University of Oklahoma Announces New Scholarship Benefiting Graduates of Pawhuska High School

Beginning fall 2026, graduates of Pawhuska High School in Pawhuska, Okla., will be eligible to receive a last-dollar scholarship of up to $30,000 annually for four years while attending the University of Oklahoma through the David & Sally Polk Howard Scholarship.

Made possible through a generous gift from the estate of David G. Howard, the scholarship not only represents the connection David and his wife, Sally Polk Howard, shared with OU as proud alumni, but also encourages students from David’s hometown of Pawhuska to follow in his footsteps and pursue a four-year degree at OU.

“The University of Oklahoma was founded to create opportunity and change lives across our state,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Through the extraordinary generosity of David Howard and Sally Polk Howard, Pawhuska students will have a clear and powerful pathway to an OU education – one that removes financial barriers and unlocks their full potential. This is what it means to be Oklahoma’s flagship university: expanding access, investing in talent, and strengthening communities throughout our state.”

After David earned a bachelor's degree in business in 1960, he went on to follow his passion for entrepreneurship and became the owner of a mortgage lending company. Sally finished her degree in education in 1961, and for over four decades, dedicated her life to philanthropy and volunteering in her local communities.

“This remarkable scholarship reflects the essence of what it means to be part of the OU Family,” said Jeff Blahnik, vice president for the Division of Enrollment Management and chief enrollment officer. “David and Sally understood that an OU legacy is more than just what one can achieve, but also what one can give back. This scholarship opens doors for Pawhuska students and gives them a chance to see what one can do at the University of Oklahoma.” 

To qualify for the David & Sally Polk Howard Scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year, an incoming freshman must: 

1. Graduate from Pawhuska High School.
2. Apply to OU by Feb. 1 of a student’s senior year of high school.
3. Be admitted to OU as a first-time, full-time freshman entering directly from high school.
4. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 of senior year of high school.
5. Enroll as a full-time student each semester.

To annually renew the scholarship, a student must:

1. File the FAFSA on or before March 1.
2. Be enrolled at OU as a full-time student and maintain a four-year graduation track.
3. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Students can submit the OU Application at apply.ou.edu or explore the OU Admissions & Recruitment website at ou.edu/admissions. Every student is also assigned an OU Admissions Counselor to help guide them through the college search and application process and can connect with their representative by emailing admissions@ou.edu or visiting go2.ou.edu/rep.