The deadline for the Jean and Ralph Gamel Scholarship for spring is Dec. 9. It is exclusively for OCCC students.

In May 2006 Jean Gamel died and her husband, Ralph, established a scholarship as a tribute to his wife. To date, the Gamel family has given more than $100,000 to students, said speech Professor Julie Corff.

“This scholarship changes lives,” said Corff, who has been a family friend of Ralph Gamel since she was 8 years old.

The Jean and Ralph Gamel scholarship is $1,000, which can be put toward tuition, fees, and books.

To be eligible for the scholarship students must meet the following requirements: have a need for financial assistance to attend OCCC, have a minimum grade point average of 2.0, be committed to completing an associate degree at OCCC, and complete the essay requirement.

The essay is required to be at least 500 words in length, and in it students should cover their educational goals, future career and employment goals, how an education at OCCC will help achieve those goals, any acquired skills, and how the scholarship would help achieve those goals.

To apply, students must return the completed scholarship application with a copy of their college transcript and the completed essay to the OCCC Foundation Office. Any student who is working toward an associate degree at OCCC is eligible to apply.

A copy of the scholarship application can be found at the OCCC Foundation Office. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9. For more information on the scholarship, contact Jennifer Harrison at 405-682-1611, ext. 7771.

To contact Michael Denton, email onlineeditor@occc.edu.