Thoma Scholars Program

Leadership and Learning

Scholarship opportunity for rural students

Students from select counties in Northwest Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico are encouraged to apply to this highly competitive program that provides opportunities to develop strong leadership skills and participate in the Honors College while earning an OSU degree. The full-ride scholarship will cover the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and other educational expenses for four years. Thoma Scholars will also receive a one-time study abroad scholarship.

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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

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

*Texas students attending and/or graduating from Amarillo ISD or Canyon ISD schools are not eligible.

Expectations

Thoma Scholars must:

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 will be available on the application portal in the "opportunities" tab beginning Aug. 1, 2024.

Nov. 1 | Early Opportunity Scholarship Deadline
February | Interviews
Late February | Recipients notified
May 1 | Acceptance deadline

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.

Thoma Foundation

Established by Oklahoma State University alumni, the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation is founded on the knowledge that access to the arts and education enhances lives and communities. The Thoma Foundation focuses its education funding on the rural Southwest, offering scholarship opportunities to the greater Texas Panhandle and surrounding rural areas. Through these giving programs, the Thoma Foundation strives to foster leadership, innovation and equal opportunity.

Learn more about the Thoma Foundation

Oklahoma State University

The Honors College