Marion Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2014 Scholarship Program awards — $322,225 in 166 scholarships awarded to 116 scholars. This total includes 11 new scholarships since last year’s program.
“We at Marion Community Foundation are so pleased to annually award and recognize outstanding young people throughout our community, including Marion County and beyond,” said Dean Jacob, President and CEO of Marion Community Foundation. “We have so many wonderful students who day-in and day-out are working to succeed. We’re proud to help them on their way toward higher education and higher goals.”
The signature award of Marion Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program – the Wopat Scholars – again selected four local students for these prestigious $10,000 per year 4-year scholarships. The 2014 Wopat Scholars are: William Cory Pierce of Elgin High School, and Kayla Croyle, Wesley Gherman and Jennifer Schott of Marion Harding High School.
Made possible by the substantial gift of the late Robert and Dorothy Wopat, the scholarship fund they created supports these substantial 4-year scholarships, as well as numerous other scholarship awards totaling $67,875. This is the third year of the Wopat Scholars program.
“These are intended to be impact scholarships,” said Jacob. “The Scholarship Committee identified outstanding candidates from among this year’s applicants who demonstrate both superior academic merit and financial need. The intention of impact scholarships is to enable students to attend a college or university program that they might otherwise not consider. While we are proud and thankful of all our scholarship funds and their donors, we continue to be especially grateful to the Wopats for their generosity and forward thinking.”
Additionally, Marion Community Foundation awarded new scholarships from the following new funds: Charles Hastings Memorial Scholarship Fund, Rubcich Family Scholarship Fund, Marguerite Marcelin Hastings Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dr. James S. & Mary Gray Greetham Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dr. Sarah Kulkofsky Memorial Scholarship Fund, Kory Kirkpatrick Memorial Scholarship Fund, Philip Leedom Memorial Scholarship Fund, Stewie Family Scholarship Fund, Pleasant Academic Boosters Scholarship Fund, Pleasant Local Schools Board of Education Scholarship Fund and Alex Masters Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The 2014 MCF Scholarship Program concluded in late April with the awards being recommended by the scholarship committee and approved by the board of trustees. The 2014 MCF Scholarship Committee consisted of Kathy Goodman, Larry Geissler, Nikki Workman, Sue Jacob, and Megan Queen.
The 2014 scholarship funds and their award recipients are as follows:
Adam Johnston Memorial Scholarship — for Ridgedale High School seniors — awarded to Morgan Adams ($500);
Alex Scholarship — for Marion Harding High School seniors — awarded to Lauren Gruber ($1,550);
Alex Masters Memorial Scholarship – for River Valley High School seniors – awarded to Mitchel Philians ($500);
Andrew Wigton Memorial Scholarship — for Pleasant High School seniors — awarded to Zane Burris and Drew Garverick ($1,125 each);
Aris Kasotis Memorial Scholarship – for Marion Harding High School seniors — awarded to Makayla Riegel ($1,000);
Beatrice Prior Memorial Scholarship – in conjunction with the Isabel Freer Scholarship, for the subsequently top ranked female(s) of Marion Harding High School – awarded to Kayla Croyle, Sara Davis, Kathleen Lightfoot, Miranda Potts, Jennifer Schott and Lexas Teague ($2,000 each) and Hannah Rish ($1,000);
Bergmann Family Scholarship – for Marion County seniors and graduates pursuing degrees in electrical engineering or computer science – awarded to Emily Aurigemma ($1,375);
Brenda Dye Music Boosters Scholarship – for River Valley High School seniors who have participated in music programs – awarded to Emily Griffith ($525);
Carol S. Geissler Memorial Scholarship — for Marion Harding High School seniors and graduates pursuing degrees in education — awarded to Lauren Gruber ($1,000);
Catherine Amelia Thew Brown Memorial Scholarship – for Marion County seniors and graduates – awarded to Kaden Zachmann ($2,275) and Paxton Wenger ($2,000);
Charles Hastings Memorial Scholarship – for graduates and seniors of high schools in Marion, Wyandot, and Morrow Counties and Clyde High School– awarded to Emily Waters ($450);
Christopher B. Ream Scholarship — for Marion County students pursuing degrees in special education or obstetrics — awarded to Cassandra Thompson ($1,000);
Clare Cooke Performing Arts Scholarship – for seniors and graduates pursing careers in the performing arts – awarded to Victoria Meadows ($475);
The Community’s Memorial Scholarship in memory of Russell Reichardt – for a senior from a Marion County high school ranked in the upper 50 percent of his/her graduating class – awarded to Ian Kieffer ($525);
