Marion Community Foundation has announced 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:
Elgin High School
Seniors:
Brianna Appelfeller Rubcich Family Scholarship
Kevin Conroy Vera O. McDanel Scholarship
Jordon Johnson Marion Noon Kiwanis Club Scholarship
Corey McElroy Eugene and Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship and
Douglas & Elaine Waring Memorial Scholarship
Chloe Metcalf Douglas & Elaine Waring Memorial Scholarship
Brianna Sayre Maurice V. Cornell & Bertram Goodman Scholarship
Victoria Standley Stormy Ray Cushing Scholarship
Rachel Stillions Marion Elks Lodge No. 32 Scholarship,
Vera O. McDanel Scholarship, and
Rocco Nicolosi Memorial Scholarship
William Trihaft Everett Family Scholarship
Audrey Watkins Vera O. McDanel Scholarship
Graduates:
Hannah Fuller Catherine Amelia Thew Brown Scholarship Ohio State University
Marion Harding High School
Seniors:
Justin Adams Marion Noon Kiwanis Club Scholarship
Jesse Ansley Stormy Ray Cushing Scholarship and
Catherine Amelia Thew Brown Scholarship
Joel Arce Kenny Martin Memorial Scholarship
Aubrey Baker Carol S. Geissler Memorial Scholarship
Cheyenne Bradley Herbert & Jane Tillett Scholarship
Andrea Carwile Beatrice Prior Memorial Scholarship
Austin Craig Taft Middle School Music Department Scholarship
Daniel Davis Aris Kasotis Memorial Scholarship
Daisy Delapaz Dr. Sarah Kulkofsky Memorial Scholarship and
David K. Rogers Memorial Scholarship
Randi Goney Beatrice Prior Memorial Scholarship
Mallory Haas Alex Scholarship Scholarship and
Beatrice Prior Memorial Scholarship
Alexus Holmes Helen M. Thew Memorial Scholarship
Pierce Holt Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship
Michelle Houston Isabel Freer Memorial Scholarship
Colton Jarrell Marguerite Marcelin Hastings Memorial Scholarship
Spencer Jones Kenny Martin Memorial Scholarship
Ashleigh Lindsey Joe Petrich & Al Beach Memorial Scholarship
Tyler Longstreth Donald B. Justice Memorial Scholarship and
Kory Kirkpatrick Memorial Scholarship
Mason McHargue Stewie Family Scholarship
Taylor McIntire Dr. James S. & Mary Gray Greetham Memorial Scholarship
and Gregory A. Rees Memorial Scholarship
Taylor Peterson Joe & Peggy Casey Memorial Scholarship
Trent Ramsey Mandy Kruder Memorial Scholarship
Jaida Shuster Marion Noon Kiwanis Club Scholarship
Katherine Steinberger Beatrice Prior Memorial Scholarship
Fallyn Stephens Donald B. Justice Memorial Scholarship
Graduates:
Zialesi Adissem Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship Ohio State University
Ashley Brancamp Ted & Elaine Mitchell Scholarship Ohio State University
Harley Conley Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship Ohio State University
Sydney Cunningham Vera O. McDanel Scholarship Otterbein University
Shellie Dye Philip Leedom Memorial Scholarship Heidelberg University
Sierra Fields Charles L. Hastings Memorial Scholarship Ohio State University
Tyler Fields Eula M. Rhoads Scholarship Ohio State University
Christina Franklin Art & Anne Huggler Memorial Scholarship Bowling Green St U
Lauren Gruber Carol S. Geissler Memorial Scholarship Heidelberg University
Megan Honaker Carol S. Geissler Memorial Scholarship Heidelberg University
Margaret Houston Marion Area Auxiliary Scholarship Malone University
Allison James Eula M. Rhoads Scholarship Ohio State University
Dale Lingo Marion Area Auxiliary Scholarship Ohio State University
Taylor McCurdy Marion Academy of Medicine Scholarship Michigan State Univ
White and Louise Kling Scholarship College of
Osteopathic Medicine
Brandon Reidlinger Louise Kling Scholarship Ohio University
Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Berenice Watts Harper-Stuckey MTC Scholarship Marion Technical
College
Pleasant High School
Seniors:
Noah Alexander Stormy Ray Cushing Scholarship
Siera Green Stephanie K. Lust Memorial Scholarship
Elizabeth Kellogg Community’s Memorial Scholarship honoring
