Scholarship Criteria:
- Must be a graduating senior at Portsmouth High School, Scioto County, Ohio
- Must complete the PHS essay
- GPA 2.75 or Higher
- Preference given to a past recipient as long as they complete the 250 word essay
The Portsmouth High School Class of 1957 has created a new scholarship fund at the Scioto Foundation designed to leave a legacy for the class and help future PHS graduates pay for college educations.
After discussions at their 57th reunion last fall, a group of local representatives created the PHS Class of 1957 Scholarship Fund. Richard Schisler, Joyce Theiss, Harold Massie, Julia Wisniewski, Judie Hollis and Colleen Sturgill served on the committee which established the new scholarship endowment.
“This scholarship fund is something that will go on when other gifts given by the Class of 1957 have not lasted,” said committee spokesperson Joyce Theiss. “Young people are our future and everyone needs help in some way. To get a good job, they need training and education and college is very expensive.”
The Class of 1957 designated money left over from reunion expenses to start the new scholarship, according to Theiss. As class members grow older, they decided they should do something with their unused funds, she said. “The scholarship was a good use of the monies for the future of the young.”
The committee has sent out a direct mail appeal to their classmates to solicit contributions to build the scholarship fund. Their appeal letter and flyer both stress the value in creating a fund that will sustain a lasting legacy beyond any one person or generation and urge classmates to take part in helping future PHS graduates.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a graduating senior at Portsmouth High School, have a minimum GPA of 2.75/4.0 and enroll at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. In addition, applicants must write a 250-word essay explaining their life goals and what this scholarship would mean to them.
Preference will be given to previous recipients provided they meet the GPA criteria and complete the 250-word essay.
The Scioto Foundation volunteer scholarship committee will make the annual scholarship selections. Amounts available for distribution will be based upon the current spending policy of the Foundation or will be the net income when not otherwise provided in the Foundation’s then current spending policy.
Additions to the fund may be made by alumnae, friends, family and supporters of Portsmouth High School in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property to the fund at any time. Contributions also may be made to honor and recognize a Portsmouth High School graduate or to serve as a memorial to an individual.