Indianapolis (March 19, 2024) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its prestigious Awards of Excellence Scholarships for 2024. These scholarships, totaling $10,000, are awarded annually to mortuary school students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, funeral service experience, and a deep commitment to serving families with compassion, fairness, and dignity.
This year, 27 students from across the United States and Canada applied for the scholarships, making the selection process highly competitive. After careful consideration, five exceptional students were chosen to receive scholarships.
Meet the 2024 Scholarship Recipients:
Jim Shackelford – From Salem, Mass., Jim is a student at North Shore Community College. He works for O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations. Jim has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship and airfare, accommodations and registration to attend the 2024 OGR Annual Conference in Savannah on May 7-9.
Kassidy Goad – From Hillsville, Va., Kassidy is a student at Mid-America College of Funeral Service. She works for Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Funeral Home and has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
Kylee Crane – From Port Huron, Mich., Kylee is a student at Wayne State University. Kylee works for OGR member firm Pollock-Randall Funeral Home and has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
Eldrick Brown – From Birmingham, Ala., Eldrick is a student at the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. He works for Dante Jelks Funeral Home and has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
Shoshana Deming – From Baltimore, Md., Shoshana is a student at Community College of Baltimore County. She works for Cremation Society of Maryland/MacNabb Funeral Home and has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Kim Hunter, OGR Foundation Chair, expressed admiration for this year’s awardees, stating, “The dedication and passion exhibited by these students embody the values of the International Order of the Golden Rule. We are proud to support their academic and professional endeavors as they continue to make a difference in the lives of families they serve.”
All scholarship applicants receive complimentary student membership in OGR through December 31, 2025, providing them with access to valuable resources and networking opportunities within the funeral service profession.
To learn more about the OGR Foundation and to make a donation, please visit www.ogr.org/foundation. Your support helps to empower the next generation of compassionate and skilled funeral service professionals.
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About the International Order of the Golden Rule
Since 1928, the International Order of the Golden Rule has been the leading professional association dedicated to promoting high ethical standards and outstanding service in the funeral and memorialization profession. OGR members represent the elite in the industry, consistently providing compassionate and personalized care to families in their time of need. OGR is headquartered in Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.
