Huntington Ford of Rochester Hills has established a scholarship for an incoming freshman at Oakland University from one of four Rochester-area high schools, including Adams, Stoney Creek, Rochester and Avondale high schools.
The scholarship will support an undergraduate student with a four year, renewable award to be applied toward the cost of tuition at Oakland University. In addition to good citizenship, candidates must demonstrate financial need, as well as passion for a particular subject matter or extra-curricular activity.
Patrick Scoggin, President of Huntington Ford, says the dealership first came into contact with local high schools through a test drive program that Ford offers with local high schools. “We get out into the high schools and take vehicles out to the schools to do an afternoon test drive. High schools earn $20 per test drive for the school. We’ve been doing this for last three years. It’s hands on and really got me thinking about the four outstanding high schools in our market, and that we have a gem in Oakland University in our backyard.”
Scholarship recipients must be incoming full time, freshmen at Oakland with financial need and passion for specific area of study or extra-curricular interest. Applicants must hold a minimum 3.30 grade point average.
The scholarship is renewable for an additional three years for a student who continues to demonstrate financial need, completes full-time credits during each fall and winter semester, and maintains a 3.30 GPA. Scholarship renewal is subject to funding availability.
A family-owned business, Huntington Ford has been in the Rochester community for more than 30 years. “It was a good time as a part of our community to give back,” Scoggin said. “Here we have wonderful high schools and an incredible, growing university in OU. I want to make a difference in young people’s lives and it’s so important to what we’re doing as a local business.”
“Scholarships are life-changing for students when it comes to covering the expense of university tuition. We thank Patrick Scoggin and Huntington Ford for their generosity and for paying it forward for an Oakland student,” said Eleanor Reynolds, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Admissions. We look forward to naming the scholarship recipient by the fall semester.”
According to Reynolds, interested students are asked to submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member or administrator along with a personal one-page letter sharing academic or extra-curricular interests, describing what the scholarship will mean to them. For more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at (248) 370-3364 or email: tking@oakland.edu.