Oklahoma State University has started a scholarship program it says will provide renewable, four-year support to incoming freshmen and provide stipends for internships and study abroad, along with mentorship opportunities with those who donate to the program.
Dubbed the “Horizon Scholars Program,” its initial funding will come from a cumulative $12 million in gifts from 12 families of OSU alumni. The program will start with students enrolling as freshmen in fall 2026, and students applying for the program must do so by Nov. 1.
Students in the program will receive a $7,500 annual scholarship for four years, a $5,000 one-time award to study abroad and $5,000 for a one-time internship or work experience stipend. All students in the program will pay in-state tuition, even those coming from outside Oklahoma. The Horizon scholarships will be able to be combined with other student-aid packages.
In-state undergraduate students now pay $13,920 annually in tuition and mandatory fees to attend OSU, which has not raised tuition and mandatory fees since 2021.
The goal of the program is to have 400 students each year receiving Horizon scholarships. Blaire Atkinson, the president of the OSU Foundation — a private fundraising organization for the university — said the university hopes to have at least 20 donor families invested in the program by fall 2026.
“These families are leading by example and showing the entire Cowboy family the power of generosity,” Atkinson said. “Our ultimate, long-term vision is that every student at Oklahoma State is connected through a donor-funded four-year scholarship, and we hope others will join us in making this happen.”
OSU President Jim Hess said “hard work and paying it forward” are hallmarks of OSU alumni.
“These incredible families are not only helping the next generation, but they’re also leading by example and demonstrating what a strong work ethic combined with an OSU degree can accomplish,” Hess said. “We know students will be inspired by these donors and will be encouraged to challenge themselves while they’re here.”
Scholarship recipients, no matter their major, will have an interdisciplinary curriculum based in humanities, social sciences and STEM, an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering and math. The core curriculum will include intensive reading and writing and special seminars and classes focused on current events and topics.
Among the initial set of donors are Bryan and Jessica Begley, of Southlake, Texas, who graduated from OSU in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
“We are confident that the Horizon Scholars program will attract terrific students and prepare them to compete with the best of the best in any career path,” Bryan Begley said. “We think these students will quickly become highly sought after by the top employers and graduate programs. Jessica and I are honored and excited to invest in these future leaders.”
OSU's primary campus is located in Stillwater, and the university also has campuses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Okmulgee.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Alumni donate $12 million to fund new OSU scholarship program
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