Governor Emeritus Overton James Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a full-time, Chickasaw student enrolled full-time in their junior or senior year or in graduate school at an accredited two- or four-year university while majoring in education. Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

This scholarship was established by the family of Governor Emeritus Overton James. Overton's mother, Ms. Vinnie May James Humes, always stressed the importance of education. From his early career as a teacher, coach, director of  Oklahoma Indian Education and through his tenure as Chickasaw Governor, Governor James was a devoted supporter of education. He served as Governor of  the Chickasaw Nation from 1963-1987 and worked tirelessly for the improvement of the lives of the Chickasaw people.