Requires Essay
The scholarships below are only applied for with the Fall semester application.
They will not be listed on the Spring semester application.
All scholarship essays should be sent to foundation@ecok.edu
BAA - OW Lee Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students with at least 12 completed hours at ECU. Preference will be given to African American students. All majors are encouraged to apply; however preference will be given to Education and English majors. Recipients must be full-time ECU students and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50. Applicants are required to submit the ECU Foundation Scholarship Application, including a brief narrative essay emailed to foundation@ecok.edu, that describes the applicant's future goals, commitment to equality & equity, their financial need, and how this scholarship will benefit their level of commitment to African American causes. Recipients will be recommended each year by the Black Alumni Association Scholarship Committee, with final decision made by the ECU Foundation Scholarship Committee. This scholarship was created in 2022 by the Black Alumni Association in honor and memory of OW Lee, a native of Idabel, Oklahoma, and the first African American professor at ECU. Students must complete the General ECU Foundation Scholarship Application to be eligible for this award.
BAA - Dr. Donnie Nero Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students with at least 12 completed hours at ECU. Preference will be given to African American students. Recipients must be full-time ECU students and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50. Applicants are required to submit the ECU Foundation Scholarship Application, including a brief narrative essay emailed to foundation@ecok.edu, that describes the applicant's future goals, commitment to equality & equity, their financial need, and how this scholarship will benefit their level of commitment to African American causes. Recipients will be recommended each year by the Black Alumni Association Scholarship Committee, with final decision made by the ECU Foundation Scholarship Committee. This scholarship was created in 2019 by the founding members of the Black Alumni Association whom all share a passion for ECU and the quality of education they received while students here. Students must complete the General ECU Foundation Scholarship Application to be eligible for this award.
Barnes Kerns Public Service Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to full-time, undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a strong commitment to public service, including, but not limited to health, government, or education at the local, state, tribal, or federal level as to be explained in a succinct, two-paragraph essay describing their motivations for public service. Preference will be given to students of color with financial need who are working/have been working a minimum of 20 hours per week to help finance their education. Jennifer Barnes Kerns (Legal Studies Class of 2002) and Jason Kerns (Nursing Class of 2006) established this scholarship to commemorate the wonderful experiences they had during their times as students at East Central University.
GLBT Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a full-time ECU student classified as a sophomore or above with a minimum 3.25 GPA. To apply students must complete the Foundation Scholarship Application in its entirety including an essay describing how they currently foster, or would foster, an understanding and acceptance of GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender) and other diversity issues on the ECU campus. This scholarship was established by ECU alumnus, Jim Gray, in order to promote diversity at the collegiate level. Students must complete the General ECU Foundation Scholarship Application to be eligible for this award.