As part of the Foundation's new direction, no new scholarships will be offered after January 2024.

The final cohort of Oishei Scholars were selected and notified in January 2024.  All current Oishei Scholars, including those who were selected in January 2024, will be supported through their respective graduations as the Foundation concludes the scholarship program in 2028.

 

The Oishei Foundation's New Direction

With a deep focus on racial equity, The Oishei Foundation announced its new strategic direction  narrowing 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 how best to advance this new framework as it sets new priorities. As part of this new direction, the Oishei Foundation will wind down their Scholarship program.

 

Program History:

• John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products, established The John R. Oishei Foundation in 1940 to “provide funds in whole or in part for the education of boys, girls, young men and women.”
• BISSNET (Buffalo Independent Secondary School Network), renamed Education Collaborative of WNY, Inc. (EdCo), was established in 1998 as a network of private secondary schools working together to make educational advancement a reality and to make a difference in the lives of children.
• With the original intent of their institutions in mind, the Oishei High School scholarship was jointly established in 1998.
• Since program inception, more than 400 scholarships have been awarded to “Oishei Scholars” to attend local private secondary schools.
• The John R. Oishei Foundation has provided more than $30 million in financial support since 1998.
• Funds are granted to EdCo to make scholarship payments on behalf of independently selected scholarship recipients enrolled and in good academic standing (i.e. students who remain in good academic standing per their school’s academic standards and work towards and maintain an overall B average in preparation for college) at each participating EdCo school.