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Scholarship Information and Procedure

Completed application must be received no later than: May 11, 2024

  1. These Scholarships are administered in accordance with the procedures established by the Optimist Youth Foundation of Detroit, Inc. (OYF).
  2. Eligibility is limited to public and private high school graduating Seniors of the Metropolitan Detroit area and Under graduate College students who are former students of a Metropolitan Detroit area public or private school.
  3. There are no restrictions as to the accredited institution, college or university, to be attended or the curriculum to be followed. To qualify, an applicant must be in need of financial assistance and must have demonstrated his/her potential to succeed in the college curriculum to be pursued. Additional factors such as high school grades, character, citizenship, effort, and ability may be considered.

Graduating Seniors and Undergraduate College Students
  1. The procedure and requirements in submitting and preparing application is as follows:
    1. Application may be requested through the school principal, counselor or teacher. Also application may be requested through other organizations or directly to the Optimist Youth Foundation (OYF), P.O. Box 35390, Detroit, MI 48235-0390.
    2. The application consist of Form A and Form B, each MUST be clearly legible in blue of black ink. Form A must be completed by the current high school or in the case of a college student, the former high school. Form B is the financial statement and must be completed by the parent(s). Both fully completed forms must be submitted to the OYF by the return date along with a transcript of the student's high school record, including the 9th grade.
    3. Applications submitted by a given counselor are to be rated by that counselor, reflecting his/her judgment as to the priority of his/her application. (Form A - Item G).
    4. It is recommended that counselors submit statements in support of their applicants (Form A - Item G) providing information regarding circumstances not reflected in the data requested on the forms. This will be to the advantage of the applicant.
    5. The number of scholarships given to graduates of the different high schools is not awarded in proportion to the number of applications submitted.
    6. If an applicant is offered a grant or a scholarship from another source prior to the time the OYF Scholarships are determined, he/she should be advised to accept it, as this will not affect the receipt of a OYF Scholarship.
  2. Students who have partially completed an undergraduate program, and who wish to make an application for an OYF Scholarship must submit a complete application. They are expected to submit a transcript of their college record to date, in addition to the data required for graduating high school seniors.
  3. Recipients are expected to assume the following obligations, failure to do so will constitute sufficient reason for the termination of their scholarships.
    1. Provide the OYF with a copy of a transcript from the college he/she is attending at the end of each semester or term and an official transcript at the end of the school year.
    2. Maintain the minimum grade point average required by the college to avoid being placed on scholastic probation.
    3. Notify the OYF of any change of plans, such as interruption of attendance, transfer to another college, discontinuance of college and receipt of other scholarships or financial assistance.
  4. Scholarship recipients who transfer to another college are expected to provide the OYF with an official statement from that college, indicating that they have been granted admission. If they interrupt their attendance by more than a normal summer vacation, their scholarship will be terminated but they may re-apply when re-enter.
All scholarship applications must be received no later than May 11, 2024. Students and parents must complete all required information and documents. Incomplete information and/or missing documents will jeopardize your scholarship grant.

Address all written Scholarship Applications and Documents to:
The Optimist Youth Foundation
Scholarship Chairperson
P.O. Box 35390
Detroit, MI 48235-0390