ATHENS, Ohio – The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) and its affiliate foundation partners have awarded over $870,000 in donor-established postsecondary scholarships to students across the 32-county region, including four students from Athens County.
Riley Donahue of Athens received the Jim Raeder Helping Hand Scholarship, established to help graduating seniors of Logan High School who show academic promise and are pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), teaching or business. Donahue plans to attend Otterbein University.
Ijeoma Idika-Chima of Athens received the Ariana R. Ulloa Memorial Scholarship, established by Ulloa’s family, friends and students to honor her life and memory and to support international students or students pursuing a degree in international studies. Idika-Chima attends Ohio University.
Mason Mash of Nelsonville and Lillian Paris of Athens received the Lee Beckett Legacy Scholarship, honoring the work and legacy of educator Mrs. Lee Beckett. This scholarship is awarded annually to graduating seniors from Nelsonville-York High School. Mash and Paris both plan to attend The Ohio State University.
Mash also was awarded the AK Steel Foundation Scholarship, supporting students pursuing studies in STEM fields, with particular emphasis on metallurgy.
FAO partners with donors and an advisory committee of volunteers to award scholarships to students across Appalachian Ohio through a competitive application process.
To date this year, FAO has awarded over 670 postsecondary scholarships to more than 330 students across 25 counties thanks to gifts from residents and friends of Appalachian Ohio who recognize the role education plays in ensuring the region’s people and communities can flourish.
A 501(c)(3) public charity, FAO is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. In partnership with 14 geographic affiliate foundations, the regionwide African American Community Fund and supporters across the region and beyond, FAO works to unleash the collective potential within Appalachian Ohio by encouraging and supporting philanthropy. FAO’s geographic affiliate partners serve the Nelsonville area and Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Vinton counties.
For information on how you can support educational opportunities and help students in Appalachian Ohio pursue their dreams, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org, email scholarships@ffao.org or call 740.753.1111.
