Thoma Scholars Program
Investing in talented rural students
Financial support up to the full cost of attendance is the starting point, not the goal. By reducing the financial pressures that can limit students' participation in college life, the program gives Scholars greater freedom to pursue campus involvement, internships, research, study abroad and the relationships and experiences that shape meaningful careers and lives.
For more information, see the Thoma Foundation's website.
Thoma Scholar Requirements
Eligibility
Strong candidates should demonstrate a combination of academic accomplishment, financial need, leadership and community involvement and must be living in one of the following counties:
Oklahoma:
Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods and Woodward
*Students who reside in Beaver, Harper, Texas or Woods county and attend a Kansas high school within 50 miles of their residence are eligible to apply.
New Mexico:
Curry, Lea, Quay, Roosevelt and Union
Texas:
Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher and Wheeler
Expectations
Thoma Scholars must:
- Be an incoming, first-time freshman on the Stillwater campus
- Be enrolled full time (30 credit hours per academic year)
- Participate in Thoma Scholar events throughout the year, including during the summer
- Meet with Thoma Scholar staff regularly to discuss their progress
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA
- Be a leader in, and engage with, their community
Application Process
Interested students must apply to OSU and complete the supplemental Thoma Scholars application, which is available on the application portal in the "scholarships" tab.
- Jan. 15 | Scholarship deadline
- March 5 | Required on-campus interviews
- Mid March | Recipients notified
- May 1 | Scholarship acceptance deadline
Honors College Experience
Benefits
Students selected as Thoma Scholars will automatically join The Honors College and enjoy access to:
- Priority enrollment
- Honors courses
- Honors faculty and advising
- Community and special events
Living Learning Program
Thoma Scholars will also participate in The Honors College Living Learning Program and live in Stout Hall. The environment of honors housing is specifically designed to meet the academic and community needs of honors students. Male students participating in the fraternity community have the option of residing in their fraternity housing. Both housing options are covered by the scholarship.