The Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliot Scholarship was established in 2020 by their children Tomm J. Elliott of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Kirk D. Elliott, Yukon, Okla. and Jody Elliott-Graham of Boise, Idaho.

Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliott grew up as neighbors in Dacoma and attended Dacoma Schools together through high school. Upon graduation, Thomas joined the United States Marine Corps where he was assigned to the K-9 Corps based in Hawaii. During Thomas’ deployment, Evajoy pursued university studies at Anderson College, Anderson, Ind. She majored in psychology and Christian education. At the end of the war, which coincided with Evajoy's graduation from Anderson, both Thomas and Evajoy returned to Dacoma. They were married in Dacoma on Aug. 7, 1947.

Thomas, utilizing the GI Bill, began his university studies at Northwestern State Teacher's College while Evajoy assumed a teaching position in the Capron Public School. Thomas completed his degree in education and went on to complete his master's degree in education at Colorado State Teacher's College in Greeley, Colorado. Upon completion of his master's degree, the Elliott’s moved to Greeley where Thomas assumed a teaching position. Shortly thereafter, he became a school principal.

Evajoy, after raising her family, established herself as the coordinator of the innovative Head Start Program at its inception in the 1970s, then as a social worker with the Welfare Department in Greeley. She always considered herself a Christian educator and was active in local and statewide programs and activities of the Church of God.

“It is honor to have a scholarship associated with the names of Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliott at Northwestern Oklahoma State University,” said Skeeter Bird, CEO, Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association. “We are grateful their children honored their wishes to establish a scholarship recognizing their parents’ accomplishments. The Elliott’s story will be inspirational to students wishing to make a difference in the world through a career in education.”

Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliott believed they were blessed with the opportunity of becoming educators. As those benefitted by the GI Bill, the Ellitott’s expressed that it was important to pay back, in some small way, for the education Thomas received. The Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliott Scholarship was established to help qualified Northwestern Oklahoma State University students interested in education to become quality educators like Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliott.

Thomas passed away in year 2007 and Evajoy in 2019.

Applicants for the Thomas H. and Evajoy Elliot Scholarship must be full-time continuing students majoring in education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average. Applicants demonstrating the greatest need from Dacoma or Cherokee will be given preference. If no students from these areas are available, others will be considered.

Students must complete the scholarship application form through the Financial Aid Office on any Northwestern campus. The scholarship may be applied toward university-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and room and board.