In 2013, the OURA established an academic scholarship to be awarded to one or more deserving students each year. By late December 2017, donations from Association members, officers, and committee chairs, with the invaluable help of a matching challenge contribution by former OURA President Grettie Bondy, had surpassed the $10,000 mark, allowing the OURA to establish in January 2018 the University of Oklahoma Retirees Association Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Oklahoma Foundation. From this point forward, the annual interest earned by the Endowed Fund will be used to underwrite each year's Scholarship award to a worthy OU undergraduate. Also from this point forward, we will refer to the award officially as the OURA / Grettie Bondy Endowed Scholarship, honoring not only Grettie for her generosity and service but also her mother and family for inspiring her lifelong support of education.
Although the OURA Scholarship Fund is now securely established as a Permanent Endowment, the Fund's Principal Account needs additional donations in order to ensure its ability to generate sufficient annual interest and support at least one scholarship each academic year. Fully tax-deductible contributions in any amount are gratefully accepted at any time and may be made in either of two ways: online by credit/debit card or by check made payable to the OU Foundation (with the memo line indicating that your gift is to be applied toward the OURA Endowed Scholarship Fund #42197) and mailed to:
Treasurer, OU Retirees Association
201 E. Lindsey
Norman OK 73019.
Also, retirees who participate in each year's Campus Campaign may designate the OURA Endowed Scholarship Fund #42197 as the beneficiary of their contributions. Thank you for your support.
Scholarship Recipients 2013-Present
2013 Theresa Ashley, Oklahoma City, Senior, International Studies & Spanish
2014 Sarah Brimmer, Tulsa, Junior, Visual Communications
2015 Macee Beheler, Blanchard, Junior, Broadcast Journalism
2016 Phillip Swart, Edmond, Senior, Letters & Environmental Studies
2017 Joshua Hughes, Eufaula, Junior, Aerospace Engineering & Microbiology
2018 Kara Brown, Senior, Psychology & Sociology
2019 Davis Mitchell, Broken Arrow, Senior, Finance & International Business
2020 Emily Tanner, Enid, Junior, Advertising
2021 Adriana Gonzales-Vega, Yukon, Senior, Electrical Engineering
2022 Hayleigh Briann Carrillo, Oklahoma City, Sophomore, Biology/Pre-Med
2023 Lauren Williams, Warr Acres, Junior, Chemical Engineering
2023 JaLynn Yoakum, Hinton, Junior, Chemistry
2024 Breanne Roberts, Grove OK, Junior, Biochemistry/Pre-Med
2024 Hannah Seyoum, Edmond, Junior, Chemical Engineering
The OURA Scholarship Committee and the OU Scholarship Office are pleased to announce the selection of senior Biology major Alexis Wells as the 2025 recipient of the OURA Endowed Scholarship. In addition to her studies, Alexis is the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority's representative to Greek Ambassadors, a program "for the positive promotion of the benefits of fraternity and sorority membership in the university and external community." Greek Ambassadors serve as student recruiters, social programmers, and peer educators, represent all five campus councils, and are official representatives of the Greek community at the University of Oklahoma. - Upon being informed of her selection, Alexis wrote the following to the OURA: "Thank you for your generous scholarship support. I am truly grateful for this opportunity, as it helps me continue my education at OU while pursuing my long-term goal of a career in healthcare as a future Physician Assistant. The scholarship will help reduce my financial workload outside of academics, allowing me to better focus on my studies, leadership, and service commitments. Your investment in my academic journey motivates me to strive for excellence and to make a positive impact in my community. Thank you again for your generosity and your continued support of OU students."
