The Oaklawn Foundation Scholarship, administered by Hot Springs Area Community Foundation, is available each spring for residents of Garland County pursuing higher education. The application is available Jan. 2 to Feb. 18, 2025.

NOTE: The Eligibility Quiz is not required for the Oaklawn Scholarship, thus, if used the Oaklawn Scholarship will not be listed among your list of scholarships you have qualified to apply for.  Disregard the Eligibility Quiz!

To apply, click the “Create an Account” button above. After logging in, click the blue “Apply” button to begin the Oaklawn Scholarship application.  

When you apply, you’ll provide information about your financial need, educational history and community/extracurricular involvement. You’ll be asked to upload: 

• Proof of residency in Garland County, such as a copy of a valid driver’s license or Arkansas Identification card. Submitting a copy of an expired driver’s license will result in your file being disqualified from consideration.   
• Educational Objective/Personal Essay stating your educational plans, goals, and your personal story.  Include any special circumstances you have experienced such as: military service, disability of yourself, sibling, child, parent or family member, single parent family, change in family/personal income, childcare and/or elder care expenses, personal expenses due to unemployment or other circumstances, death in family, or casualty losses due to weather, fire, or natural causes.     
• An official or unofficial transcript or GED Certificate, with the applicant’s name and the name of the school on the document submitted. 
• NEW in 2025: Letters of Recommendation/Third Party Instructions – Starting January 2, 2025, applicants will no longer upload their letters themselves, into the online application portal.  Instead, students will need to: 
  • Choose two references and provide their email addresses.
  • Compose a personal email notifying the references within the online portal, by copying and pasting the sample email provided or composing their own message. 
  • Reference Letter Submission Process: The references will receive an automated email providing a secure link for uploading their recommendation letter.  The email will inform them of the application deadline of February 18, 2025.  References will have until February 25, 2025, to upload their recommendation letter. 
    • Letters must be dated; and dated no earlier than June 1, 2024.  Older or undated letters will result in a reduction to your total score.    
  • Follow-Up Responsibility: The applicant is responsible for following up with the references to ensure their letters are submitted no later than February 25, 2025, the letter of recommendation deadline.
• All applicants must submit the application form, proof of residency in Garland County, transcript and essay by midnight of February 18, 2025, to be considered a candidate for the award.

Eligibility

Any Garland County resident who is or will be enrolled at any of the following: 

• Accredited community college
• Technical school
• Four-year public or private college or university (including graduate or post-graduate level studies)