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Only 29% of young adults in rural areas are enrolled in a higher education program nationally, despite the presence of many talented students in these areas who could benefit from higher education. The Thoma Scholars Program seeks to address this disparity by supporting students in the rural Southwest region who have excelled academically. By focusing on rural areas of Northwest Oklahoma, West Texas, and Eastern New Mexico, the scholarship program aims to support students from areas with limited resources to achieve their highest potential.
The Thoma Scholars Program seeks two outcomes for its scholars: to ensure that students complete their degrees within 4-years and that they develop into a new generation of leaders. While Thoma Scholars have already overcome many obstacles by enrolling in college, we want to ensure they graduate in a timely manner despite the unique challenges they may face. To ensure retention and degree completion, the program prioritizes building a community among each cohort and providing dedicated mentorship and academic planning for every student. Please visit this page to learn more about our partner universities and their requirements.
Register to attend a virtual Thoma Scholars information session with our partner universities:
Oklahoma State University
September 17, 2024, 7:00-8:00 p.m. — Register here
October 8, 2024, 7:00-8:00 p.m. — Register here
Texas Tech University
October 22, 2024, 6:30-7:30 p.m. — Register here
December 17, 2024, 6:30-7:30 p.m. — Register here
The Foundation aims to reach promising students at every high school within the selected target counties. If you are an interested high school guidance counselor or teacher, we hope you will help us share information about the Thoma Scholars Program with eligible students in your district. Please send any requests for our scholarship materials to scholarships@thomafoundation.org or fill out this form.
As the Thoma Scholars Program expands, we welcome partnership proposals from like-minded universities that seek to nurture the next generation of rural and first-generation student leaders. Partner universities are expected to administer scholarships, offer an agreed-upon amount of financial assistance, and provide mentorship and leadership training. If you are a university representative interested in receiving more information about the Thoma Scholars Program, please fill out this form.
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