Brian Slobotski Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships

Apply for This Scholarship Here

Purpose:

This scholarship is in memory of Brian J. Slobotski, a 2010 Omaha North High graduate, who despite his limited mobility due to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy was able to inspire individuals to overcome their own challenges and make a positive impact on the world.

Eligible Schools:

Omaha North High will submit 5 eligible candidates by March 1st of the current school year to the Omaha Schools Foundation.

Selection Criteria:

A graduating senior at Omaha North High who has thrived in the face of adversity. Special consideration will be given to active football players and/or student managers.

  1.  Submit an essay describing how you have overcome adversity in your life and what your future career goals are. Show participation in community service activities, school clubs or organizations. 
  2. Student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or higher upon graduation.
  3. Student must be pursuing further education at an accredited educational institution, college or university.
  4. Student must provide 2 non-family letters of recommendation from counselors or teachers demonstrating excellent character and reputation.
  5. Attach a current resume.

Amount:

$2,000.00

$1,000 each semester for one year will be payable to the accredited educational institution, college or university upon the Omaha Schools Foundation’s receipt of verification of enrollment from the institution chosen by the recipient and a “Thank You” note directed to the donor. Please provide certified transcripts to the Omaha Schools Foundation in semester 2 for payment of the second $1,000.00. A minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained.

*The BJS Scholarship may be re-applied for each year students remain in school and meet the above grade and non-academic goals, items 3 and 4. 

Administered By:

The Omaha Schools Foundation & Brian J. Slobotski Scholarship Committee

Please send applications to:
Toba Cohen-Dunning
Omaha Schools Foundation
3861 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68131

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.