To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in an educational program which focuses on adult and/or continuing education or adult learning at a regional or nationally accredited institution. Acceptable majors include but are not limited to Adult and Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, and Educational Studies. Applications from North American or international adult education majors are accepted. For European students, this means a diploma/license or bachelor’s, a meister or master’s or PhD.

Undergraduate applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 hours (units) with a cumulative 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) from the institution; graduate applicants must have completed a minimum of 6 hours (units) with a cumulative 3.0 GPA from the institution.

If you do not know your assigned academic advisor well, you may select a different faculty member in your program who is familiar with your academic work.

The IACEHOF recommendation form from the IACEHOF website must be used or the application will be considered incomplete and ineligible for review.

The essay, written in English, for the scholarship will be judged on written content and writing skills and should be 450-750 words in length, not including references. In your essay you should identify current issues and challenges in the field of adult education and/or continuing education. Additionally, please explain what you see as future trends for the field, how you hope to impact the field, and your personal philosophy of lifelong learning.

Previous winners are eligible to reapply for the IACEHOF James P. Pappas Scholarship.

Download both forms and complete:

• Application Form - To be completed by Applicant
• Recommendation Form - To be completed by Recommender 

The scholarship recipient will receive an email from the IACEHOF Chair of the Scholarship Committee six weeks after the application deadline.

No, the scholarship check is sent to the student.

The IACEHOF James P. Pappas Scholarship deadline is May 1, 2026.

No. Scholarship recipients are not required to write a follow-up report; however, we would be interested to learn how you have used the scholarship and how you are progressing in your program and career.

Yes, scholarship recipients must attend the beginning of the Board meeting following award of the scholarship. Please also submit a resumé and photo of yourself to the Chair of the Scholarship Committee.

If I have any questions, to whom should I direct them and how?

Please contact:            

Shannon Johansen

Phone: (405) 325-6362 

Email: shannonjohansen@ou.edu