The Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation is one of the oldest and most robust of its kind in a public American high school.

studentsWe encourage our seniors to learn about the available scholarships and apply for those that may be a good fit.  Applications will be available beginning January 2018.

Scholarships can be applied for online through the high school Common Application. Log in via student name and password.

donor btnYour tax-deductible gift to any of our individual scholarship funds will further our mission and help more graduating seniors meet the high costs of post-secondary education.

Donations can be made by clicking the gift icon next to any one of our individual scholarships below.

Unrestricted Fund

Gifts to the Unrestricted Fund are managed by the Board of Directors to support a variety of activities within the Foundation such as financial need scholarships and matching funds for select scholarships.

CKP Scholars Fund

Supports our CKP Scholars Fund graduates, who each receive a $1,000/year renewable scholarship for up to 4 years.

donor gift whiteAPPLAUSE! Performing Arts Scholarship
$1000: 3.0+ GPA; Plans to major or minor in performing arts in college; participated in the performing arts at OPRFHS.

 donor gift whiteAnn P. Bekermeier Scholarship
$1000: 2.0+ GPA, varsity track or basketball participant, financial need, attending college in Illinois

 donor gift whiteEric Brightfield Memorial Digital Media Scholarship
$1500: For a student interested in pursing a degree in a digital media related field such as journalism, social media, graphic design or web design.

 donor gift whiteMichael A. Campbell Scholarship
$1000: Renewable 4 years, 2 scholarships: Academic achievement and financial need

donor gift whiteRichard Daniel Orchestra Scholarship
$1000: Must be a member of the OPRFHS Orchestra and play a string instrument; financial need; planning to major or minor in music or a related field.

donor gift whiteJosh Davis Memorial Scholarship
$2000: 3.0+ GPA; love of the environment, plans to pursue environmental studies or related field; financial need; Essay: 300-350 words-Describe your commitment to environmental studies.

donateCatherine Deam Memorial Scholarship
$1000: Minimum two years of demonstrated community service or involvement in a major community service project.

donateDon Deia "Heart of the Plate" Scholarship
$375-renewable- 4years, softball team member; financial need

donateDonohue History Scholarship
$1000: Passion for history, high academic achievement; Essay: 200-250 words. Describe your passion for history and/or social sciences. What have you learned from the courses you have taken in the History Division? How have these courses contributed to your growth and development

donateDouglas Scholarship
$1000: 3.0+ GPA in business courses; Essay: 250-300 words. Why are you planning to pursue a business degree in college?; A letter of recommendation from a Business Ed teacher.

donateEastern Star Scholarship
$1000, 1 female; high academic achievement

donateThomas D. Ferguson Memorial Scholarship
$1,000: 2.75+ GPA; financial need, letter of recommendation from a History Teacher.

donateRobert Gauger Memorial Scholarship
$1500: 2.5+ GPA; course work in technology, physics or applied sciences; A letter of recommendation from a science or technology teacher

donateDr. Gerald L. Clay Scholarship
$1500: Renewable-once: African American male; financial need

donateGarden Club of OP/RF Scholarship
$1500: 2 scholarships: Merit based; planning to pursue studies in an environmental related field.

donateGerald L. Greer Memorial Scholarship
$1000: 1 male & 1 female: 3.0+ GPA, history student, preference given to students interested in teaching history; Essay: 200-250 words. Describe your desire to teach history. What are you most passionate about? What do you hope to achieve?

donateRyan A. Hammond Memorial Scholarship
$1000: Must have attended either District 97 Hatch or Whittier school, financial need; Essay: 250-350 words. What matters to you and, and why?

donateLouise Hay Memorial Scholarship
$1000: 2 females: Academic achievement in mathematics.

donateErnest Hemingway Writer's Scholarship
$1,000: Awarded to an incoming senior at OPRFHS with intent to study journalism, creative writing or English. Writing Submission required.

donateHotchkiss Memorial Scholarship
$1000: Renewable 4 years, 2 scholarships: Financial need; academic achievement and leadership

donateHouck Scholarship
$1000: 3.0+ GPA: Student planning to attend Dartmouth or Hanover College; demonstrated compassion for others.

donateCarl Krafft Memorial Art Scholarship
$2000: 3 scholarships: Pursuing fine arts study in college: participated in OPRFHS Art program

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS: Submission of a DIGITAL portfolio representing 10 to 20 examples of artwork showing evidence of competency in one or more of the visual arts disciplines. Submission of a personal essay explaining artistic accomplishments and/or art-related awards. Indicate the college/university you have chosen and state your future personal goals and professional aspirations. Recipients of the Visual Arts scholarships must endow one of their artworks to the Oak Park and River Forest High School art collection. The selection of this piece will be made by the high school art faculty.

donateKrafft Memorial Music Scholarship
$1000: Pursuing fine arts in college, participated in OPRFHS music program

donateKrafft Memorial Speech/Dance/TV Scholarship
$1000: Pursuing fine arts in college, participated in OPRFHS Speech, Dance or TV program

donatePatrick Luby Memorial Scholarship
$1000: 2 scholarships: Financial need; preference to those interested in teaching Spanish or other world language

donateMead Scholarship
$1000: 3.0+ GPA: financial need

donateMiller/Cooke/Wood Scholarship
$1000: Honoring student in areas of drama, musical and technical theatre.

