Ronald C. Nimps Scholarship

Scholarships

Apply for the Scholarship Here

Ronald C. Nimps devoted his career to public education believing that education opens up opportunities for everyone. After service in the U. S. Air Force, he used the G. I. Bill to earn an education degree at Mankato State (now Minnesota State University, Mankato). He taught in Iowa for several years before moving to Omaha in 1964, where he began teaching 9th grade Geography at Nathan Hale Junior High. He stayed at Nathan Hale until 1989 when 9th grade was moved to high school and he began teaching at Northwest High School. He retired in 1995. All five of his children attended Nathan Hale Junior High and graduated from Northwest High School.

Purpose:

To assist students who wish to pursue post-secondary education.

Award:

$500.00

Eligible Schools:

Omaha Northwest High School

Selection Criteria:

  1. Student must be a graduate of Omaha Northwest High School.
  2. Student must submit a transcript.
  3. This scholarship will be awarded to a male member of a minority community.
  4. Student should be pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited 4-year college or university.
  5. Student should submit a short essay entitled “Why is a college education important to me?” (Maximum 3 paragraphs)
  6. Preference will be given to students who exhibit perseverance, integrity, and good citizenship in the pursuit of their graduation.

Selection Process:

A student will be selected by the Omaha Northwest High School Scholarship Committee. The donor will be provided application materials for the recipient.

Should you be selected for this award, please send verification of your enrollment at the college or university of your choice and a “Thank You” note directed to the donor to Omaha Public Schools Foundation. The award will be forwarded to the college of choice upon receipt.

Administered by:

The Omaha Public Schools Foundation
Toba Cohen Dunning
3861 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68131
402.502.3032

Supported By:

The Family of Ronald C. Nimps

Ricki Getzschman Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships

DOWNLOAD THE REQUIRED READING

Purpose:

To provide an annual (renewable) scholarship to a graduate of Benson High School in memory of Ricki Getzschman.

Eligible Schools:

Benson High School

Selection Criteria:

  1. The recipient shall have attended Benson High School for at least two years and be a graduating senior from Benson High School.
  2. The recipient shall have demonstrated academic excellence (GPA of at least 3.0) and true positive participation in school as well as in the community.

  3. Applicants shall submit their transcript.

  4. Applicants shall submit a two page essay to include the following content as referred to in page three of the required reading. “(LINK TO REQUIRED READING) To complete the essay, it is essential to complete the required reading. The scholarship will be awarded largely based on your response.

    1. Tell us about your life including your interests, your job, if you have one, and the activities you are involved in both in school and out in the community.

    2. Tell us what you hope to do in the future and how you hope to positively impact the world around you.

    3. Feel free to include some of your struggles, but be sure to share how you have overcome or are in the process of overcoming those struggles.

    4. We would also like you to tell us how you may share one or two of Ricki’s qualities. “

  5. Applicants shall provide two letters of reference, one of which must be from a teacher or administrator.
  6. This scholarship may be used for any field of study and may also be used for trade school or community college.

Amount:

One scholarship in the amount of $2500.00 shall be awarded annually payable to the college, university or trade school upon the Omaha Public Schools Foundation’s (OPSF) receipt of verification of enrollment from the institution chosen by the recipient.

In Addition:

This scholarship is renewable in the amount of $2500.00 for each of up to four succeeding years if the recipient meets the following criteria:

  1. Recipient maintains 3.0 GPA and is a student in good standing. Recipient must provide a transcript to OPSF by July 31st of each year.
  2. Recipient shall write a brief, informal letter to the Getzschman Family Scholarship Committee regarding how each year has progressed, struggles and/or successes, any interesting anecdotes, changes in goals, changes in perception of the world, etc. This letter is also due to OPSF by July 31st of each year.
  3. Said award shall be paid to the college, university or trade school as before.
  4. These criteria must be met in consecutive years. If, in any year, the recipient does not meet these criteria, the recipient is no longer eligible to renew this scholarship.

Selection of Recipients By:

The Getzschman Family and Selected Friends of the Family/Ricki.

Administered By:

Omaha Public Schools Foundation (OPSF).

