Jacksonville, Arkansas Jun 18, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - Odes Ventures, an international investment and consulting firm founded by the grandson of legacy Jacksonville business leader Odes Goodsell, has announced a new $1,000 scholarship for a graduate of Jacksonville High School who has been personally affected by family migration issues, immigration reform, or deportation-related challenges.
The scholarshiptitled the Odes Goodsell Immigrant Resilience Awardhonors the legacy of its namesake, a respected Arkansas entrepreneur who championed opportunity, hard work, and dignity across the trades and local business community for decades.
My grandfather didnt care where you came fromhe cared if you showed up and worked hard, said William Matthew Hawk, founder of Odes Ventures and Goodsells grandson. This award is for the students doing exactly thatworking through fear, separation, or uncertainty to keep moving forward.
The Goodsell familys connection to immigrant communities continues today. Odess daughter, Donna Goodsell Kent, also a graduate of Jacksonville High School, now volunteers her time teaching English to immigrants and helping them prepare for U.S. citizenship exams.
That spirit of inclusion reflects the values Odes held throughout his life. A well-traveled and globally minded man, Odes celebrated diversity and believed that America isnt a race or a colorits an idea. From his early travels in the islands of the Pacific to his time in post-Soviet Russia in the early 1990s, he witnessed firsthand the social and economic consequences of collapse. Those experiences shaped his lifelong commitment to helping people who came to this country in search of safety, dignity, and a path to progress.
Whether hiring newly arrived families in Arkansas or offering a second chance to someone down on their luck, Goodsell believed that anyone willing to work hard deserved a shot at something better.
The $1,000 scholarship is open to any graduate of Jacksonville High School who is currently enrolledor plans to enroll by Fall 2025in a university, community college, or accredited trade/vocational school.
Applicants will be asked to submit:
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- A short personal statement describing how family migration, immigration status, or deportation has impacted their life or education
- Their post-secondary plans (where and what they plan to study or train in)
- And why they believe this opportunity reflects their goals, character, and resilience
Odes Ventures advises governments, private investors, and international developers across sectors ranging from hospitality to healthcare logistics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm helped launch one of the most widely utilized biomolecular diagnostic laboratories in the Caribbean region, supporting national testing capacity and border reopening initiatives. Today, the company operates in Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States.
This is about carrying forward a legacy, Hawk added. My grandfather built with steel. Were building with opportunity.
Applications will open July 1, 2025, and are due August 15, 2025. The award winner will be announced in early September.
Students, families, and school counselors can learn more or request an application by emailing: [email protected]
Media Contact
ODES - Philanthropy Team
66 West Flagler St, 900 Miami, FL 33130
Source :ODES
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