Scholarship Criteria
- Must be graduating senior from Portsmouth or Portsmouth West High School.
- Must show financial need
- Plan to major in a science-related field of study.
March 26, 2016 - The Scioto Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Kenneth McCall Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by his family in memory of the long-time Portsmouth educator.
“Dad truly believed education is the key to freedom. With an education, a person has the tools to be and to do what he or she wants. Dad demonstrated this belief in his life by working very hard to obtain his own college education,” said Wendy McCall Johnson, family spokesperson.
Dad’s dream was to share his belief in the power of education by teaching. For thirty-seven years, he taught chemistry to students at Portsmouth High School and Portsmouth West High School. He loved teaching. We know he was a good and beloved teacher as former students often reached out to him to share the positive effects he had on their lives,” continued Johnson. “Our family hopes the Ken McCall scholarship will ensure his legacy by providing future students the chance to find their freedom through education,” Johnson said.
Born in Portsmouth on April 10, 1928, McCall passed away on February 26, 2016. He was the son of the late Charles William and Lillian Elizabeth Walden McCall. After graduating from Portsmouth West High School, he graduated from the former Portsmouth Interstate Business College and then received a BS degree in Chemistry from Ohio University and a Master’s Degree from Xavier University.
He served his country as a First Lieutenant with the Army in the Korean conflict, earning the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Combat Infantry Badge and the United Nations Service Medal with one Overseas Bar. He retired from the US Army Reserves with the rank of Captain.
In 1962 McCall began his teaching career as a chemistry teacher at Portsmouth High School where he was known as “Chemistry Ken” and Chemical Ken.” He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, the American Legion and the Portsmouth Teachers Association. As a young man, Ken enjoyed playing baseball and pool. Later in life, he loved playing golf.
He married June Deborah Powderhill McCall on December 24, 1950, and the couple has a daughter, Wendy Johnson of Columbus, and a son Colin McCall of Zanesville, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
To be eligible for the McCall Scholarship, a student must be a graduating senior from Portsmouth or Portsmouth West High School. Applicants must show financial need and plan to major in a science-related field of study. Applicants with presidential scholarships or more than enough to go to college are not eligible. The Scioto Foundation's volunteer scholarship committee will make annual scholarship selections.