Donors

• Must be a graduating senior at Wheelershburg HS
• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

The Portsmouth High School Class of 1964 has established 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.

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.

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be a graduating senior of Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth, Ohio
• Must complete PHS essay 
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Abby was born February 24, 2011 in Columbus to Jesse and Kristin (Barnett) Ruby.  Abby attended preschool in South Webster and played Pee-Wee soccer in Minford.  She was full of life and put a smile on the face of everyone she came in contact with.  She loved playing outside and with her kittens, Tiger and Buckeye. She attended Union Freewill Baptist Church where she participated in youth activities.

Sadly she passed away at age Four. Her family established this fund in her memory. 

Scholarship Criteria:

• Graduating senior of Minford or South Webster high school, Scioto County, Ohio

• Enrolled at a vocational, college or university

• Must show school spirit and kindness - school community involvement

A committee of South Webster and Minford teachers and family will select the scholarship recipient each year. Contact South Webster High School and Minford High School guidance office for details.
 

• Planning to attend Shawnee State University 
• Majoring in business
• A graduating senior from a Scioto County High School

• Must be a graduate of a Scioto County, Ohio high school
• Maintain a  GPA of 3.0 or better
• Attend a post-secondary educational institution

The son of Vicky Skaggs Eldridge, Adam Eldridge was born on December 6, 1977 in Portsmouth. He passed away on March 31, 2021 at the age of 43. Adam was a graduate of Glenwood High School and the Scioto County Joint Vocational School. After he graduated from high school, he worked on river barges until suffering a brain injury after being hit in the head by a piece of equipment in 1999 when he was almost 22 years old.

His mother Vicky was Adam’s loving and proud caregiver for more than 20 years before he died from cancer two years ago.

“Adam was an all-round good person,” Vicky said. “He was very intelligent and encouraged everyone to go to college so that they could get good educations and good jobs.”

“Adam would do anything for anybody and wanted to do everything he could for people,” Vicky added. “He loved animals too. His injury left him with short-term memory problems; he still had long-term memory. He was an avid reader, but that activity was taken away with his short-term memory difficulties.”

Vicky said she and Adam talked about setting up the fund. He wanted to give kids the opportunity to have a better life and to help those with lower incomes improve their financial situations. They wanted the scholarship to be available to any students in the Scioto County area to attend any college if they were qualified.

Adam thought about going to college but loved his job before he got hurt, Vicky said. “He didn’t know what he wanted to do later in life, but he would have wanted to help many folks,” she added. “He cared about others.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better son,” Vicky concluded.

Contributions to the Adam Eldridge Memorial Scholarship Fund from family, friends, or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property.

Additional information about the Adam Eldridge Memorial Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.

• Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent 
• Must be a resident of Adams County, Ohio or have received a diploma from a high school in Adams County, Ohio. Maybe be homeschooled in Adams County, Ohio.
• Must be attending or planning to attend an accredited, nonproprietary college, university or certified vocational training program in a full-time capacity
• Must show financial need. 
• Undergraduates Only 
• Must have a record of satisfactory academic performance
• Must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher

• have a high school diploma or its equivalent;
• be a resident of Adams County, Ohio or have received a diploma from a high school in Adams County, Ohio or have been homeschooled in Adams County, Ohio;
• be attending or planning to attend an accredited, nonproprietary college, university, or certified vocational training program in a full-time capacity;
• show financial need;
• have a record of satisfactory academic performance;
• have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; and
• be an undergraduate student.

• Scholarship Criteria
• Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent 
• Must be a resident of Adams County, Ohio or have received a diploma from a high school in Adams County, Ohio. Maybe be homeschooled in Adams County, Ohio.
• Must be attending or planning to attend an accredited, nonproprietary college, university, or certified vocational training program in a full-time capacity. 
• Students must show financial need
• Graduate of an Adams County, Ohio high School

he Adams County Community Foundation, in partnership with the Scioto Foundation, has announced the creation of the Earl and Helen Johnson Scholarship Fund, established for the benefit of Adams County students striving to attain post-secondary educations.

The new scholarship fund was set up by the Johnsons' son Bill, a native of Adams County, who said "he wants to give back to the community that was so good to him as he was growing up."

