HOT SPRINGS - Scholarships worth a total of $300,000 will be awarded to 100 Garland County residents through the Oaklawn Foundation for the 2014-15 academic school year, the foundation said in a news release.
The foundation said its Scholarship Committee voted unanimously to increase the number of scholarships from 41 to 100 next year. Since 2007, the committee has awarded between 26 and 41 scholarships to Garland County residents each year.
“The Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship Committee determined that this change in the number of scholarships is appropriate to go along with the increased revenues received from Oaklawn Racing and Gaming as part of their commitment to improve the quality of life for the people of Garland County through funding of programs in support of education,” said Scholarship Committee Chairman Kerry Lockwood Owen.
The amount for each scholarship will remain at $3,000.
Also, new for 2014-15 will be the $5,000 Melinda Gassaway scholarship, which will be awarded specifically to a journalism or communications major.
The Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship Committee has awarded $831,000 in scholarships to 300 Garland County residents since December 2007. With the new awards, this will increase to more than $1 million and 400 honorees.
Applications for the 2014-15 academic school year will be available online, at the Webb Community Center, The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Garland County Library on Jan. 6. All Garland County high schools will also be provided with information about the scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by March 1, and all scholarships will be presented at a ceremony in May.
The Oaklawn Foundation is managed under a contract with the chamber of commerce. It disburses funds through an agreement with the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 10/30/2013