POLAND, Ohio – John York and his wife, Denise DeBartolo York, have met some very talented and driven students from the Mahoning Valley since they began giving out scholarships on behalf of the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
“The most important thing to us is watching these kids get started,” York said, adding they follow up with the students as they progress through the next four years of their education. “And some of their stories are pretty remarkable.”
DeBartolo York said her father, who established the scholarship with several of his close friends, was a proponent of young people having the resources to continue their education, regardless of their financial situation.
“These students here today have demonstrated the drive and determination to accomplish their goals and should be very proud,” she said in a prepared statement. “Rewarding these students for their work inside and outside the classroom is very special.”
The Yorks, San Francisco 49ers co-chairs, presented $180,000 in scholarships Wednesday to 18 graduating high school seniors at The Lake Club at a luncheon for the students and their families.
More than 350 applications were received for the scholarships, which includes grade transcripts, student essays and recommendations from school guidance counselors and principals. The scholarship winners are determined by the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation board based on academic achievement, community involvement and financial need.
“There’s far more talent than what is here today,” York said. “This is just a segment of that talent, and we’re very pleased to be a part of it.”
The 2026 scholarship winners are:
- Annie Bada, Austintown Fitch.
- Olivia Berry, Joseph Badger.
- Braylen Braham, Champion.
- Gabriella Coletta, Salem.
- Taylor Dado, South Range.
- Solena DeJesus, South Range.
- Jessica Gentry, LaBrae.
- Alaina Haroulakis, Niles McKinley.
- Allison Irwin, United Local.
- Adelyn Johnson, United Local.
- Juliana Krumpak, McDonald.
- Macy McCullough, South Range.
- Brayden Price, Beaver Local.
- Sadie Saterfield, Boardman.
- Brynn Sauline, Austintown Fitch.
- Katelyn Schrock, Austintown Fitch.
- Adyson Wendt, Ursuline.
- Eliana Williams, Austintown Fitch.
Over the past 29 years, the foundation has granted more than $2.4 million in scholarships.
This year’s recipients plan to attend colleges and universities, from Ohio to Florida, with goals in diverse fields including education, criminal justice, medicine, marketing, communication, finance and global commerce.
Pictured at top: John York, back right, and Denise DeBartolo York, second from right in the middle row, awarded scholarships to 18 graduating Mahoning Valley high school students Wednesday.