Oregon Independent College Foundation and The PGE Foundation

Portland General Electric and the PGE Foundation have been supporters of the Oregon Independent College Foundation (OICF) since 1953, donating more than $2.45 million toward the work of Oregon’s leading independent colleges and universities. This marks not only the 55th consecutive year that PGE and the PGE Foundation has supported OICF but the 20th year of the PGE Foundation Scholars program between the OICF and PGE/PGE Foundation. With total named scholarship contributions of over $1.7 million, there have been 665 PGE/PGE Foundation Scholars on the OICF campuses since the inception of the PGE Foundation Scholars program. This partnership is very much the model for the OICF’s named scholarship program.

The Oregon Independent College Foundation, founded in 1950, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, fundraising and programmatic partnership of Oregon’s ten leading private colleges and universities. Since its’ founding, the OICF has raised more than $51 million on behalf of the member colleges from top corporations, private foundations, and leading individuals in Oregon and beyond. OICF members include: Concordia University, George Fox University, Lewis & Clark College, Linfield College, Marylhurst University, Pacific University, Reed College, University of Portland, Warner Pacific College, and Willamette University.

The PGE Foundation has awarded a total of 40 scholarships at the $2,500 level to the OICF for distribution to students of the member colleges and universities for the 2008-09 academic year. All ten of the colleges will receive four scholarships. The PGE Foundation Scholars program provides 10 new scholarship awards (one per OICF member institution) to Oregon high school students who wish to attend one of the OICF member institutions. Recipients receive a $2,500 tuition scholarship for their freshman year and may receive renewed awards at the $2,500 level for their second, third and fourth years, assuming they continue to meet the eligibility requirements. Recipients may receive up to a total of $10,000 over four years.

The PGE Foundation Scholars program is open to any Oregon high school senior planning to attend an OICF member college or university as a full-time undergraduate beginning in the fall of 2008. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and special consideration will be given to individuals with a strong background in community service and involvement with Oregon nonprofit or service organizations.

Submit completed applications to the Admissions Office at the OICF college or university of your choice. If applying to more than one of these colleges, submit a separate copy of this application to each. Please do not send this application to the PGE Foundation or the Oregon Independent College Foundation — send it directly to the colleges to which you are applying.

Final selection of recipients is determined by the Admissions Departments at the OICF member colleges. Staffs from the PGE Foundation, PGE or the Oregon Independent College Foundation are not involved with the selection process.

Continuation of this award from one year to the next is dependent upon three conditions: 1) maintenance of a 3.0 GPA in college; 2) continued full-time enrollment and continuous attendance in the OICF college or university that originally awarded the scholarship; and 3) continued maintenance of the academic standards as required by the college or university.