Scholarships

Purpose

The First Presbyterian Church scholarship program exists to assist financially those qualified individuals seeking to attend an accredited institution of higher learning. Most of the scholarships are awarded on the basis of need, potential and academic performance.

General Eligibility Requirements

Generally, the applicant:

Must be a communicant member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); and
Must normally be working toward a degree in a college, university or seminary which is fully accredited by its regional accrediting association; and
Must have established and maintained a satisfactory academic record (normally a "C" average).

Scholarship Programs

The First Presbyterian Church scholarship program is comprised of seven primary funds:

First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund

Created in 1988, the FPC Scholarship Fund serves as the primary recipient of gifts and bequests of members and friends of First Presbyterian Church who wish to leave monies to assist students in their education. The fund is divided into two types of scholarship:

General scholarships, available to members of First Presbyterian Church for both undergraduate and graduate level work at an accredited institution; and
Christian Vocation/Wallingford Scholarships, available to applicants wishing to pursue a Christian vocation field of study at an accredited institution.

Prioritized criteria for both types of scholarships (in addition to membership) are the need of the applicant and the applicant's academic performance potential.

First Presbyterian Church may choose not to make an award in any given year.

Clarence Warren Scholarship Fund

Named for its contributor, "Clancy" Warren, a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church and former Mayor of the City of Tulsa, this fund is to be used for scholarships for students in need from First Presbyterian Church. It is administered under the General Scholarships portion of the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund.

Ethel Frances Crate Scholarship Fund

This fund is named for its contributor, Ethel Crate, a longtime educator and First Presbyterian Church member. The fund is designed specifically for students who are members of First Presbyterian Church and who are in their junior or senior year of college. Scholarship eligibility also extends to graduate level students. Selection criteria by which candidates will be considered are prioritized as follows:

Financial need of applicant; and
Level of church activity (at First Presbyterian Church or in a church where the student attends college).

Ullery Charitable Trust Fund

This fund was formed in 1972 from the estate of Miss Jimmie Ullery, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Interest from the original corpus of the trust is used to assist students pursuing full-time Chirstian work with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Elsa Everett Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established in 1975, this fund provides scholarships to students from First Presbyterian Church who are studying for the ministry or Christian education work.

Harry Allen Memorial Trust Fund

Established by Maryetta Sue Allen in 1979, this fund provides need-based scholarships.

Cydna Ann Huffstetler Memorial Trust Fund

Joe and Judy Huffstetler established this fund in 1995. It is designed for a First Presbyterian Church member to promote education beyond high school to attend an accredited university, college or vocational school.

Specific Requirements

The various scholarship funds of the First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa were established by generous church members or by their heirs, as memorials. The funds are held in trust and the granting of those funds as scholarships conforms to the intent of the donors.

The Scholarship Committee of the First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa is a standing committee of the Session of FPC and, as such, is responsible for all decisions concerned with scholarship awards. Some of the specific requirements follow.

Granting of scholarships to qualified applicants from various funds of the First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa is the responsibility of the Session Scholarship Committee.
Scholarship grants are considered by the Committee only for those applicants submitting complete applications by the April 15 preceding the fall academic semester for which they are applying. The three required personal recommendations must also be received by April 15. In addition to membership requirements of some of the funds, preference will be given in the following order:
Members of First Presbyterian Church, Tulsa.
• Members of Presbyterian churches in the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery.
• Members of a church in the Synod of the Sun.
• Members of Presbyterian Churches at large.
Some scholarships are limited in their scope, for example: the Ullery (full-time Christian work); the Wallingford (Christian vocation); and the Warren, Allen and Crate (all need-based).
The Committee will base its awards upon:
• Specific scholarship requirements;
• Church or religious involvement; and
• Academic performance and potential.
Scholarship payments for successful applicants will be paid by the scholarship foundation to the financial aid office only of the applicant's academic institution. The payments will be in equal semester installments. Scholarship funds are not payable directly to the applicant.
Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain a 2-point ("C") average. Failure to do so will result in termination of the scholarship.
Scholarships are not automatically renewed for succeeding school years. Current recipients must submit a new application to be eligible for renewal.
It is the recipient's responsibility to have their college e-mail, fax or mail an official copy of their transcript to the Business Office of First Presbyterian Church at the completion of each semester.
All of the guidelines previously stated are amendable at the discretion of the Session's Scholarship Committee, with approval by the Session.

Students applying for funds may download the "Request for Application" Form (in Word format) or may pick up a copy of the Application from the church business office.

Completed forms may be mailed, faxed or emailed back to First Presbyterian Church. Instructions are on the Application. Please note that the Application also contains three Reference forms.

Applications for scholarships must be completed and all required materials must be submitted by April 15 for the upcoming school year.

Funds will be transmitted to the appropriate institution at the beginning of each semester.