Scholarships

JACKIE TOWELL SCHOLARSHIP

This Scholarship was established by the Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild (OPNIG) in 2018 to honor Jackie Towell, who passed away in 2017. Jackie was one of our most dedicated Oxford Instructors, teaching countless people how to punch. She was also funny, kind and generous – in short, a wonderful role model for all Oxford Instructors.

Jackie Towell was British and taught in the United Kingdom, Long Island (New York), and later in Florida, where she and her husband retired. In addition to teaching classes and private lessons for adults and children, Jackie volunteered her skills to work with at-risk young people, hospital patients recovering from head injuries, and students with communication difficulties.
who met her. Jackie, her brother, and parents were prisoners of war during WWII in Manilla, starting when Manilla was invaded by Japan. She spent the entire war in a Japanese prisoner of war camp and went blind from malnutrition caused by starvation. After being released by the Americans, she had to spend two years in a dark room to regain her sight and spent the rest of her life suffering from other health problems caused by her internment.

Many years later Jackie was honored by the Japanese when they asked her to christen a ship. She has been honored at the British War Museum in an exhibit and ceremony honoring child prisoners of war and was also included in a book that was part of the exhibit called Young Voices by Lyn Smith. In addition to this, she was also a British spy operating in the Far East and was able to help gather important information and received a medal for her service. This was top secret until a few years ago. By creating the Jackie Towell Scholarship, OPNIG wants to carry on Jackie’s legacy and assist someone who might not otherwise be able to finance the course, to attend the Oxford Teacher Certification workshop with any Advanced Oxford Certified Instructor and attain her or his Oxford Punch Needle Instructor Certification.

HOW IT WORKS

Please Note:

Applications for 2024 are now closed, and this year's scholarship has already been awarded to the lucky recipient. A new scholarship will be available next year, and applicants are welcome to apply in January of 2025.
The scholarship is available to any student taking an Oxford Teacher Certification workshop with any Advanced Oxford Certified Instructor.
The awarding of the scholarship will be managed by the Board of OPNIG ( Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild)
The OPNIG Board will undertake various activities to raise money for the Jackie Towell Scholarship fund, and The Oxford Company also generously contributes to the fund to allow more scholarships to be awarded.
OPNIG welcomes contributions to the Scholarship fund at any time; donations will be gratefully acknowledged and charitable receipts for tax purposes will be provided for amounts over US$25.00. Checks or money orders must be in US funds, made out to the Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild with a note stating that the funds are to be directed to the Jackie Towell Scholarship. Donations should be sent to: Kim Scanlan, OPNIG Treasurer, 4767 Dahlia Way N, Hugo, MN 55038

HOW TO APPLY

Eligibility: The Jackie Towell Scholarship welcomes applications from any student who qualifies to attend the Oxford Teacher Certification Program
Application “Form”: The application for this scholarship is simply a letter to the Board of Directors of the Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild. In the letter, applicants must include:
Something about themselves and why they want to become a Certified Oxford Punch Needle Instructor;
A description of their experience in punch needle work to date;
A detailed estimate of their total cost to attend the school (e.g., travel, accommodation, course fees, materials) and how funding from the Jackie Towell Scholarship would help defray the cost and supplement their own resources; and
A commitment to writing a short article for the Oxford Certified Instructors Newsletter within 6 months of receiving the Scholarship, should they be the successful candidate, and a suggested topic for the article.
Scholarship Amount: In 2024, one (1) $1400 scholarship to pay for tuition will be awarded to a student accepted into the Oxford Teacher Certification Program. Applications should be addressed to: Kim Scanlan, OPNIG Treasurer, 4767 Dahlia Way N, Hugo, MN 55038

Applications may be sent either by regular mail to the above address, or by email to: opnig18@gmail.com.

PATRICIA LAWRENCE

Patricia Lawrence was a graduate of the 2008 Oxford Teacher Certification Program and she completed this beautiful rug as part of her homework. Anna's Flowers is 2' x 3'

BACKGROUND
This Scholarship was established by the punch needle rug punching group called Paulette’s Punchettes of Braintree, Vermont to honor Patricia Lawrence, a long-time member of their group and a dedicated rug maker and punch needle teacher who died too young in 2015. Pat (shown above) was a model in every respect: she brought integrity, patience, generosity of spirit, and a great sense of humor to all she undertook. She loved sharing her knowledge of rug punching with both adults and children.

By creating the Patricia Lawrence Scholarship, the group wanted to carry on Pat’s legacy and assist someone who might not otherwise be able to finance the course, to attend the Oxford Rug Hooking School.
The awarding of the scholarship is managed by the Board of The Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild (OPNIG).
In 2024, the Patricia Lawrence Scholarships will be awarded to six (6) beginner students to attend a beginner class taught by any Oxford Certified Instructor along with a $100 Oxford company gift card.
The awarding of the scholarship is managed by the Board of The Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild (OPNIG).
Eligibility: The Pat Lawrence Scholarship welcomes applications from any beginner student who would like to attend a beginner class with an Oxford Certified Instructor.

How to apply:

The application for this scholarship is simply a letter or email to the Board of Directors of The Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild (OPNIG.) In the email, applicants should describe:
Something about themselves and why they want to learn punch needle rug hooking.
A detailed estimate of their total cost to attend the school (e.g., travel, accommodation, course fees, materials) and how the Pat Lawrence Scholarship would help defray the cost and supplement their own resources.
Applications may be sent via mail to opnig18@gmail.com or mailed to: Kim Scanlan, OPNIG Treasurer, 4767 Dahlia Way N, Hugo, MN 55038

The names of the applicants and those who receive the scholarship will be kept confidential.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
Contributions to the Patricia Lawrence Scholarship Fund are welcome. Donations will be gratefully acknowledged and charitable receipts for tax purposes will be provided for amounts over US$25.00. Checks or money orders must be in US funds, made out to the Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild with a note stating that the funds are to be directed to the Patricia Lawrence Scholarship. Donations should be sent to: Kim Scanlan, OPNIG Treasurer, 4767 Dahlia Way N, Hugo, MN 55038