The Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation recently awarded more than $57,000 in scholarships to 132 postsecondary students in Oklahoma.
The foundation distributed $57,304 in Otha Grimes and Francis Tuttle Memorial scholarships to students attending Oklahoma CareerTech technology centers. Scholarships ranged from $250 to $500 per student. Two of the students, one from Wes Watkins Technology Center and one from Kiamichi Technology Centers-Talihina, also each received a $500 Francis Tuttle Memorial Scholarship.
“I am very proud of the students earning the scholarships and the value they see in pursuing meaningful education. I am also proud of the work our foundation has done to support them,” said Brent Haken, Oklahoma CareerTech state director.
The scholarships are used for school expenses and may be released to students after their balances have been paid for the semester. Otha Grimes scholarships are awarded twice a year, and the Francis Tuttle Memorial Scholarship is awarded each fall.
The scholarships are available to adult students who are Oklahoma residents enrolled in programs at Oklahoma CareerTech technology centers.
Otha Grimes owned Ogeechee Farms in Fairland and was considered a pioneer in the performance testing movement that has become the standard management practice for beef cattle producers.
He served on the Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation board of directors and was a staunch supporter of education, providing scholarships to many educational institutions, including the foundation. He was inducted into the CareerTech Hall of Fame in 1990.
Francis Tuttle served as director of Oklahoma CareerTech for almost two decades and pioneered the way for career and technology education nationwide. Before coming to CareerTech, he was an agricultural education teacher and superintendent in Gotebo, Muskogee and Holdenville.
After he retired from ODCTE, he served as director of the Oklahoma Department of Economic Development and state secretary of commerce. He was also inducted into the CareerTech Hall of Fame in 1990.
Oklahoma CareerTech: Education that works for you
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 60 campuses, 397 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
