Category Archives: Building A Better World Scholarship

Homegrown. Grassroots. Funded by teachers and the Oakridge community, since 2003 it is the largest “Oakridge only” scholarship available to graduating seniors. The OEA Building A Better World Scholarship consists of three $1000 scholarship – Global Awareness, Community Involvement, and Independent Travel, and is open to all graduating Oakridge High School seniors.

04/05/2012 · 7:13 pm

Jordan Holter – 2007 Global Awareness Award Recipient

from Jordan Holter’s winning essay…

“If everyone could understand that people have different cultures or situations, there would be noticeably less judging, hate, wars, and negativity around the world. It would be a better place for children to grow up. If they grew up to be understanding of all people, think of the things that could be accomplished world-wide…

I want to be able to leave the world a better place than I found it. I want to help people and help make their lives better. I believe that by going into the medical field and joining Doctors Without Borders I can make a difference in someone’s life. I want to be able to look back at my life when I am old and know that I helped to make a difference in someone’s life. If I am able to do this, I know that I will have lived a truly fulfilled life.”

Jordan donates to and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Building A Better World Scholarship.  She evaluates essays and helps to select winning recipients.  In 2010 she along with Amber Hoagland announced the winners at the Oakridge High School Awards assembly.

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· 2:42 pm

Margarita Contreras – 2008 Independent Travel Award Recipient

From Margarita’s winning essay…

“As a young adult, I believe that younger people should get out of their communities, hometowns and experience new things.  Traveling opens your mind and the way you think about and view the world.  Traveling is an experience of a lifetime that give people an opportunity to experience the way different cultures and ethnic groups live around the world.  I have traveled to Mexico and California by car.  It’s a fun experience going to other states.  On the other hand going to another country is better.  Mexico is very different than the United States.  People are different and the way of living there is unique from ours.”

In the summer of 2008 Margarita spent a week with Rebecca Houseman in Portland, Oregon.

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· 1:59 pm

Dani Patton – 2008 Global Awareness / Travel Award Recipient

From Dani Patton’s winning essay…

“I’ve always believed in the idea that traveling opens your eyes to the world.  Ever since my first traveling experience at the age of five, the need to travel has been in my blood.  I’ve traveled all across this country for years and I have seen first hand this is the best way to learn about other cultures.   Travel’s imperative if you want to better understand about other people and their cultures because only so much insight can be gained by learning about cultures in school.”

Special note:  Dani originally wrote her essay, planning a study abroad trip to Finland.  Her plans have changed some – she will be studying Art for one month in Austria in May 2012 with Northern Michigan University.  We held her scholarship for her and the money covered her flight.  Have fun Dani!

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· 1:44 pm

Rebecca Houseman – 2008 Global Awareness Scholarship Recipient

From Rebecca’s winning essay…

“I believe whole heartedly in what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has said about becoming globally aware, because how else can we expect to live peacefully among our brothers and sisters.  In order to get along and become one with each other we have to learn about each other and accept each others differences.  If you can’t do this, you won’t be very successful when it comes to unification.  You won’t completely know the joys of living until you can actually get out and experience these things for yourself and learn about the way others live around you.”

Rebecca plans on attending Northern Michigan University in the Fall and rooming with Dani Patton (another 2008 scholarship winner).

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· 1:31 pm

2008 Scholarship Winners

The 2009 OEA Building A Better World Scholarship winners are:

Congratulations to Rebecca, Dani, and Margarita.  This year we had a couple of firsts.  We gave out our first combination Global Awareness / Travel scholarship to Dani Patton for a planned semester abroad at Northern Michigan University.  And Rebecca Houseman in addition to winning her own scholarship will be Margarita’s travel companion when they go to Portland, Oregon later this summer.  Please check separate links highlighted above to get a better insight into each of these fine young graduates.  Way to go gals.

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