Jo Bob Hille Memorial Scholarship

Jo Bob and Mary Ann Hille founded the Hille Foundation in 1997 as a way to formalize their strong belief in giving. They had always been active volunteers and valued supporters of the Tulsa community and felt forming a foundation was the way to accomplish their philanthropic goals more efficiently.

Jo Bob Hille was born and raised in Collinsville, Oklahoma. After earning a degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa, he embarked on a life-long career in the oil business. He eventually settled with his wife and college sweetheart, Mary Ann Moyers, in Tulsa, where he worked for Andover Oil Company. He then went on to co-found Vintage Petroleum in 1983, a publicly traded oil and natural gas company on the New York Stock Exchange. Jo Bob held various positions at Vintage, including Chief Executive Officer, before his retirement in 1999. He was always a small-town boy who held the idea of community and the support of community effort in the highest regard. The Hille Foundation is a testament to this belief: in life, you are what you give back.

Current Jo Bob Hille Memorial Scholarship Recipients

• Andrew Brill from Owasso

Jo Bob Hille SCHOLARSHIP Recipients Who Have Graduated From College

• Austin Crandall from Southwester Oklahoma State University
• Garrett Powders from Rogers State University
• Bradley Kershaw from Oklahoma State University
• Terran Johnson from Oral Roberts University
• Chris Elledge from University of Miami

The Jo Bob Hille Memorial Scholarship:

• Is awarded in an amount up to $10,000 per student per school year in order to offset the annual cost of higher education at an accredited Oklahoma school.
• Must be used for qualified higher education expenses as defined by the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan*.
• Is awarded based upon financial need, fulfillment of the application requirements, level of involvement & participation in First Tee — Tulsa, and the selection of the scholarship committee.
• Dictates that recipients must meet specific requirements for second, third, and fourth years of college.
• Is offered to one student per year.
• Are contingent upon availability of funds.
• Does not pay for online courses.

*As defined by the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan, qualified higher education expenses include tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the enrollment and attendance of the beneficiary at an eligible educational institution and, under certain circumstances, room and board expenses. Qualified higher education expenses also include certain additional enrollment and attendant costs of a beneficiary who is a special needs beneficiary in connection with the beneficiary’s enrollment or attendance at an eligible institution. For this purpose, eligible educational institutions generally are accredited post-secondary educational institutions offering credit toward a bachelor’s degree, and associate degree, a graduate-level degree of professional degree, or another recognized post-secondary credential.)

Requirements of the Applicant:

• Must complete a competitive course of study and graduate high school.
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in core curriculum in high school.
• Must take the ACT or SAT test (Critical Reading, Math and writing) and be accepted at an accredited school.
• Must demonstrate written skills as evidenced by the quality of the applicant’s essay.
• Must provide an official transcript showing their grades and a school profile with the completed application. Transcript and profile may be obtained from the high school guidance counselor.
• Must submit two letters of recommendation, one from a school counselor, teacher or mentor and the other from a parent or guardian describing why the student should receive the scholarship.
• Must be an active participant in the First Tee — Tulsa program at the time of application.
• Must have been a participant in a class at First Tee — Tulsa for at least 2 years prior to the application.
• Must be involved in Chapter activities such as mentoring, volunteering, and or participating in First Tee community service outings/outreach programs.
• Must be eagle certified, and/or be actively participating in the certification process.
• Show evidence of responsible citizenship through meaningful involvement in the community or civic activities.
• Must disclose any and all scholarships received and the amounts.
• Must provide a copy of your and your parent’s or guardian’s most recent tax return. If you or your family has unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment), please note it.

To apply for the Jo Bob Hille Memorial Scholarship return the following application and required attachments to:

Applications for the first year of the scholarship and required attachments must be received by February 1st, 2023 at the address below. 

First Tee — Tulsa Scholarship Committee
5223 East 41st Street North
Tulsa, OK 74115