simple tips to putting your best self forward when applying for college scholarships.
Practice Makes Perfect
Print several applications. Fill out a “practice” application. Have an adult look it over and make corrections. When you write the essay questions, use the same procedure. No writer gets it perfect the first time! Be sure to check spelling and punctuation.
Get the Right Recommendation
Give recommendation pages to at least two adults (not related to you) who know you. Include your list of achievements and hobbies so they can write a more specific recommendation. When you receive the recommendation from your recommender, READ IT! If it is not what you want, ask another adult. Some adults are better at writing recommendations than others. No one will know which recommendation you use.
Build it.
If you havenʼt, start a record of your activities, awards, honors and leadership. Include hobbies, work experience, and any volunteer time spent in your community. This will make all future scholarship applications much easier to complete.
Try, Try Again
This is only the first of many opportunities to apply for scholarships. Do not be discouraged if you are not selected! Every scholarship looks for something different, and the next one might be a better fit for you. We hope that by completing this scholarship application you will be ready for the next opportunity. As a sophomore, you have two more years to raise your GPA, join clubs, run for offices and volunteer in our community. Good luck!
