Deadline to submit an application is coming soon. December 1, 2014 for the January 2015 award date. This is an ongoing schoarship which is award twice a year so if you miss the dealine for January you can apply for May.
The Selected Independent Funeral Homes Educational Trust’s Second-Career Scholarship Program is designed exclusively for individuals who desire to enter the independent funeral service profession as a second (or third or more!)career. The scholarship was established in response to an increase in the number of second-career practitioners who aspire to work as funeral directors, a role traditionally filled by professionals whose families have owned and operated funeral firms for decades. The Educational Trust wants to support these individuals and to help enhance the independent funeral service profession. Each scholarship is worth $1,500, with up to four scholarships awarded by the Trust each year; two in December and two in May. All scholarship dollars will be paid directly to the applicant’s school toward tuition and associated expenses of the applicant.
ELIGIBILITY Any individual currently enrolled full-time in a mortuary science program at an accredited school in North America, who is not related to an owner of a funeral firm currently in operation, is eligible to apply. Previous full-time working experience in an unrelated field to show that funeral service will be a second career choice is required along with details on tuition owed and a demonstration of genuine financial need. A full list of requirements including a professionally-written essay can be found on the Scholarship Application. Membership in Selected Independent Funeral Homes is not a requirement to apply. While not a requirement, an applicant’s demonstration of current or future employment or involvement with an independently owned and operated funeral home is highly preferred.
TO APPLY Applicants must submit a completed application on or before December 1 or May 30 each year. Applications will be reviewed by the Educational Trust Board and voted on, with a majority approval vote required. A submitted application is not a guarantee of a scholarship award. Click here for the registration form and a list of previous recipients.
Order of Golden Rule
The deadline for OGR’s Awards of Excellence Scholarships for mortuary science students is February 28. Would you please share this information with your students? OGR will award one $3,500 and one $2,000 scholarship, based on merit as determined by the OGR Board of Directors. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in a mortuary science degree program at an accredited mortuary school.
- Be scheduled to graduate during the 2015 calendar year.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Be involved in community service activities and school activities.
- Demonstrate excellence in the pursuit of knowledge in mortuary science.
- Commit to working for an independently owned funeral home.
The scholarship application may be downloaded here or apply online here. Winners will be recognized at OGR’s Annual Conference & Supplier Showcase in Orlando, FL on April 23, 2015 and recipients will receive a complimentary conference registration. OGR will also provide the top scholarship recipient with airfare and one night’s lodging to attend the conference. Completed applications, including essay and updated fall/winter 2014 transcript, must be received at the OGR office by February 28, 2015.
Feel free to contact me at (800) 637-8030 or jsmith@ogr.org if you have any questions or comments. Thank you in advance for assisting us in reaching your students.