Great Plains IDEA Student Excellence Award

We support our students

The Great Plains IDEA Cabinet is excited for the opportunity to give back to Great Plains IDEA students and assist them in achieving their academic goals.

The Great Plains IDEA Student Excellence Award is granted to a limited number of students each year. This $1,000 award may be used for educational expenses such as tuition and books, or towards other costs of attendance like childcare or educational technology. 

"It is an honor to receive the Great Plains IDEA Student Excellence Award. Financial support will tremendously affect my educational career and my personal and family well-being. The award will enable me to increase the number of courses I can take in a semester and expedite my degree completion without incurring debt. By decreasing the financial burdens of my education, I will have more valuable time to focus on my family and pursue my academic and career goals. I am very grateful for the opportunities this award provides and the support I have received through this program to continue my education."

Hannah Adame, Family & Consumer Sciences Education, Oklahoma State University
Award recipient 2022-2023

2024-2025 Applicant Qualifications and Requirements

Students can apply annually, however, preference will be given to students who have not received previous financial support from Great Plains IDEA. Ten $1,000 awards will be granted for the 2024-2025 academic year. Applications for the 2024-2025 award are now closed. Award winners will be announced by July 1, 2024.

Applicant Qualifications

Students must:

  • Have been admitted to a Great Plains IDEA member university
  • Have been admitted to a Great Plains IDEA degree-granting program (bachelor, master, or certificate)
  • Have completed a minimum of two (2) Great Plains IDEA courses
  • Have an academic plan for degree completion
  • Be enrolled during the 2024-2025 academic year (starting Fall 2024)

Application Requirements

The application process will include submission of the following:

  • Application form submitted online
  • Unofficial transcript
  • Academic plan for degree completion
  • One (1) page resume or curriculum vitae
  • 500-word essay describing the student's professional and academic goals, plan for degree completion, and a description of expected uses/benefits of scholarship funds
  • Endorsement from a Great Plains IDEA faculty member, or the student's faculty academic advisor. Endorsers will be provided an online form to complete once the student has submitted their application. This form includes six statements to rank and a brief (500-word max.) statement of support.

Award Guidelines and Information

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2024-2025 award are now closed. Award winners will be announced by July 1, 2024.

Application Evaluation

Each program will select two finalists whose applications will be evaluated by three (3) Great Plains IDEA Cabinet members. A rubric will be used to evaluate applications and determine award recipients.

Use of Awards Funds

Funds may be used for educational expenses, such as tuition and books, or towards other costs of attendance like childcare, educational technology, or cost of living.

Questions

Contact Amanda Burris at Great Plains IDEA.