Cornell/Goodman Scholarship – for Marion County seniors and graduates – awarded to Ashley Brancamp ($2,000);
Craig Scholarship — for seniors of Ridgedale High School — awarded to Robert Thiel ($1,000);
Danny C. Sipes Memorial Scholarship – for Marion Harding High School seniors and baseball team members — awarded to Wesley Gherman ($1,900);
David K. Rogers Memorial Scholarship – for seniors who attended the former Marion Catholic High School – awarded to Emily Aurigemma ($500);
Douglas & Elaine Waring Memorial Scholarship — for Marion County high school seniors — awarded to Tyler Forry and Hannah Campbell ($1,100 each);
Eddie Shelton Agricultural Scholarship – for Marion County senior of graduates pursuing a degree in agriculture – awarded to Mason Metcalf ($900);
Erin Y. James Memorial Scholarship – for seniors of North Union High School – awarded to Samantha Hamilton ($675);
Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship — for Marion County students — awarded to Kelsey Linder ($2,000), Kendra Crabtree ($1,100), Hannah Rish and Tess Howard ($1,000);
Eula M. Rhoads Scholarship – for Marion area seniors in the top 25 percent of their graduating class – awarded to Allison James (1,825) and Tyler Fields ($1,800);
Everett Family Scholarship – for seniors and graduates of Elgin High School pursing a degree in agriculture – awarded to Mason Metcalf ($1,000);
Gary W. Troll Memorial Scholarship – in 2013, for seniors attending Marion County high schools — awarded to Josh Rawlins ($775);
Gene Jerew Memorial Scholarship — for Marion County students — awarded to Kier Scott ($975);
Gladys & Everett Granger Memorial Scholarship – for college students from Marion County – awarded to Laura Berry ($1,000);
Gregory A. Rees Memorial Scholarship – in 2014, for seniors from University High School (Morgantown, WV) – awarded to Robbie Hewitt and Ross Koch ($500 each);
Hazel B. & A.B. Augenstein Scholarship — for River Valley High School seniors (4-year award) — awarded to Mitchel Philians ($1,425, in first year);
Helen & Bob Bintz Scholarship — for Marion County students attending the University of Dayton — awarded to Kelsea Sullivan ($3,500);
Helen E. Evans Scholarship — for Marion Harding High School seniors pursuing degrees in education — awarded to Miranda Potts ($1,150);
Helen M. Thew Memorial Scholarship – for Marion County seniors and graduates – awarded to Misty Cushing ($2,275) and Mara Wilson ($2,000);
Herbert & Jane Tillett Scholarship – for Marion Harding students – awarded to Bethany James ($275);
International Association of Administrative Professionals Scholarship – for seniors and graduates in the upper 25 percent of their graduating class from schools in the following counties: Marion, Morrow, Crawford, Wyandot, Hardin, Union, or Delaware – awarded to Laura Berry and Grecia Catalan ($500 each);
Isabel Freer Memorial Scholarship – in conjunction with the Beatrice Prior Scholarship, for the top academically ranked graduating female(s) of Marion Harding High School – awarded to Amelia Steinberger ($3,650);
Dr. James S. & Mary Gray Greetham Memorial Scholarship – for seniors and graduates of Marion Harding High School pursuing an education in healthcare, medical sciences, or medicine — awarded to Kayla Croyle and Ben Highfill ($1,100 each);
Jeannette Turner Memorial Scholarship – for Marion County seniors and graduates – awarded to Haleigh Stacey($1,275), Mollee Galloway, Victoria Meadows and Taylor Ellerkamp ($1,000 each);
Jeannette White Memorial Scholarship — for Marion Harding High School seniors and graduates pursuing careers in veterinary medicine — awarded to Tyler Fields ($375);
Joe Petrich & Al Beach Memorial Scholarship — for Marion Harding High School seniors who have participated in the interscholastic athletic program — awarded to Taylor Hancock ($800);
John & Jackie Watkins Scholarship – for Marion County high school seniors pursuing a degree in agriculture – awarded to Logan Hendricks ($200);
John T. Gordon Memorial Eagle Scout Scholarship – for an Eagle Scout from Marion County – awarded to Zachary Corbin ($550);
Judge Thomas K. Jenkins Scholarship — for Marion County graduates to attend law school — awarded to Nathan Heisser ($3,950);
Kenny Martin Memorial Scholarship — for Marion Harding High School graduates or seniors — awarded to Margaret Houston and Christopher McComas ($1,000 each) and Kathryn Westbrook ($2,400);
Kory Kirkpatrick Memorial Scholarship – for for Marion Harding High School seniors in the upper 25th percentile of the class – awarded to Wesley Gherman ($450);
Louise Kling Memorial Scholarship – for seniors and graduates of Marion Harding High School pursuing a degree in medicine or music – awarded to Ashley Brancamp ($4,000), Taylor McCurdy and Brandon Reidlinger ($3,988 each);
Mandy Kruder Memorial Scholarship– for Marion Harding High School seniors pursuing degrees in education — awarded to Lauren Gruber and Miranda Potts ($3,525 each);
