Marion Community Foundation Debuts Wopat Scholars
The opportunity to attend the scholars’ dream universities, that’s how Brad Bebout, president of Marion Community Foundation, describes the intention behind two new impact scholarships awarded by the Foundation this spring.
The two recipients of Marion Community Foundation’s Robert M. and Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship are Lauren Thomas, a senior at Marion Harding High School, and Aron Gibson, a senior at River Valley High School. Each will be named a Wopat Scholar and receive an academic scholarship of $10,000 per year for four years.
The Wopat Scholars program in the biggest addition to MCF’s 2012 Scholarship Program. Made possible by the substantial gift of the late Robert and Dorothy Wopat, the scholarship fund they created will, initially, award two 4-year scholarships. Bebout foresees the program expanding in future years.
“The recipients will not have to reapply each year, but they must meet certain standards to continue to receive the scholarship,” explains Bebout. “These are ‘impact’ scholarships and are intended to ensure that the students can complete their education at the college or university of their choice.”
The Foundation’s scholarship selection committee identified five outstanding candidates from among this year’s scholarship program applicants who demonstrated both superior academic merit and financial need — Thomas and Gibson among them. The recipients were selected after being personally interviewed by MCF’s Scholarship Committee. The interviews, held late in the scholarship season, enabled the committee members to consider each candidate’s full financial aid package and options in light of the scholarship award.
Thomas will attend Muskingum University to study Spanish education. Gibson will attend Bluffton University to study physical therapy.
Thomas, who was also selected as one of the Marion Star’s Teens of the Year, is incredibly well rounded. Her activities include being heavily with her church, mission trips, 4-H, community volunteer work at soup kitchens and nursing homes, as well as an abundance of extracurricular activities such as band, choir, and show choir. She is an athlete, having participated in track and field, basketball, and as a student leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“Throughout my high school career,” says Thomas, “I have worked to prepare myself for the future. After four years of completing coursework in numerous accelerated and AP classes, as well as balancing a slew of extra-curricular activities, I am more than ready to take on the challenges that college has to offer, while combining my passions of teaching, learning about the world, and helping others.”
Muskingum University, where she plans to attend, is located in New Concord, Ohio. It was founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1837 and is the alma matter of such notables as astronaut John Glenn.
An Eagle Scout, Gibson is very active in both his school and the community. His talents include music; he participated in school musicals, band and orchestra. He attended Buckeye Boys State and is a member of Future Farmers of America, Teen Institute, and his church youth group. He has been recognized for his athletic abilities in several sports, including football, wrestling, and track. He was noticeable on the River Valley gridiron by the bright yellow cleats he wore in honor of his mother.
After his mother suffered a major stroke, Gibson says, “I decided I wanted want to ‘pay it forward,’ become a physical therapist, and give the help to someone else in appreciation for what physical therapists did for my mother.”
His intended college experience will be at Bluffton University in northwest Ohio. Bluffton University, established in the Mennonite tradition, is a liberal arts Christian university.
Recipients of other MCF scholarships were previously announced. Marion Community Foundation provided more than $100,000 in scholarship this year alone. The 2012 Scholarship Program made 85 awards to area high school seniors and graduates.
