I want to donate money to support the OEA Foundation Scholarships. Are my donations to the OEA Foundation tax-deductible?
Yes! The OEA Foundation is a tax-qualified 501(c)(3) organization, so your donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. You will find a link to donate on the OEA Foundation website, www.OmahaOEAFoundation.org. Click on the “Donate Now” button. You can contribute by either a check (payable to the OEA Foundation), or by credit card. Further details are on the “Donate Now” link on the Foundation website.
When should I apply for the OEA Foundation scholarships?
When are the OEA Foundation Scholarships awarded?
How and when are students notified that they have been selected to receive an OEA Foundation Scholarship?
Winners are notified after the April OEA Foundation Board meeting is completed. Letters are generally sent to the winners about a week after the April OEA Foundation Board meeting to select scholarship winners.
I received an OEA Foundation scholarship, but my plans have changed, and I will not attend an institution of higher education next year. Can I defer the scholarship until the following year?
If there is a reason that you cannot attend an institution of higher education the first year, contact the OEA Foundation by email at oeafoundation@gmail.com to request a one-year deferment. The OEA Foundation scholarship is not a “cash grant” to the recipient. The scholarship can only be used to further your learning at an institution of higher education.
Do I have to enroll in a Nebraska college or university to use a Foundation Scholarship?
No. You can use an OEA Foundation scholarship if you enroll in an institution of higher education in any state in the union.
Can I enroll in one of the Nebraska Community Colleges and still use a Foundation Scholarship? What about nursing schools, cosmetology and barber schools?
Yes! OEA Foundation scholarships can be used to support attending any institution of higher education, and that includes Community Colleges, nursing schools, cosmetology schools, and barber schools.
If I receive an OEA Foundation Scholarship, when will the money be disbursed? What documentation is needed to get the money released?
The scholarship checks are sent by US mail to the institution of higher education around the end of July or the first part of August. Before the checks can be sent, you need to provide the higher education institution’s name and mailing address and your student ID number at that school. If the OEA Foundation does not receive the mailing information for the institution that you will attend by email, a check will not be issued. If any changes are made regarding the name of the institution that you plan to attend, please let us know by email. Also, if you cannot accept the scholarship for any reason, please email the OEA Foundation at: oeafoundation@gmail.com.
How are OEA Foundation Scholarship funds sent to the recipients?
OEA Foundation scholarship checks are not mailed to the recipients. The checks are sent to the institution of higher education that you will attend. That is why it is important to provide the institution’s mailing address. Again, scholarships are sent to the institutions, not to the recipients. Please contact Linda Richter at 402-740-7911 or send an email to oeafoundation@gmail.com with any questions about the OEA Foundation or the OEA Foundation scholarships.
Can I apply for more than one OEA Foundation Scholarship? Is there a limit on how many Foundation Scholarships I can apply for?
There is no limit on how many OEA Foundation scholarships you can apply for. You can apply for any or all scholarships that you are eligible to receive.
I note that some scholarships are awarded based on how active a parent/grandparent is or was in the OEA. What type of OEA activities should I list for my relatives if I am applying for one of those scholarships?
OEA activities for the relative of the applicant that should be listed include leadership roles in the OEA as well as involvement in OEA activities. Some examples might include: being an elected leader in OEA (e.g. OEA officer or OEA Board of Directors member); serving on an OEA Committee; serving as an OEA Association Representative (OEA-AR) for their school; serving as a delegate to NSEA Delegate Assembly or NEA Representative Assembly; volunteering for OEA activities; serving as a member of an NSEA committee to interview candidates for political office; participating in gathering signatures for petitions circulated by NSEA for various ballot issues; handing out voting cards for elections in Nebraska; and distributing fliers to your neighborhood for ballot issues or candidates recommended by NSEA. List any activity that goes beyond being only a “dues paying member.”
Are the OEA Foundation Scholarships renewable? If so, when do I need to reapply?
The OEA Foundation Scholarships are not renewable. The scholarships are for the first year of your post-high-school continuing education. If there is a reason that you cannot attend an institution of higher education the first year, contact the OEA Foundation by email at oeafoundation@gmail.com to request a one-year deferment.