Oklahoma Dressage Society Education Scholarship Policy
Effective: 2/12/2026
Approved by ODS Governing Board: 2/12/2026
A. Purpose
The Oklahoma Dressage Society (ODS) Education Scholarship (“Scholarship”) provides financial assistance to ODS members to further their dressage education and to strengthen the ODS/Region 9 dressage community.
B. Scholarship Budget and Award Limits
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Annual Budget: The Scholarship budget is established annually by the ODS Governing Board as part of the ODS budget process.
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Number of Awards: The Scholarship Committee may recommend one or more awards each year, not to exceed the annual Scholarship budget. The Committee may also recommend awarding no scholarships in a given year.
C. Eligibility
To be eligible, an applicant must:
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Be a current ODS member in good standing at the time of application and at the time of reimbursement.
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Agree to the service requirement in Section H (4 hours before reimbursement request + 4 hours after reimbursement, within the 12-month award period).
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Submit a complete application by the deadline in Section E.
Note: ODS Board and committee members are eligible to apply; however, Scholarship Committee members must recuse themselves from discussion and voting on their own application.
D. Qualifying Educational Activities (Reimbursable)
Scholarship funds may be used for registration/entry/tuition/auditing fees for qualifying dressage educational activities completed within the award period (Section G), such as:
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ODS, USDF, USEF, or Region 9 educational events, clinics, symposiums, or lectures
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Clinics/education provided by a USDF/USEF judge, Technical Delegate, USDF “L” Program graduate, USDF/USEF Certified Instructor, or USDF Medalist
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USDF/USEF educational programs or coursework (in-person or virtual)
Not reimbursable (examples): travel, lodging, meals, horse board/training board, routine training rides, memberships/dues, show entries that are not educational, equipment/tack, veterinary/farrier.
If an activity is unclear, the applicant may request a written determination from the Scholarship Committee prior to incurring the expense (optional; not required).
E. Application Deadline and Annual Cycle
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Deadline: Complete applications must be received by April 30 each year.
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Review & Approval: The Scholarship Committee reviews applications and forwards recommendations to the ODS Governing Board for approval.
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Award Notification: Recipients will be notified no later than May 31 (or within 30 days of the Board vote, if later).
F. Selection Criteria (Simplified)
Awards are based on the Scholarship Committee’s evaluation of:
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Clarity of educational goals and expected benefit to the rider and the dressage community
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Demonstrated commitment to ODS/volunteerism (past participation considered, but not required)
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Financial need/impact (optional factor)
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Availability of annual Scholarship funds
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Preference may be given to applicants who have not received a Scholarship in the prior 12 months.
G. Award Term and Use of Funds (No Event Required Upfront)
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No event selection required at application. Recipients may choose any qualifying activity after award, within the award term.
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Award Term: Each award is valid for 12 months from the Award Date stated in the recipient’s notice.
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Activity Timing: The qualifying educational activity must occur within the 12-month award term.
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Non-transferable: Awards may only be used for the recipient’s own education.
H. Volunteer Service Requirement (4 Hours Before + 4 Hours After)
To receive reimbursement, each recipient must complete:
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At least 4 hours of ODS volunteer service BEFORE submitting a reimbursement request, and
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At least 4 additional hours of ODS volunteer service AFTER reimbursement, all within the 12-month award term.
Eligible volunteer service includes volunteering at ODS events (shows, schooling shows, clinics, education events, fundraisers), committee work approved by the Volunteer Coordinator, or other ODS-sanctioned tasks. Volunteer hours must be documented per Section I.
I. Reimbursement Process and Documentation
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Reimbursement-based program: Scholarship funds are paid as reimbursement after the recipient completes a qualifying activity and meets the pre-reimbursement volunteer requirement.
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Documentation required for reimbursement:
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Proof of participation/attendance (receipt, confirmation, certificate, or organizer verification)
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Proof of payment (itemized receipt)
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Volunteer log showing minimum 4 hours completed prior to the reimbursement request, verified by the ODS Volunteer Coordinator (or event organizer designee)
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Required post-activity report (Section J)
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Timing: Reimbursement requests must be submitted within the 12-month award term.
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Payment: Reimbursement will be issued up to the awarded amount (or actual eligible expenses, whichever is less).
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Forfeiture: Unused awards expire at the end of the 12-month term and are forfeited.
J. Post-Activity Report
Recipients must submit a brief post-activity report (written, video, or short presentation) describing what was learned and how it will be applied. This must be submitted within 30 days of the qualifying activity and no later than the reimbursement request.
K. Administration
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Scholarship Committee: Appointed annually by the Governing Board; 3–5 ODS members in good standing, with at least one Board member recommended.
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Conflict of interest: Committee members must recuse themselves when an application presents a conflict.
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Records: The Scholarship Committee maintains records of awards, reimbursements, and volunteer verification.