Independent Order of Odd Fellows Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Sovereign Grand Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Overview

Below are descriptions and application requirements for the Educational Foundation, IOOF scholarships and grants. Each program has specific eligibility rules and application deadlines (see General Information). Unless otherwise noted, completed applications must be received by May 15 and late submissions will not be accepted.

Ingstrom Trust Regional Scholarship
- Award: $3,000 each year to one student in each of 15 regions in the United States and Canada.
- Selection factors: financial need, academic record, and leadership.
- Eligibility:
- Must have completed at least one grading period at a college or university.
- Applicant must be a member of the Order or have an immediate relative who is a member of an Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge.
- The application must be signed by the Secretary of the applicant’s Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge to confirm membership.
- Deadline: applications due May 15. Winners will be notified before August 1.

Charles J. & Christine Wirz Scholarship
- Typical awards: usually two scholarships of $2,000 each are granted annually.
- Selection factors: financial need, scholarship, and leadership. Awards are made without regard to Order affiliation, but a lodge endorsement is required.
- Eligibility:
- Must have completed one grading period at a college or university.
- Application must include an endorsement from a lodge (Lodge endorsement required even if the applicant is not a member).
- Deadline: completed applications due May 15. Winners will be notified prior to August 1.

Christine Smith Graduate Studies Scholarship
- Purpose: established from Christine Smith’s estate to support graduate-level research and study addressing children and family issues.
- Award: $15,000 for recipients pursuing graduate work focused on children and families.
- Goal: prepare highly trained professionals to serve disadvantaged and underserved populations through specialized master’s or doctoral programs.
- History: the first Christine Smith Graduate Studies Scholar was selected in 2004.
- Eligibility:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and have an outstanding academic record.
- Have at least two years of recent professional experience in social work or a closely related field.
- Propose graduate study (master’s or doctoral) with a specialization in children and families and submit evidence of admission (copies of formal acceptance letters) to an accredited university.
- Preference given to applicants from the United States and Canada.

Peter F. Geolot Continuing Education / Career Enrichment Grants
- Purpose: support IOOF members who seek continuing education—either job-related courses or new-field coursework that advances occupational goals.
- Funding: grants awarded as incentives for professional growth; applicants may request up to $1,500 for eligible expenses not covered by employers or other sources.
- Eligible expenses:
- Required books and publications for continuing education courses.
- Tuition and student fees for continuing education.
- Eligibility and requirements:
- Applicant must be a member of a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
- Apply at least 60 days before the funds are needed.
- Recipients must submit a signed 100–150 word article for The IOOF News describing the class, what was learned, and how it will apply to their work. The Educational Foundation staff may edit the article; publication by the Sovereign Grand Lodge will occur as space allows.

Odd Fellows & Rebekahs Vocational-Technology Scholarship
- Award: $1,000 annually.
- Selection factors: financial need and leadership. This scholarship developed from the Lawson/Pezo awards initiated in 2005.
- Eligibility:
- Must have a high school diploma or GED.
- Applicant must be a member of the Order or have a relative who is a member of an Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge.
- Application must be signed by the Secretary of the applicant’s Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge to verify membership.
- Deadline: completed applications due May 15. Winners will be notified prior to August 1.

Glenn Coursey Agriculture Scholarship
- Background: funded from a bequest received in 2007 in honor of Glenn Coursey, who grew up farming in Warren County, Illinois and farmed throughout his life.
- Purpose: assist students pursuing careers in agriculture.
- Eligibility:
- Must have completed at least one semester of college in an agriculture-related field.
- Maintain an average to above-average academic record.
- Demonstrate financial need and leadership ability.
- Enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technology school pursuing an agricultural career.
- Applicant must be a member of the Order or have a relative who is a member of an Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge.
- Application must be signed by the Secretary of the applicant’s Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge to verify membership.
- Deadline: completed applications due May 15. Winners will be notified prior to August 1.

Non-Traditional Student Scholarship
- Purpose: assist adult learners returning to college.
- Eligibility (applicant must meet one of the following and all additional requirements):
- Be age 30 or older and not dependent on parents or another person for support; or
- Be married and not dependent on parents or another person for support (other than spouse); or
- Be supporting your own child and not dependent on parents or another person for support.
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Be accepted into a degree program at an accredited college or university and enroll.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Applicant must be, or have a relative who is, a member of an Odd Fellow or Rebekah Lodge. The application must be signed by the Secretary of the applicant’s (or relative’s) lodge and bear the lodge seal to verify membership.
- Use of funds: tuition, books and other educational expenses including transportation and child care.
- Payment schedule: one-half of the award is paid before enrollment; the second half is paid after the Educational Foundation receives the transcript showing grades for the semester covered by the first installment.

General Information and Application Instructions
- Application deadline: all scholarship and grant applications must be received by May 15. Materials arriving after that date will not be considered.
- Submit only the documents requested on the application. Do not send additional or unsolicited materials.
- Documents submitted will not be returned. Send copies of supporting documentation; do not send originals, except where original transcripts are specifically requested.
- Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
- Decisions of the Board of Trustees of the Educational Foundation, IOOF are final and confidential.

If you would like, I can format this into a printable application checklist or generate separate one-page summaries for each scholarship.