Saddlebrook Elementary School PTA Scholarship

Scholarships

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Purpose:

To provide one time financial assistance, for two Omaha Public Schools seniors, who attended Saddlebrook Elementary School.

Amount:

$500 (each student) payable to an educational institution of recipient’s choice. Verification of enrollment should be sent directly to the Omaha Schools Foundation for payment directly to the educational institution.

 Eligible Recipients:

Graduating seniors from an Omaha Public High School who attended Saddlebrook Elementary School for a minimum of two years and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Selection Criteria:

  1. Student must submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or school administrator.
  2. Have a GPA OF 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  3. Graduating seniors from an Omaha Public High School who attended Saddlebrook Elementary School for a minimum of two years
  4. Student must submit a current transcript.
  5. Student must submit a short essay (maximum 3 paragraphs) answering the questions, “What is a life lesson I have learned while being an OPS student? How did that experience make me OPS proud?” and “Why do I want to further my education?”
  6. Student must include a resume listing activities, volunteer and job experiences.

Selection Procedure:

Final recipients will be chosen by the Scholarship Committee of the Saddlebrook Elementary School PTA.

Should you be selected for this award, please send verification of your enrollment at the college or university of your choice and a “Thank You” note directed to the donor to Omaha Public Schools Foundation. The award will be forwarded to the college of choice upon receipt.

Administered By:

The Omaha Public Schools Foundation
Toba Cohen Dunning
3861 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68131
402.502.3032

Sandra Kay Spencer Knipe Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships

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Sandra served initially as a volunteer and then as a licensed para for the kindergarteners at Indian Hills Elementary for 20 years until cancer took her life. As a mother of five children who were all enrolled in the school, Sandra had a vested interest in the program’s success. After her children graduated from school, she felt compelled to help insure the program continued to flourish. Sandra was known by all for her commitment to the under-served and being non-judgmental. She was a great friend, a great listener, an educator for all, resourceful and creative.

Purpose:

To honor the memory of Sandra Kay Spencer Knipe, who devoted her life to children, putting education at the forefront.

Amount:

$500.00

Eligible Recipients:

A graduating senior from an Omaha Public High School who attended Indian Hills Elementary or South High School for at least one year.

Selection Criteria:

  1. Student must be focused on pursuing an associate or advanced degree in education.
  2. Student must submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or an administrator.
  3. Student must submit a current transcript.
  4. Student must state which years he/she attended Indian Hills or South High School.

Selection Process:

Selection will be made by the Omaha Public Schools Foundation in conjunction with the school counselors.

Should you be selected for this award, please send verification of your enrollment at the college or university of your choice and a “Thank You” note directed to the donor to Omaha Public Schools Foundation. The award will be forwarded to the college of choice upon receipt.

Administered by:

The Omaha Public Schools Foundation
Toba Cohen Dunning
3861 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68131
402.502.3032

Shannon Lloyd Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships

Apply for the Scholarship Here

Purpose:

A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded each year in memory of Shannon Lee Lloyd, who attended Fullerton Magnet Center from 1999 to 2001. This scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2012 when Shannon would have graduated. It is now given each year to an outstanding OPS graduating senior.

Students who maintain a 2.8 GPA as freshman in college will be able to renew this $1,000 scholarship for their sophomore year.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must have:

  • Attended Fullerton Magnet Center for at least 2 years.
  • A cumulative GPA that will allow enrollment in college.
  • Been accepted at an accredited university or community college.

    Essay:

    Shannon Lloyd’s life was a supernova, short but bright, filled with happiness and passion. Her spirit warmed the hearts of all who knew her. When she was just seven, Shannon was struck by a car while riding her bike not far from Fullerton. Though she did not survive her injuries, the helmet she was wearing gave her a fighting chance. Inspired by Shannon’s memory, her family and friends continue to advocate for bike safety and neighborhood traffic safety through active support of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®. Headquartered in Omaha, the goal of this nonprofit organization is to make streets safer for all who walk, cycle, play, drive, and ride.

