Exclusive Young Honors College Scholarships 

These Young Honors College exclusive scholarships are available and managed by the Student Financial Services department.  For more information, contact Student Financial Services

• Barry M Klein Endowed Scholarship (Current HC Student)
• Barry M Klein Endowed Scholarship (Incoming Freshmen)
• Barry S Winkler Scholarship (Junior standing or students who have completed the Summer Undergraduate Program in Eye Research)
• David and Marion Handleman Honors College Scholarship (Current HC Students)
• David and Marion Handleman Honors College Scholarship (Incoming HC Freshmen)
• J. Alford Jones Memorial Endowed Scholarship 
• Miron and Haija Stano Honors College Scholarship
• OU Honors College Freshmen Housing Award
• OU Honors College Housing and Engagement Scholarship
• OU Honors College Merit Award
• OU Honors College Scholarship

Search OU Annual Scholarships

YHC New Pioneers Leadership Internship

Apply in your sophomore year to be a New Pioneer during your Junior and Senior years. 

Successful applicants agree to take on leadership and mentorship roles within the Young Honors College. Students will create a plan, schedule, reporting requirements, and role with a YHC Counselor. New Pioneers may be asked to represent the Young Honors College at events and share their experiences with others. 

This internship pays $5,000 per year for two years. 

Application

• Applicants must have 3.5 GPA or above. 
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College 
• Applicants must set out – in 4 pages (double-spaced, 12 pitch) - the intended Leadership and Mentorship activities they will undertake (this will be discussed with successful applicants and further refined). Need assistance? Email [email protected] to make an appointment to discuss possible activities. 

Apply for the YHC New Pioneers Leadership Internship

Explorers Internship

The Donna and Walt Young Honors College is committed to giving back to our community through humanitarian efforts. We are also aware that our students have a packed schedule with classes, studying, socializing, and working. Several internships are available.

The Explorers Internship pays students $2,000 to work with an organization of their choice to volunteer at for one year. 

Students will be required to meet with a YHC staff member to create a plan, schedule check-in meetings, discuss the duties and intended outcomes of the position, and establish communication between the student, YHC, and the organization. 

Application 

• Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA or above
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College

To apply, students should contact an organization to discuss regular volunteering hours prior to submitting their application. Students can make an appointment with a YHC counselor to learn about organizations in the area they can contact. 

Applicants must submit a 2-page (double-spaced, 12 pt. font) description of their planned service/involvement activity including a set of goals and planned outcomes. 

Apply for the explorers internship

Innovators Internship

Young Honors College would like to provide students an opportunity to take their ideas to the next level with this Innovators Internship. Freshmen who took HC 1000: Making Discoveries in Fall 2025 are eligible to apply. They will take their TOOLS paper idea and spend one year working with experts in their field of study and collaborate with OU's Business Incubator to become an entrepreneur. 

Special consideration will be given to students who won Big Ideas Oakland, students who earned an A on their paper, and those whose ideas were chosen by their group for the final presentation. 

Application

• Applicants must have 3.5 GPA or above. 
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College 
• Applicants must have successfully completed HC 1000: Making Discoveries in Fall 2025
• Applicants should submit a 2-page description (double-space, 12 pt.) of their initial idea, including information on its innovative contribution, its likely costs, and its target audience.

Hillcrest Housing Scholar Internship

Young Honors College students living in Hillcrest Hall can apply to be a Hillcrest Young Housing Scholar. Students will assist with staffing the Collaboration Center (CC) and Pre-Medical Hub for 1 year. Interns will be paid $4,000 for their work. 

Application 

• Applicants must have 3.5 GPA or above. 
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College 
• Applicants must live in Hillcrest Hall.
• Applicants must commit to work for one year. 
• Applicants must submit a 2 page document (double-spaced, 12 pt. font) describing the reasons behind their application. They should include any experience they have of leading or managing spaces or places where events take place. If interested, they should also include any ideas they might have for events that could take place in the YHC Collaboration Center.

Apply for the YHC Hillcrest Hall Scholar Internship

YHC Housing Scholarship

Students who would otherwise be unable to live on campus are eligible for this scholarship. No matter which residence hall you live in, living on campus has many benefits. Housing Scholars may be asked to assist YHC events and activities within the building they reside. 

