Since its advent, the goal of the Lowe Family Young Scholars program has been to help students in need reach their goal of attending a college or university.
Organizers were able to continue to realize that goal recently when they awarded scholarships to three current students at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Seniors Jessica Nicolai and Trevor Persaud received $2,000 each while junior Ben Nicolai received $1,000.
To commemorate the one-time scholarships, the students enjoyed a special lunch with Lowe program founders Barry W. Lowe and wife Karen as well as OWU president Dr. Everett Piper and Dr. Randy Thompson, OWU's vice president for development, in the La Quinta Mansion on the OWU campus.
“I'm very blessed that Dr. Randy Thompson stepped up with the Lowes and provided me with help in this way,” said Jessica Nicolai, who is majoring in communication arts with an emphasis in graphic design and photography. “Without this help, I might not have been able to come back to school this semester.”
The scholarships were made possible due to the outstanding fundraising efforts at OWU, which has raised $625,000 toward its endowment goal of $1 million. Aimed at students who currently attend or have attended Jane Phillips Elementary – a school within the Bartlesville Public School District which has a high rate of students on free and reduced lunch plans – the Lowe Family Young Scholars program offers them a scholarship to a participating college or university once they complete it. The participating institutions of higher learning are Oklahoma State University, Rogers State University-Bartlesville and OWU.
The participating schools have been challenged to match the Lowes' contributions toward the program.
“I think it's great that the Lowes are helping students in this way,” said Persaud, a Bartlesville native who is majoring in communications. “I'm glad we have a lot of people in this town who are so generous.”
The scholarships typically awarded through the Lowe Family Young Scholar program are to students who have yet to enter college. Once they complete the program and are accepted to one of the participating schools, they typically receive a four-year scholarship valued at $16,000.
The Lowes hope the OWU students who received the one-time scholarships will serve as college mentors for the regular students within Lowe Family Young Scholars program, of which there are currently 21.
“I think they are all very deserving,” said Barry Lowe of Persaud and Jessica and Ben Nicolai, who are siblings. “There was need there.
“Trevor, Jessica and Ben are all strong in academic achievement. It's important to keep those students around and make sure they graduate and are successful in life.”
A special luncheon was held on the Oklahoma Wesleyan University campus on Aug. 27 to commemorate a special scholarship presentation by the Lowe Family Young Scholars program. Taking part in the luncheon were (from left) OWU vice president for development Dr. Randy Thompson, OWU senior Trevor Persaud, OWU junior Ben Nicolai, OWU senior Jessica Nicolai and Lowe Family Young Scholars program co-founders Karen and Barry W. Lowe. Persaud and Jessica and Ben Nicolai were recipients of the scholarships through the program. Not pictured is OWU president Dr. Everett Piper.