Community Foundation Awards $130K in Scholarships

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has awarded 73 students $130,747 in scholarships to help them along as they continue their education at colleges across the country.

“We are incredibly proud of the students who applied for the scholarship opportunities that our generous fund holders create,” said Shawntae Burton, philanthropic services director for the Community Foundation, who leads CFMV’s scholarship program. “The journey to postsecondary education is expensive. Our community is blessed to have generous community members who are committed to the advancement of our youth.”

High schools represented by this year’s awardees are Austintown Fitch, Brookfield, Canfield, Cardinal Mooney, Champion, Homer-Center (Pa.), Howland, Hubbard, Jackson-Milton, Joseph Badger, Lakeview, Mathews, Poland Seminary, Salem, Warren G. Harding, West Branch and Youngstown Rayen Early College.

Among this year’s scholarship recipients is Jackson-Milton High School valedictorian Aiden Cole, who is enrolled in Dartmouth College’s philosophy, politics and economics program. He received the Purple Heart Gary Gutelius Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to veterans who have received the Purple Heart, or their descendants; Cole’s great-grandfather received the honor.

“I never met my great-grandfather. His sacrifice is something that is only an echo in my grandmother’s home. … My grandmother said he always wanted his children to be good people. That was something his service taught him,” Cole said. “Ohio will soon be offering a rural practice incentive, which offers law school tuition reimbursement for lawyers serving rural Ohio. Coming back to be of service to my community after receiving a stellar education both at Dartmouth College and at Yale Law School, which I hope to later attend, will be a symbolic moment of pride in both myself and my community. This full circle moment will come with the reflection of all the support my community has given me.”

Some scholarships also offer renewals to help students already in college. The Veronica Willo Scholarship renewed three scholarships for a total of $4,500, and the Woman’s Board of Youngstown Scholarship renewed three for a total of $10,000.

“Scholarships, including the Community Foundation award, have been the only reason I have been able to continue my education,” said Abigail Stephens, a recipient of the Willo Scholarship who is studying environmental and conservation biology at Kent State University. “I plan to use my education to uplift those in my community and empower myself to make change in the environmental field. I believe that environmental research is only becoming more important, and I am thrilled to be in the next generation of scientists to tackle the pressing issues our world faces.”

Newly awarded scholarships from funds at the Community Foundation include:

• Athena Scholarship: One award for $1,500.
• C.M. “Jerry” Collins Memorial Scholarship: Three awards totaling $3,000.
• Gail T. Dennison Mahoning County Saddle Horse 4-H Committee Scholarship: One award for $1,000.
• George L. Madigan Scholarship: Six awards totaling $6,000.
• Jean Rider Scholarship: Two awards totaling $3,000.
• Karen and Trisha Hermiller Memorial Scholarship: Two awards totaling $10,000.
• Loren S. Hunter Memorial Scholarship: Three awards totaling $2,000.
• Melinda Henning Scholarship: One award for $1,000.
• MyPath Mahoning Valley Scholarship: Five awards totaling $4,000.
• Purple Heart Gary Gutelius Memorial Scholarship: Two awards totaling $5,000.
• Veronica Willo Scholarship: Three awards totaling $3,000.
• Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation Scholarship: Twenty-three awards totaling $24,750.
• Trumbull Retired Teachers Association Scholarship: Two awards totaling $2,000.
• Warren City Schools Foundation General Scholarship: Twenty-one awards totaling $33,500.
• Warren City Schools Foundation C. Robert Wyndham and Fred Kubli Jr. Scholarship: One award for $2,569.
• Warren City Schools Foundation Carl and Barbara Ann Zoba Scholarship: One award for $3,097.
• Warren City Schools Foundation Dr. Edward C. Miner Sr. Scholarship: One award for $1,000.
• Warren City Schools Foundation Dr. John and Mary Alice Vlad Scholarship: One award for $1,000.
• Warren City Schools Foundation Frank Bubba Scholarship: One award for $1,000.
• Warren City Schools Foundation Harold B. Cassidy and Maryellen Cassidy Scholarship: One award for $5,000.
• Warren City Schools Foundation Russ-Brown Scholarship: One award for $1,831.
• Wilkins Family Scholarship: Two awards totaling $1,000.

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