Oliver L. Johnson and William A. Lester Families Fund The Oliver L. Johnson & William A. Lester Families Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation was created to provide educational opportunities for deserving students in financial need with a preference for black African and African-American young women and men committed to pursuing formal education beyond the twelfth grade in high school. The donors, themselves African-American, seek to encourage and support students who have already displayed academic ability and leadership skills and who recognize that a solid educational foundation is a necessary prerequisite to making a positive contribution to society.

Criteria

• Attend high school in Allegheny County, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington, or Westmoreland Counties as a graduating senior.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Plan to attend an accredited vocational or technical trade school OR 2-or 4-year college or university.
• Preference will be given to black African students born in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal-Gambia, Zaire, Kenya or Cameroon, or African American students.

How to Apply

• Complete the essay section of the application.
• Submit your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you have not already received your SAR, you can do so by applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Submit one letter of reference.

Contact

• The Pittsburgh Foundation: scholarships@pghfdn.org