Oakland University president gifts additional funding to presidential scholarship fund

Oakland University’s president Ora Hirsch Pescovitz has given the university an additional $1.33 million to expand the already-established Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship Program. The additional funding will bring the number of yearly recipients from four to eight and will also create an endowment for the scholarship awards in perpetuity.

According to an article on Oakland University’s website, Pescovitz explained her reasoning for increasing her gift and expanding the scholarship program. She is quoted as saying, “By expanding the number of Pescovitz scholarship opportunities, we will attract even more high-achieving new students to OU, supporting my vision to make Oakland University the ‘university of choice.’ Students earning these scholarships will be ensured of getting special Honors College experiences that they cannot find anywhere else. I predict students selected for these scholarships will be the future leaders of America in their respective fields, including as CEOs of businesses, sought after engineers making breakthrough discoveries in energy and automotive, our future political leaders, caring healthcare leaders, biomedical investigators breakthroughs, and exceptionally creative artists who will transform how we look at our world. They will come to us with great gifts and talents and leave here even more prepared to make an impact in whatever paths they choose.” 

The Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship Program is a competitive full-tuition merit-based scholarship that is administered by the Honors College. It works alongside the Presidential Scholar Medallion Program that provides students with academic and strategic planning for their time in the Honors College. Being a Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship recipient comes along with unique opportunities that help students become well-rounded leaders, including mentorships, internships, and professional development opportunities.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must write a 1,000 word essay that demonstrates their efforts to help others in their community, their intellectual and creative abilities, and the positive impact they have had on those around them. 

Graeme Harper, the dean of the Honors College, said of President Pescovitz and her continued financial support for students, “President Pescovitz recognizes the value of growing the number of our highest-achieving students and is consistently leading by example. Her gifts are sure to leave an indelible mark on Oakland University and change the world for the better through her personal investment in our students.”

For more information about Oakland University, visit the school’s website.