Fostering the Future Scholarship Offered at ORU as part of First Lady Melania Trump's Foster Care Initiative

Tulsa, Oklahoma, September 1, 2026-Oral Roberts University (ORU) has been named a partnering university in First Lady Melania Trump's "Fostering the Future for American Children and Families," a national, executive order initiative designed to expand educational and workforce pathways for young people transitioning out of foster care. The Executive Order establishes a coordinated federal and public-private framework to strengthen access to mentorship, scholarships, technology, financial literacy, and workforce preparation opportunities.

"At ORU, we believe education is one of the most powerful pathways to stability, purpose, and generational impact," said ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson. "We are honored to stand alongside First Lady Melania Trump and national partners in expanding opportunities for students who have experienced foster care. We see the potential in every student, and we are committed to forming Whole Leaders for the Whole World. Through strong partnerships between federal leaders, private industry, and higher education, we believe this initiative will help illuminate a pathway for foster youth to become tomorrow's innovators, entrepreneurs, and community builders."

Established to empower former foster children from any state in the United States, ORU's Fostering the Future Scholarship provides undergraduate students with access to a Spirit-empowered academic environment. In 2022, ORU's Michael Weitzman was the first recipient of Melania Trump's Fostering the Future scholarship. Michael shared the impact it had on his life:

"The Fostering the Future scholarship opened the door to ORU," Michael said. "But it also opened the door to so much more. Since receiving the scholarship, the Lord connected me to senators, governors, and state officials. In my social work class, my professor stressed that all our efforts in social work would be useless unless done with and through the Holy Spirit. I really believe the Lord has anointed me to significantly influence policies that affect children. My goal is to be wherever I can serve as many children as possible."

ORU joins institutions such as Vanderbilt University, University of Miami, Villanova University, and Florida International University in supporting this national effort.

The Executive Order includes several key provisions:

• Establishment of a national Fostering the Future Pledge to secure commitments from academic, nonprofit, and industry partners;
• Creation of an online resource and planning hub for current and former foster youth;
• Expanded access to federal Education and Training Vouchers and credentialed workforce programs; and
• Increased scholarship access through state-supported, tax-credited donation programs.

For more information, please visit ORU's Fostering the Future Scholarship webpage.

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 182 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.