Please view our new Application Guide before begining the Scholarship Application

 

Purpose

The Oishei High School Scholarship program provides a four-year scholarship to one student of color with a financial need at each participating EdCo high school. An additional goal of the scholarship is to increase the community outreach and diversity of these private high schools.

The Scholarship has been offered through the John R. Oishei Foundation since 1998 and has supported more than 400 students through $16.3 million in financial support. 

With a deep focus on racial equity, The Oishei Foundation recently announced a new strategic direction and will narrow its focus to address the root causes of racial inequity and build financial prosperity for a racially just region. It will begin by working with and within Buffalo’s East Side communities to listen and learn about how best to advance this new framework as it sets new priorities. 

As part of this new direction, the Foundation will wind down the Scholarship program.

The final cohort of students – who are currently applying for the Scholarship - will be selected and notified in January 2024.  All current Oishei Scholars, including those who are selected in January, will be supported with full tuition, as well as an annual $500 stipend for books and technology, through their respective graduations as the Foundation winds down the program in 2028.   

 

Requirements for Eligibility:

  1. Applicants must engage in the enrollment process at an EdCo partner school, which may included taking a placement exam.

  2. Applicants must enroll in the 2024-2025 9th grade class at one of EdCo’s 12 participating partner schools if awarded a scholarship.*
  3. Applicants must have a documented household income of $65,000 or below. (income will be verified by schools)
  4. Applicants must be students of color (Black/African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native-American).
  5. From the pool of applicants, participating EdCo partner schools will select and nominate three candidates.
  6. The Oishei Foundation will award a four-year scholarship to one student at each partner school - 12 Scholarships in total.
  7. Families must complete the online application by Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 11:59PM to be considered as a candidate.
  8. Applications require answering 4 short answer questions, submitting one 300-500 word essay and providing one Letter of Recommendation. 
  9. Click HERE to apply for The John R. Oishei High School Scholarship online.

 

Timetable

  • Submit all three parts of your scholarship application by 12/3/2023
  • Declaration of Intent and signed contract for those selected as candidates - due to EdCo by 12/22/2023
  • Announcement of winners by January 31, 2024

Since 1998 Over 400 scholarships have been awarded to “Oishei Scholars” to attend local private secondary schools in this highly competitive, sought after program financially supported by The John R. Oishei Foundation in collaboration with the Education Collaborative of WNY.

Program Administration:

EdCo provides program administration of the scholarship.

Initial nominees are selected by each participating EdCo School.

Scholarship recipients are selected by a separate, independent Scholarship Selection Committee consisting of community representatives.

EdCo and Buffalo Prep are responsible for ongoing program monitoring, including feedback from participating schools, students and parents.

For additional information, please contact an admissions representative from a participating EdCo partner school.