Pavlov Scholarship Created for Black YSU Students
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Black students at Youngstown State University will have a future opportunity to apply for new funding. The YSU Foundation announced the Joseph Pavlov Jr. Minority Scholarship, an award established by the Pavlov family — Joseph Pavlov, John Pavlov, Catherine Pavlov, George Pavlov, Jennifer Staaf and Helen Pavlov — in memory of their father, Joseph.
With a generous gift of $110,000, the scholarship is exclusive to Black undergraduate and graduate students at YSU, with preference given to first-generation college students.
Joseph Pavlov was born on Feb. 1, 1925, in Struthers. His passing in May 2016 marked 91 years of a lifetime from a man who wore many hats — proud husband, father, veteran and business owner. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Intrepid. For years, he honored fellow veterans by playing taps at more than 8,500 funeral services.
The Pavlov family also established the Helen Pavlov Memorial Scholarship in memory of their mother, Helen. Endowed in 2015, the scholarship awards YSU students studying philosophy or religious studies. Preference is given to those residing in Mahoning County. Helen had a great love and respect for YSU, where she was employed in Central Services. Jennifer followed in her mother’s footsteps by working at YSU in undergraduate admissions.
Jennifer said that both parents “loved YSU and belonged to the Penguin Club and the Philosophy Circle, and were season ticket holders for football.” She added, “Our parents were both special people, always taking people in, providing jobs, lending money, etc., to many people in the Valley. Never was the help they gave based on a person’s skin color … We were taught to love all and hate no one.”
Joe’s professional background was in the auto body industry. He was an auto body manager at Donnell Ford and later purchased Buckeye Body and Paint Supply at 1707 Market St. on the city’s south side. The company was subsequently sold to Sherwin-Williams Automotive in 1988; however, Joe still owned the property and mixed paint until he retired at 85.
Joe was highly committed to the South Side, not only by having his business there but by investing in the local community.
Speaking about the influence Pavlov had on his life, one of Joe’s former employees, Derrick Johnson, said, “When I first went to work for the body shop, I had no experience or ambition to be in this field of work. As the time went on, I learned to do some bodywork and paint jobs and realized it was not half bad.” Johnson continued, “If it had not been for Joe Pavlov hiring me as part of South High School’s Occupational Work Experience, I am not sure where my life and career path would have gone.”
In 1996, the YSU Foundation began matching gifts to all minority scholarships to assist the university in attracting a more diverse student population. Since then, over $1.4 million has been matched in contributions designated to minority scholarships. In total, the Foundation holds 55 minority scholarships that aid YSU students. This includes new scholarships, those not yet awarded, and not endowed. The YSU Foundation is committed to inclusion and access and prides itself as the only public state university foundation in Ohio that matches minority scholarships.
With the foundation’s match, the initial corpus of the Joseph Pavlov Jr. Minority Scholarship will be $220,000.
“Although I did not attend college, I am thrilled that Joe’s family is establishing this minority scholarship in Joe’s name,” Johnson said. “Joe would be so honored and thankful to know that his values to help others were passed on to his family. He was very proud of his family and his heritage. I hope whoever receives this scholarship is as thankful as I have been”
The YSU Foundation, established in 1966, is the nonprofit philanthropic entity of YSU. In the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year, the foundation will provide a record of $9.9 million in scholarship and program support for YSU students.
Pictured at top: The late Joe and Helen Pavlov.
SOURCE: YSU Foundation.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
