A four-year scholarship program at the University of Oklahoma that develops high-achieving students into confident leaders who serve and give back — from your first day on campus to graduation and beyond.
HSP is OU’s first Living Learning Community. First-year scholars live together on campus, meet weekly as a cohort, and move through a structured, four-year curriculum built around three areas: Scholar Development, Scholar Well-Being, and Community Care. Every year of the program is intentionally designed to build on the last.
Dr. George Henderson is a scholar, educator, author, and human rights advocate who spent decades at the University of Oklahoma shaping students and the institution itself. His life’s work was rooted in a simple conviction: education is the foundation of equity, and every person deserves access to it. The Henderson Scholars Program was founded in 1999 to honor that legacy — not by memorializing it, but by living it. When a Henderson Scholar mentors a peer, leads a small group, or serves their community, they are carrying Dr. Henderson’s values forward.
1999
In 1999 there was a vision to honor Dr. George Henderson by establishing a scholarship program in his name.
2001
In 2001, the Henderson Scholars Program officially came into fruition.
2002-2003
The inaugural class of Henderson Scholars was formed at the University of Oklahoma.
2020
The Henderson Scholars Program shifted to a curricular approach programming model.
2022
The Henderson Scholars Program launches the University of Oklahoma's first living-learning-community for first-year scholars and created a partnership with University College to create the Henderson Scholars Foundations course.
