Information
Eligibility and Application Instructions
The Dr. Jack K. Lewis Memorial Scholarship is offered by the Omaha Police Foundation to full-time undergraduate students who are the children and grandchildren of current or former sworn officers of the Omaha Police Department with a minimum, unweighted GPA of 3.2.
About Dr. Jack K. Lewis, M.D.
Dr. Jack K. Lewis, M.D. practiced medicine on a continuous basis in Omaha for more than 50 years, maintaining a full patient load at his private practice until his passing in 2016. He was known for his willingness to provide care to patients from all walks of life.
Dr. Lewis served for many years as the president and chairman of the board of directors of the Omaha Police Foundation, a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Omaha Police Department to develop, implement and fund innovative programs designed to make Omaha a safer place to live and work. Under Dr. Lewis’s leadership, the Omaha Police Foundation funded numerous initiatives including annual recruitment efforts, a virtual firearms training system, a mobile crime lab, a S.W.A.T. van and the introduction of body-worn cameras for Omaha police officers.
In addition to his service on the Omaha Police Foundation Board, Dr. Lewis served as a member of the board of directors for a number of civic and philanthropic organizations including the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Sports Committee, which honors scholar athletes at Omaha high schools; and the Metropolitan Omaha Medical Society Foundation, which raises funds in support of a variety of charitable causes.
The Omaha Police Foundation is proud to honor Dr. Jack K. Lewis’s selfless service to the community, both through his practice of medicine and through other avenues of civic service, with this annual scholarship, which bears his name
Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Full-time Undergraduate students attending colleges or universities who are the children or grandchildren of current or former sworn officers of the Omaha Police Department are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Additionally, at the time of application, the student must have a minimum of two, additional, full semesters of study remaining before graduation. Students in their last two semesters of study are not eligible because they would likely graduate before or at approximately the same time as the awarding of the scholarship which will typically be in the late spring of each year.
Current sworn officers are defined as sworn officers currently in active service in the ranks of the Omaha Police Department.
Former sworn officers are defined as sworn officers who retired from the Omaha Police Department in good standing (e.g. they are receiving a pension and did not retire while under a pending Internal Affairs investigation or in lieu of being terminated from employment); those who died while in active service in the ranks of the Omaha Police Department, regardless of number of years of service or cause of death; and those who served a minimum of 10 years and separated from service in good standing (e.g. they did not resign while under a pending Internal Affairs investigation or in lieu of being terminated from employment).
Child or grandchild includes those who are biological offspring, adopted, and from blended families.
The Omaha Police Department will verify the officer or former officer named by the scholarship applicant meets the criteria specified above and that the applicant is a child or grandchild of a current or former sworn officer.
Applications are welcomed from incoming or current students from all colleges and universities, regardless of their field of study, as long they meet the eligibility criteria defined above. At the discretion of the Omaha Police Foundation Scholarship Review Committee, preference may be given to applicants who are attending a college or university in Nebraska and/or those pursuing an undergraduate degree in a Criminal Justice related field.
Previous recipients of Dr. Jack K. Lewis Memorial Scholarships may not apply.
Scholarship Amounts and Award Criteria:
In 2025, two (2) scholarships will be awarded with one scholarship presented to a high school senior and the other to a current college student.
Each scholarship will be in the minimum amount of $3,000.00 and will be awarded on the basis of merit, quality of application materials and academic record.
Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the Omaha Police Foundation and the decisions regarding scholarship awards are final and not subject to appeal or review.
The number of scholarships to be awarded each year will be determined by the Omaha Police Foundation Board of Directors.
The scholarship selection criteria shall include, but is not limited to:
Applicant’s academic performance—minimum of 3.2 GPA.
Demonstrated leadership, community/university service, and extracurricular activities. Submission of a written essay on a topic to be specified by the Selection committee. Applicants will also be required to provide two references who are not family members or relatives.
Applicants must identify by name, and if known, years of service and badge/serial number, the current or former Omaha Police Officer to whom the applicant is related and also the nature of the relationship (e.g. child or grandchild).
The Application Deadline is 11:59 PM on January 20 2025. Recipient will be notified no later than April 1, 2025. Funds will be disbursed directly to the university on or after August 1, 2025.