Marge Sorreles Davies Memorial Scholarship – for Marion County seniors and graduates pursing a degree in nursing – awarded to Kelsi Lauer ($700);
Marguerite Marcelin Hastings Memorial Scholarship – for students of Marion Technical College pursing a degree in business, information technology or accounting – awarded to Laura Berry ($450);
Marion Academy of Medicine Scholarship — for Marion County graduates to attend medical school — awarded to Taylor McCurdy and Brandon Riedlinger ($488 each);
Marion Area Auxiliary Scholarship — for Marion County students pursuing education in health care or medical sciences — awarded to Kain Anderson, William Pierce, Ashley Brancamp, Ben Highfill and Emily Aurigemma ($1,000 each);
Marion Elks Lodge #32 Scholarship — for high school seniors residing in Marion and contiguous counties — awarded to Wesley Wingert and Emily Ward ($450 each) and Joclyn Cabanas ($475);
Marion Noon Kiwanis Scholarship — awarded to Emily Griffith, Hannah Campbell, Brittany Peltier ($1,000 each);
Marion Technical College Scholarship – for students attending MTC – awarded to Laura Berry ($275);
Philip Leedom Memorial Scholarship – for Marion Harding High School seniors pursuing a degree in education or English – awarded to Bethany James ($500);
Pleasant Academic Boosters Scholarship – for Pleasant High School seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA — awarded to Allison Belcher, Ian Keiffer, Josh Rawlins and Emily Ward ($500 each);
Pleasant Local Schools Board of Education Scholarship – for Pleasant High School seniors in the top 25th percentile of their graduating class – awarded to Josh Rawlins and Kyle Reed ($1,250 each);
Ridgemont Scholarship – for seniors and graduates of Ridgemont High School (Ridgeway, Ohio) – awarded to Katelyn Brown, Amber Creviston, Jenna Jordan, Grace Poeppelman, Dallas Rhodes, Miranda Roehler, Thane Schwartz, Cody Seiler, Aaron Shepherd, Colin Turner and Courtney Wilson ($1,000 each);
Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship (which is separate from and in addition to the Wopat Scholars program) – for Marion County high school seniors and graduates – awarded to Allison Tumey and Lauren Gruber ($6,000 each), Colt Colby and Haley Parker ($5,000 each), Hannah Fuller, Kelsi Lauer, Dezman Garner, Daniel Lucas, Taylor McCurdy, Brandon Riedlinger, Amibika Shoemaker, Elijah Burris, Kim Cannane, Michael Meadows, Josh Rawlins, Abbey Larson, Emily Griffith, Megan Long, Cassandra Thompson and Heather Ulsh ($2,000 each), Brennan Beickelman, Emily Green, Megan Honaker, Bethany James, Haley Palm, Allison Predmore, Kier Scott, Luke Stewart, Ian Kieffer, Kaden Zachmann, Mollee Galloway, Halie Augenstein and Jim Longo ($1,000 each), and Brittany Peltier ($875);
Rocco Nicolosi Memorial Scholarship– for Marion County high school seniors — awarded to Kim Cannane ($800);
Roger & Donna Holbrook Memorial Scholarship – for Pleasant High School students – awarded to David Schuring ($1,375);
Rubcich Family Scholarship – for Elgin High School seniors pursing a degree in education – awarded to Hannah Fuller ($1,000);
Dr. Sarah Kulkofsky Memorial Scholarship – for Marion County students pursuing a degree in science – awarded to Shellie Dye ($1,000);
Sims Family Scholarship — for Pleasant High School seniors — awarded to Colt Colby and Emily Ward ($1,000 each);
Stephanie K. Lust Memorial Scholarship — for Pleasant High School seniors — awarded to Scott Foster, Josh Rawlins and Emily Ward ($1,100 each);
Stewie Family Scholarship – awarded to a Marion Harding High School sophomore, then confirmed as a senior in the top 25 percent of the graduating class – awarded to Miranda Potts ($475);
Taft Middle School Music Department Scholarship – for students from the former Taft Middle School district who participated in band or orchestra during each of his/her four years at Marion Harding High School – awarded to Kayla Croyle ($1,125);
Ted Mitchell Memorial Scholarship – for Marion area high school students to attend The Ohio State University — awarded to Gene Creighton ($1,625) and Autumn Wagner ($1,600);
Vera O. McDanel Scholarship — for Marion County high school seniors and graduates — awarded to Julya Faulkner and Jim Longo ($2,000 each) and Evan Springer ($1,475);
Wayne Hoch Memorial Scholarship — for Pleasant High School graduates and seniors — awarded to Tess Howard ($225);
William and Marjorie Grover Scholarship — for seniors and graduates of Pleasant High School — awarded to Paivyn Baldauf ($500); and,
Youth Engaged in Philanthropy Scholarship – for a senior from Marion County who demonstrates dedication to philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership – awarded to Kier Scott ($1,000).
Marion Community Foundation has served the Marion area since 1998. Its offices are located at 504 S. State St. in Marion. Additional information is available by calling 387-9704 or visiting marioncommunityfoundation.org online.
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