J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholarship

About the Scholarship

The J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholarship is the largest award at Stetson University, a private university in DeLand, Florida. Stetson states that it covers your expenses for four years, and publishes a 2025-26 average scholarship award of $78,000 against two first-year awards.

Two awards a year means the bar is high. Stetson asks for a 3.7 GPA or above and then looks for leadership it can name: student government, service organisations, athletics, scientific or creative work. Fitness and discipline are explicitly part of the profile, though varsity sport is not required and dance or other fitness activities count.

The process has two steps. Apply to Stetson, then use the option that appears in your Hatter Portal to apply to the Edmunds programme, with all documents at the Office of Admissions by 1 December.

Stetson describes its Edmunds scholars as coming from around the world, and its international financing page tells international students they are considered automatically for scholarships and may apply separately to the premier programmes. Traditional need-based aid stays limited to US citizens, so for an international student the merit programmes are the funding route.

What It Covers

Tuition
Fees
Housing
Other

Stetson states that the scholarship covers your expenses for four years at the University, and publishes a 2025-26 average scholarship award of $78,000 across the two first-year awards. Confirm with Student Financial Aid which charges your individual award letter includes before you plan travel and personal spending.

Eligibility

Stetson describes the programme as nationally competitive and says it seeks high-achieving scholars with a proven track record of academic excellence and leadership from around the world. Two first-year awards are made each year. Requirements are a high school GPA of 3.7 or above, superior academic achievement measured by record and testing, outstanding leadership in school or community roles, discipline and physical wellness through athletics or fitness activities (varsity sport is not required, and dance, aerobics or other fitness programmes count), character, integrity, self-motivation, strong spoken and written communication, active participation in co-curricular activities, and creativity shown in arts, music, theatre, writing, debate or scientific investigation. Stetson's international financing page tells international students they are automatically considered for scholarships once admitted and that premier scholarship programmes can be applied for separately, while traditional financial aid options remain limited to U.S. citizens.

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

Apply to Stetson University first. An option to apply for the J. Ollie Edmunds Scholarship Program then appears in your Hatter Portal. All documents should reach the Office of Admissions by 1 December. International applicants also complete the International Student Application and the International Student Certification of Finances, which Stetson uses to issue the I-20 for an F-1 visa and which accounts for any Stetson scholarship you receive.