Scholarships

Power Drive Scholarships

Overview

To encourage students to further their education and to promote careers in automotive technology, electronics, engineering or physics, the organizers of Power Drive^® will award two $1000 scholarships each year following the Power Drive competition. The Paul High/OPPD Power Drive Scholarship will be awarded to a participating student from within OPPD's service territory. Mr. High, who passed away in October, 2000, was one of the key developers of the Power Drive^® Program. He embodied the standards of excellence, commitment to hard work and creativity required to successfully participate in Power Drive^® . Another OPPD Power Drive^® scholarship will be awarded to a qualified "at-large" applicant. The scholarships are funded by contributions from individuals and businesses, as well as by volunteer fund-raising activities.

Eligibility

Anyone who is participating in the Power Drive^® Program during the current academic school year, who will be graduating from high school in the spring and who intends to enroll in an electronics, automotive technology, engineering or physics program at an accredited trade school, community college, college or university is eligible to apply for scholarship consideration. The selection process will give particular emphasis to items 9 and 10 on the scholarship application and to the instructor's recommendation. Two alternates will be chosen in case the winners do not enroll in the course of study as required. Power Drive does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation or religion.

Application Forms

Applications will be sent to all high schools (groups, students, instructors) that are participating in the Power Drive^® Program. Application forms can also be obtained by contacting OPPD. The application deadline is March 31.

(Clicking the links below will open a new window so you can print it out)
Scholarship Application Form
Instructor's Recommendation Form

Submission of Application

Applications are to be received no later than March 31 of the current academic school year by the Power Drive^® Scholarship Committee, 444 S. 16th Street Mall, Omaha NE 68102. The committee will review applications and select the scholarship recipients by May 1. Notification will be made no later than May 15 of the current academic school year.

Directions for Submitting Application

To apply for scholarship consideration, complete the Scholarship Application Form and have it signed by your instructor and counselor. Attach 1) a statement describing your reasons for applying for this scholarship and your career goals and objectives in the electronic or automotive industries; 2) a statement explaining what you have gained from the Power Drive^® Program and what impact it has made in your life and future career choice; 3) your Power Drive^® Instructor's Recommendation Form; and 4) transcripts and character references, which are not mandatory but which may be included. The application and all the attachments must be received by March 1, as described in the "Submission of Application" paragraph.

(Clicking the links below will open a new window so you can print it out)
Scholarship Application Form
Instructor's Recommendation Form

Payment of Scholarship

Two $1000 Power Drive^® Scholarships will be awarded. The scholarship will be paid to the student's school upon receipt of proof of enrollment. If the scholarship is not used within one year of the date it was awarded, it will be withdrawn and considered null and void.

OPPD employees, suppliers and other Power Drive® supporters have generously contributed to the scholarship fund. Anyone wishing further information about the scholarship or making a contribution to it can contact OPPD at (402) 552-4960 or (402) 636-3750.

Scholarship Donors

Altec Industries - Don Sedlacek
Baxter/Chrysler/Plymouth - Jim Monohon
Central Body - Al Jankowski
Chemsearch - Randy Hottmann
Chrysler Fleet - Charlie Evans
Crane Rental & Rigging - Hugh Murphy
Cross-Dillion Tire
Davis Erection Company - Chuck Miske
Ditch Witch of Omaha - Greg Medlin
Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Tom Whitcomb
GM Fleet - John Pratt
High Quality Distributing Inc. - Dan Gillen
Hotsy - Scott Klingemann
Independent Testing Laboratories - John Sanderson
Marvin Lengemann
Max's Body Shop Inc. - Tim Fischer
Michael McCarty
Mid America Cleaning Systems - Bob Nano
Nebraska/Iowa Fasteners - Mark Etter
Leadership OPPD
Omaha Standard - Mark Raney
Omaha Tractor, Inc. - Dave Goodsell
Omaha Truck - Mike Noon
Paul High Family
Ron Olsen Dodge - Ron Olsen
Sapp Bros. Petroleum - Bernie Rader
Stacy's Car Wash - Pat Rawlings
Stock Realty and Auction Co. - Mark Stock

If you are interested in becoming a supporter of the Power Drive^® Program or Power Drive^® Scholarship Program, please contact OPPD Consumer Relations at 636-3747 (Omaha metro area) or 1-800-648-2658 (outside Omaha).