    Write a short essay discussing a significant challenge or accomplishment in your life. Reflect on lessons learned while facing that challenge or any impact your experience has had on your plans beyond high school. (Minimum 500 words) For a more professional appearance, the committee recommends you type your essay in a text editor like Microsoft Word (as an example) and then paste into the submission form.

    Required Documents:

    1. Resume to include:
      • Senior High School Activities (Clubs, Music, Athletics, etc.)
      • Volunteer and Community Activities
      • Awards and Honors
    2. ACT Scores
    3. High School Transcript
    4. Essay

    Selection Process:

    The scholarship will be awarded based upon:

    • The short essay
    • Contributions to school and community
    • Extracurricular activities
    • Academic achievement

    Should you be selected for this award, please send verification of your enrollment at the college or university of your choice and a “Thank You” note directed to the donor to Omaha Public Schools Foundation. The award will be forwarded to the college of choice upon receipt.

    Administered by:

    The Omaha Public Schools Foundation
    Toba Cohen Dunning
    3861 Farnam St.
    Omaha, NE 68131
    402.502.3032

    The Simon Says: Live A Better Life Scholarship

    Scholarships

    Apply for the Scholarship Here

    Purpose:

    The Simon Says: Live A Better Life Scholarship is looking for a student that, despite the struggles of their circumstances, has strived to help others either through volunteer work or by the way they have chosen to make a difference in their community or family and at the same time continued to make school a priority.

    Simon Jones graduated from Omaha North Nigh School in the top 2% of his class in 2017. He was an exceptional student who attended AP and Dual Enrollment classes as well as following the Bio-Medical and Engineering Pathways offered at Omaha North. He received the Buffet Scholarship and had been accepted into the Engineering Program at the University of Nebraska Omaha. While at North he also participated in Cross Country, Track and Field, Bike Club and in the Science Club. Outside of school he was president of the Teen Advisory Council at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, a member of the Florence Christian Youth group and Team Captain for Relay for Life. He also created and began the Simon Says: “Happy Birthday” Toy Drive to benefit the Living Hope Food Pantry. He accomplished these things even though he had cancer.

    Simon was diagnosed in January 2013 at the age of 13 with DSRCT, a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma. He underwent numerous chemotherapies, radiation treatments and multiple surgeries while he attended and finished his high school career. In September 2016 he began writing an inspirational Facebook Blog call Simon Says: Live a Better Life. From September of that year until his death he encouraged other with a simple message; “Our struggles do not define who we are, but WE define how we share our struggles with the world”. His wish was for the world to know that we all have something that holds us back from living a better life. It could be an illness like Simons, it could an unfortunate event that caused a detour in our plans or even the circumstances you were born into. Like Simon, we all can choose to be the light and hope in someone else’s path and to Live a Better Life.

    This was his mission and now it is ours. We have the privilege of telling the whole world Simon’s story. How cancer died from Simon, not Simon died from cancer, how he held his head high through pain and fear. How he chose to be the light and hope, and to lift everyone else despite his own struggle. Simon’s life has purpose and his struggle was not in vain. How through it all he never stopped believing that God had a greater plan for his journey.

    Amount:

    $2000.00

    Criteria:

    1.  Any OPS high school graduating senior
    2. GPA 3.0 or higher
    3. Essay response to all the following three points:
      • a hardship or struggle that you have overcome or are currently facing.
      • what it means to you to “Live a Better Life” in spite of your circumstance.
      • how through secondary education you plan to make a difference in the life of others.
    1. Two recommendation letters (non-relative) testifying to the personal hardship of the applicant, the character of the applicant, and the achievements in the effort of “Living a Better Life”.

    Selection Procedure:

    Should you be selected for this award, please send verification of your enrollment at the college or university of your choice and a “Thank You” note directed to the donor to Omaha Public Schools Foundation. The award will be forwarded to the college of choice upon receipt.

    Administered by:

    The Omaha Public Schools Foundation
    Toba Cohen Dunning
    3861 Farnam St.
    Omaha, NE 68131
    402.502.3032

    **You can donate to the scholarship on our secure donation portal. Use the drop down menu on the form to designate the Simon Says Live a Better Life Scholarship.