donateMonaco Music Scholarship
$2000: Interest in pursuing musical studies in college, preference to a piano student; academic merit; financial need.

donateR.J. Mike Nielsen Scholarship
$1000: Stage Crew member; excellence in technical theatre.

donateOffermann Scholarship for Excellence in English
$1000: Planning to major or minor in English in college; Essay: 250-300 words. Describe how you embody the English division mission and vision. (Document available in the English Division office)

donateGary F. Olson Memorial Scholarship
$1500: 2.5-3.0 GPA: Financial need.

donateOPRFHS Scholarship Foundation Directors Scholarship
$1000: Renewable 4 years, 2 scholarships: Financial need, academic achievement

donateOPRFHS Retirees – ‘DOOPER’ Scholarship
$1000: Financial need; academic achievement

donateOPUS: Alumni Association Scholarship
$1000: Interest in pursuing a degree in the fine and performing arts; Essay 200-300 words: Describe an experience related to your performing arts education at any level that has had a significant impact on you.

donateQuinn Swimming/Diving Scholarship
$1000: 2 scholarships, 1 male, 1 female: 2+ year member OPRFHS Swim and Diving Team
Essay: 300-500 words. Describe a defining moment for you on the swimming and diving team and tell why you consider it a defining moment.

donateTerri Race Educational Technology Scholarship
$1000: Interest in computer applications, technology; demonstrated community service

donateRoberta L. Raymond Scholarship
$1000: 2.75+ GPA; Preference given to minority students; High financial need.

donateSchaffer Memorial Scholarship
$1000: 2.0-3.0 GPA; financial need; academic achievement

donateDr. Alexander Schmidt Memorial Scholarship
$1000: Outstanding Senior in English

donateSeabury Foundation Scholarship
$2000: Renewable 4 years, 2 males, 2 females: Shows initiative, leadership, academic achievement and financial need.

donateShepard Family Memorial Scholarship
$1000: Priority given to African-American students; Academic rigor and financial need considered; students who are interested in pursuing pre-medicine, technology  or entrepreneurship.

donateCarol Shields (Class of ’53) Memorial Scholarship
$1000: Financial need, academic achievement

donateIshma Stewart Memorial Scholarship
$1000: 2.5+ GPA; member of Spoken Word

donateJack Tavolacci Memorial Scholarship
1500; A senior whose demonstrated legacy embodies the qualities of love, acceptance and inclusivity which were championed by Jack Tavolacci.  Applicants should be seen as a friend to all in the Oak Park and River Forest High School community.; Letter of Recommendation from a peer (preferred) or teacher, coach, community member which addresses the qualities noted above in the scholarship applicant.; a 250-400 word essay that articulates how the applicant feels that his/her actions have demonstrated the characteristics championed by Jack Tavolacci. GPA and financial need NOT a consideration.

donateTony Trofimuk Scholarship
$1000: Girls Varsity basketball letter recipient

donateTNH-Stephen A. Henry Scholarship
$1000: OPRFHS athlete, team manager or student trainer who has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship, leadership and team spirit.

donateDon and Mary Vogel Scholarship
$2,000: Renewable 4 years; Financial need, academic achievement, co-curricular involvement. Essay 750 words: Describe your most remarkable high school moment..

donateZussman-Amato Memorial Scholarship
$5000: 1 female: Pursuing science in college; Essay: 300-500 words. Describe your passion for science and future career goal

Donor Support

Donor support is critical in furthering the mission of the Scholarship Foundation.

You can continue our community’s proud history of supporting Oak Park and River Forest High School students now and for future generations by making a donation to the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation. General Fund gifts help fund our 4 renewable scholarships. In addition the Foundation manages nearly 60 scholarships. 

The Scholarship Foundation has partnered with the Counseling Division in a new endeavor – the College Knowledge Project. The project seeks to support underrepresented populations and First Generation to College students to achieve the goal of attending college. The Scholarship Foundation has pledged to award a $1,000/year renewable scholarship for up to 4 years to each graduating CKP student who meets the college readiness program criteria. To meet our commitment, we have established the CKP Scholars Fund.

The Impact of Giving

Students in our community are faced with ever-increasing college tuition costs. As the needs of our graduating seniors continue to grow, donations that enable us to increase the number of scholarships and amount of support the foundation can offer will make a meaningful difference in helping our students further their education.  

  • The OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation endowment has grown from $12,000 in 1970 to more than $1.5 million today.

  • In 2017, the Scholarship Foundation awarded a total of $155,000 to 68 graduating seniors.  

Make a Gift Today

DonateGifts to the Scholarship Foundation are tax deductible and can be made online to any of our individual scholarships or by check payable to OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation and mailed c/o Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, 1049 Lake Street, Suite 204, Oak Park, IL 60301.

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

 

Contact

Oak Park and River Forest High School
201 North Scoville Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302

 Email: scholarshipsoprfhs@gmail.com

Facebook  Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation

Board Members

Tod Altenburg, Treasurer

Patrick Botticelli

Tom Cofsky, Board of Ed. Representative

Tracy Dell'Angela Barber

JoBeth Halpin

Katie Kelly

Laurie Lawton

Theresa Lipo

Laurence Msall

Kerry Nelson, Vice President

Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams, OPRFHS Supt.

Wendell Rayburn

John Rigas

Sarah Staszak Miller, Secretary

Don Vogel, President

Melanie Weiss, Manager