Application

• Applicants must have 3.5 GPA or above. 
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College or incoming freshmen (Fall 2026)
• Applicants must submit a 2 page (double spaced, 12 pt. font) describing the reasons behind their application, including references to any College/YHC leadership, service, or academic activities that show their commitment to excellence and empathy.

Apply for the YHC Housing Scholarship

YHC Smithsonian Scholars Travel Award

Visit the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. with the Young Honors College. 

YHC travel award covers the cost of flights, accommodations, and main meals.

• 15 students will be accompanied by YHC staff and travel as a group. 
• Students will have the opportunity to meet with Smithsonian employees, attend workshops and seminars, and get personalized itineraries. 
• Smithsonian Scholars agree to meet for a planning meeting prior to travel and commit to reporting back about their experience. 
• Students will spend two days and two nights in Washington D.C.

2026 Travel Dates: Monday, March 23 - Wednesday, March 25

Application

• Applicants must have 3.5 GPA or above. 
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College 
• Applicants must submit a 2 page document (double-spaced, 12 pt. font) explaining why they would like to be a YHC Smithsonian Scholar.

Apply for the YHC Smithonian Scholar Travel Award

YHC Seekers Travel Award

Attend, visit, or explore sites related to your professional and/or research expertise. This travel award will help students travel to attend conferences in their field or major, a major site of research or creative activity, a laboratory or research facility, etc. 

Students will meet with a YHC staff member to coordinate flights, accommodations, attendance at an event or conference, etc. This award covers a maximum of $2500.

Application

• Applicants must complete travel one full semester before graduation. 
• Preference will be given to students traveling in their Junior year. 
• Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA or above.
• Applicants must be current students in the Young Honors College. 
• Applicants must submit a 2-page document (double-spaced, 12 pt. font) explaining the intended visit and activity and its importance to their work now (thesis), and in the future (employment, research, graduate studies). 
• Students who are awarded must be willing to report back on the results of their visit. 

Apply for the YHC Seekers Travel Award

Donna & Walt Young Study Abroad Scholarship

Participation in international academic study opportunities is a critical component of higher education for careers in the global economy of the 21st century.

Thanks to the generous support of Mr. Walt and Mrs. Donna Young, Young Honors College offers study abroad scholarships to any student who will have a sophomore, junior or senior standing at the time of application. The Donna and Walt Young Study Abroad Scholarship is offered three times a year (depending on time of travel) and is a one time award, per student. 

Selection Criteria & Application Process

• Must be enrolled full-time at Oakland University; 
• be in good standing in the Young Honors College;
• have sophomore, junior or senior class standing at the time of application; 
• have an educational plan approved by a Young Honors College faculty member;
• have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA at the time of the application; and
• be willing to communicate with the donors about the impact of the experience (arranged by Young Honors College)
• Preferences will be given to applicants who demonstrate leadership skills and involvement in Young Honors College. 

Application Deadlines: 

1. March 15: for Summer travel
2. April 15: for Fall travel
3. October 15: for Winter travel

Application: Donna and Walt Study Abroad Scholarship

For more information on other study abroad opportunities, contact International Education

Pescovitz Presidential Top-Up Scholarship for
Incoming Freshman
who are already
"Platinum" Recipients

First-year students who are Platinum Presidential Scholarship recipients are eligible for the Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship. Selected freshman students will receive a "top up" to a four-year, full-tuition scholarship. Through this significant investment, OU and the Honors College aim to develop a diverse and multidisciplinary group of future leaders that will address our country’s biggest questions and solve our most daunting challenges.

In addition to receiving OU’s most considerable merit scholarship, Pescovitz Presidential Scholars receive four years of enhanced mentoring from faculty and the dean of the Honors College. Throughout their time at OU, they participate in unique co-curricular experiences designed to help them develop as leaders, researchers, and engaged citizens.

Selection Criteria & Application Process:

• Must be a First-year student - Platinum Presidential Scholar Award recipient
• Must be enrolled in The Honors College
• Must apply for the scholarship

Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship Application