• Robert James Lawton Scholarship

    Oviedo Historical Society Scholarship Applications have opened!

  •  

    The Oviedo Historical Society was organized in November 1973 by a group of citizens dedicated to the vision of an Oviedo Historical Museum and desire to promote the preservation of the history of the Oviedo community.

     

    Robert James Lawton was born in 1929, one of the sons of Oviedo’s original Lawton Family—prominent in our city’s history. Dr. Lawton attended Oviedo High School, graduating in 1946 as Valedictorian. He went on to graduate from Florida Southern College in 1950, receive his masters from University of Delaware in 1956, and receive his Ph.D. from University of Virginia in 1968. His career was dedicated to education, holding various positions in academia. Dr. Lawton, who resided in Waynesboro, VA, made a bequest to the Oviedo Historical Society for the establishment of a permanent endowment fund upon on death.

     

    The Society began a scholarship in Dr. Lawton’s name to promote interest in local and state history.

  • How To Apply

    1

    Download or Pick Up Application

    Dowload the scholarship application directly from this page or visit your school guidance counselor to receive a physical copy.

    2

    Complete Application

     

    Complete each page of the application in its entirety. You may fill out the application using a word processor or hand writing your responses.

    3

    Assemble Your Application Packet

    Your application packet should include your completed application form, a sealed copy of your official high school transcript, and a copy of your college acceptance letter.

    4

    Submit Application

     

    Once you have assembled your scholarship application packet, you may submit your application via email to mindroy@bellsouth.net. You may also submit your application in person to Connor DiMatteo at the Oviedo Farmers Market or mail it to the Society.

  • Eligibility

    Two scholarships of $1,500 each to be awarded to a Seminole County High School student meeting the following criteria:

    • Currently attending a High School in Seminole County
    • Currently living within the 32765 or 32766 area code
    • Graduating in Senior Class of 2025
    • Showing academic achievement with a minimum 3.0 GPA
    • Exhibiting special interest, as well as demonstrating accomplishment, specifically in History
    • Pursuing a secondary education (preference given to those with History or Social Studies Education as a major/minor, though it’s not a requirement)
    • Intending to attend a college or university located in the State of Florida (no exceptions)

    Submission

    Applications may be submitted in one of two ways.

     

    1. Applicants may mail application packets for review by the Scholarship Committee to the following address:

     

    Oviedo Historical Society Scholarship Committee

    PO Box 620841

    Oviedo FL 32762-0841

     

    2. Applicants may submit their applications physically to Connor DiMatteo during any Farmers Market before the application deadline.

     

    3. Applicant may email their application to the OHS Scholarship Chairwoman, Mindy Starling, using the email below.

    mindroy@bellsouth.net

     

    APPLICATION DEADLINE:

    POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE April 1, 2025

  • Scholarship Review and Winners Announcement

    The scholarship committee will review all completed applications received and postmarked on or before April 1, 2025. The committee will notify all applicants of their application receipt via email by April 15, 2025. Please note that incomplete applications (i.e. applications not completed in accordance with the above specifications) and applications postmarked after April 1, 2025 will not be reviewed by the committee.

     

    The scholarship will be awarded on May 3, 2025 at the Oviedo Farmers Market located at 200 West Broadway Street on the Lawton House grounds.

     

    The winning students will do a presentation on a topic (450 words, approx. 3 minutes in length) at that meeting. The topic is fairly broad in that it must be about some interesting, little-known fact or event in history (preferably Florida history). An Essay Notification form will be sent to the scholarship winner, providing more details, including approved format enhancements.

     

    Additionally, a Scholarship Winner Announcement will be provided to the guidance counselor along with the date, time, and location of Oviedo Historical Society’s ceremony. Family, administration, and teachers are all invited to attend.

  • FAQs

    The following is a short list of questions that are commonly asked to our Scholarship Committee. If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the Robert James Lawton Scholarship, please contact our Scholarship Chairwoman Mindy Starling by email or phone using mindroy@bellsouth.net or (407) 221-5103.

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