Ruth Kersey and Orville “Roy” Hazen
Ryan Kinietz Marion Elks Lodge No. 32 Scholarship, Pleasant Academic Boosters
and Scholarship, Sims Family Scholarship
Kensey McCuller Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship, Pleasant Local Schools
Board of Education Scholarship, and Pleasant Academic Boosters Scholarship
Eric MacFadden Sims Family Scholarship
Hannah Peltier William & Marjorie Grover Scholarship
Sarah Short Clare Cooke Performing Arts Scholarship, Pleasant Academic Boosters
Scholarship, and Andrew Wigton Memorial Scholarship
Brandi Smith Wayne Hoch Memorial Scholarship
Madison Wells Roger & Donna Holbrook Scholarship and
Andrew Wigton Memorial Scholarship
Linsie Zhang Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship,
Pleasant Academic Boosters Scholarship, and
Pleasant Local Schools Board of Education Scholarship
Graduates:
Kim Cannane Marion Area Auxiliary Scholarship and Ohio State University
Marge Sorreles Davies Memorial Scholarship
Melissa Dean Bergmann Family Scholarship Otterbein University
Randy Kinietz Eugene and Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship U of Mount Union
Misty Organ Gladys & Everett Granger Memorial Marion Technical
Scholarship College
Boston Osborne Jeannette Turner Memorial Scholarship U of Cincinnati
Marisa Voisard Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship Marion Technical
College
Allison Wentz Marion Area Auxiliary Scholarship and Ohio State University
Dr. Kathy Dixon Memorial Scholarship
Kaden Zachmann Jeannette Turner Memorial Scholarship Ohio State University
Ridgedale High School
Seniors:
Laney Davis Stormy Ray Cushing Scholarship
Rachel Pahl Craig Scholarship and Adam Johnston Memorial Scholarship
Courtney Park Youth Engaged in Philanthropy Scholarship
Shelby Rasnick Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship and
Catherine Amelia Thew Brown Scholarship
Josh Steurer Vera O. McDanel Scholarship
River Valley High School
Seniors:
Jax Harville Helen M. Thew Memorial Scholarship
Taylor Hawk Alex Masters Memorial Scholarship and
Rocco Nicolosi Memorial Scholarship
Elle Hempstead Stormy Ray Cushing Scholarship
Trisha Seckel Brenda Dye Music Boosters Scholarship
Colin Smith A.B. & Hazel Augenstein Scholarship
Chase Workman Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship
Graduates:
Emily Griffith Catherine Amelia Thew Brown Scholarship Bluffton University
and Jeannette Turner Memorial Scholarship
Megan Long Catherine Amelia Thew Brown Scholarship Bluffton University
Jimmy Longo Paul Pezley Baseball Scholarship Ohio State University
Sarah Longo John & Jackie Watkins Scholarship Ohio State University
Evan Springer Jeannette Turner Memorial Scholarship University of Toledo
Aaron Suarez Caledonia Alumni Association Scholarship Capital University
Austin Wagner Eddie Shelton Agricultural Scholarship Ohio State University
Abigail Wilch Jeannette Turner Memorial Scholarship Baldwin Wallace Univ.
Kacy Worley Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Scholarship Wright State Univ.
and Marion Area Auxiliary Scholarship
Ridgemont High School
Seniors:
Brooke Stewart Ridgemont Scholarship
Nicole Sutherland Ridgemont Scholarship
Alyssa Whitaker Ridgemont Scholarship
Taylor Hardin Ridgemont Scholarship
Sierra Hedges Ridgemont Scholarship
Daniel Johnson Ridgemont Scholarship
Katelyn Marshall Ridgemont Scholarship
Sara McFadden Ridgemont Scholarship
Hanna Organ Ridgemont Scholarship
Graduates:
Grace Poppelman Ridgemont Scholarship University of Findlay
Lyndsey Schwartz Ridgemont Scholarship Ohio Northern Univ
Cody Seiler Ridgemont Scholarship Ohio Northern Univ
Jaycie Whitmore Ridgemont Scholarship Ohio Northern Univ
Attending Franciscan University of Steubenville
John Gallagher Gregory A. Rees Memorial Scholarship
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.
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