2016 Scholarship Awards
Marion Community Foundation announces more than $253,000 in awards to 118 Marion area high school seniors and graduates in its 2016 Scholarship Program.
“It is our honor to award more than a quarter million dollars to local students and help them further their education and career goals,” said President and CEO Dean L. Jacob. “The Marion area is fortunate to have robust scholarship resources. Marion Community Foundation is proud to be one of those local assets.”
Scholarship program coordinator Julie Prettyman described the selection process as competitive and challenging.
“Every year, the number of exceptional applicants outweighs our scholarship fund resources,” she said. “In 2016, Marion Community Foundation was able to offer awards to two out of every five applicants. Most of our scholarships are criteria-based, rather than merit-based; so, extracurricular school and community involvement is, in many cases, just as important as academic achievement. We do this to honor our donors’ intentions and award the scholarships according to the criteria they created.”
A signature award of Marion Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program – the Wopat Scholars – annually provides four-year renewable scholarships to outstanding local students. In 2016, three individuals are being recognized as Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholars; they include: Kensey McCuller, Pleasant High School, Shelby Rasnick, Ridgedale High School, and Linsie Zhang, Pleasant High School.
“These multi-year, renewable scholarships would not be possible without the forward-thinking generosity of Robert and Dorothy Wopat,” said Jacob. “Their life story is one of truly giving and believing in Marion.”
The Wopat Scholar awards were created in 2010 by a substantial gift from the late Robert M. and Dorothy C. Wopat. In 2008, the Wopats donated $17 million to Marion Community Foundation to establish three funds. In addition to their scholarship fund, they created the Wopat Community Fund and the Wopat YMCA Fund, which award grants annually. The late Robert Wopat was a former chief executive with GTE who, along with his wife, Dorothy, established funds at the Foundation to improve the quality of life in Marion.
The Caledonia Alumni Association Scholarship Fund is new this year at Marion Community Foundation. While the scholarship has existed for many years, it was recently moved under the Foundation’s stewardship to ensure its perpetuity. The Caledonia Alumni scholarship supports seniors and graduates of River Valley High School and honors the legacy of the former Caledonia School. This year’s recipient is Aaron Suarez, who plans to attend Capital University.
The 2016 Marion Community Foundation Scholarship recipients and awards are as follows:
The Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholar awards are 4-year renewable awards. Past recipients who qualified for award renewal this year include: Adeline Baird (Kent State University), Mary Camm (Ashland University), Kayla Croyle (Kent State University), Wes Gherman (University of Cincinnati), Kyle Goings (New York University), Jenna Houdashelt (University of Toledo), Kara Kubbs (Ohio Northern University), Sarah Longo (Ohio State University), Mitchell Messenger (University of Cincinnati), William Pierce (Ohio Northern University), Jennifer Schott (Tiffin University), and Kate Stoneburner (Miami University).
The A. B. and Hazel Augenstein Scholarship Fund is a multi-year scholarship for graduates of River Valley High School. Past recipients who qualified for award renewal this year include: Marina Maynard (Ohio University) and Mitchel Phillians (University of Akron).
The 2016 Marion Community Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee consisted of Larry Geissler (chair), Kathy Goodman, Nancy Hafer, Sue Jacob, Megan Queen, and Nicole Workman. This group coordinated the selection committees of the various scholarship funds, reviewed all of the applications, and provided recommendations to Marion Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“We wish we could award more scholarships,” said Jacob. “We encourage the creation of new scholarship funds, which establish a lasting legacy for both the donor and future recipients. Creating a scholarship fund is easy and you certainly don’t have to be a millionaire to start one.”
Marion Community Foundation is a charitable organization which supports Marion area nonprofit organizations and local students with grants and scholarships from its 200+ endowed funds. Established in 1998, the Foundation has, in that time, awarded more than $10 million in community support. Its offices are located inside the historic Stengel-True Museum at 504 S. State St. in Marion. Office hours are weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information is available by calling 740-387-9704 or online at www.MarionCommunityFoundation.org.