To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and be a resident of Adams County, Ohio, or have received a diploma from a high school in Adams County. Applicants must be attending or planning to attend an accredited, non-proprietary college, university or certified vocational training program in a full-time capacity.

Students must demonstrate financial need and have a record of satisfactory academic performance. Participation in extracurricular activities, community services, employment and school attendance will also be considered. When possible, for current graduates of Adams County high schools, scholarships will be allocated equally among those schools. As the fund grows at some point in time, when practical, scholarship renewals will be considered.

Earl and Helen Johnson Scholarship selections will be made annually by the volunteer scholarship committee of the Scioto Foundation acting on behalf of the SF Board of Governors.

Bill Johnson, now a resident of Dallas, Texas, established the scholarship fund in memory of his parents. His father, Earl, died in 1957 and his mother, Helen, died in 1974.

Bill grew up on a farm south of West Union and graduated from West Union High School and Wilmington College before becoming a flight instructor in the United States Air Force in Dallas. He and his wife Anne settled in Dallas where he worked in the insurance industry. According to Bill, he knows the value of giving back and has worked heavily in the philanthropic community in Dallas.

Bill's father Earl was an executive with the Adams County Building and Loan (now Southern Hills Community Bank.) He had three sisters, Betty Piatt, Caryl McFarland , Doris Rudy, who are deceased. He maintains close ties to Adams County through his brother-in-law, Ernie McFarland, and his family.

In creating the new fund, Bill said "his sincere desire...is to help other Adams Countians have some of the benefits he enjoyed by pursuing education beyond high school.

Contributions to the Earl and Helen Johnson Scholarship Fund from family, friends or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property.

Further information about the Earl and Helen Johnson Scholarship Fund may be obtained by contacting the Adams County Community Foundation at (937) 544-8659 or by contacting Ginnie Moore, Grants and Scholarships Coordinator for the Scioto Foundation which manages the fund for the ACCF at (740) 354-4612.

• Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent 
• Must be a resident of Adams County, Ohio or have received a diploma from a high school in Adams County, Ohio. Maybe be homeschooled in Adams County, Ohio.
• Must be attending or planning to attend an accredited, nonproprietary college, university, or certified vocational training program in a full-time capacity. 
• Undergraduates Only 
• Must show financial need. 
• Must have a record of satisfactory academic performance
• When possible, for current graduates of Adams County, Ohio high schools, scholarships will be allocated equally among those schools.

• Graduating senior from an Adams County, Ohio high school
• 3.0 GPA
• Majoring in a health-related field
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Criteria: 

• Graduating senior from Portsmouth High School or Notre Dame High School in Scioto County, Ohio

• 2.8 GPA or above

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Preference for Education Major and those attending a college or university in Ohio. 

The Scioto Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Amy M. Keating Scholarship Fund established by Kathy Fish and Tom Keating, Amy’s mother and husband, in memory of the highly-regarded English teacher and tennis coach who passed away on February 5, 2019.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be graduating seniors from Portsmouth or Notre Dame High School and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.8 on a scale of 4.0. Preference will be given to students studying education and attending Ohio schools.  As the fund grows, it is anticipated that annual awards will be made to graduating seniors from other high schools in Scioto County. 

A committee of up to five members will make annual selections in concert with the Scioto Foundation’s volunteer scholarship committee.  If the committee no longer chooses to make the selections, the volunteer scholarship committee, on behalf of the Scioto Foundation Board of Governors, will name the annual recipients. 

A daughter of David E. Barney and Kathy Boyce Fish, Amy was born June 20, 1969 in Portsmouth.  An English teacher at Portsmouth High School, Amy was influential not only as a tennis coach but also as a life coach for her students. She was a successful Quiz Bowl and Mock Trial coach, had multiple winning seasons in both Boys’ and Girls’ tennis and was the yearbook advisor. Amy coined the PHS phrase “You Belong Here” and was instrumental in the development of the school’s new food bank.  She was an avid tennis player and enjoyed tackling new adventures such as hiking with friends, old and new.

 “Amy regularly received letters from her former students thanking her for preparing them for college English. Students came by the school to see her and to let her know they wouldn’t have made it through college if it weren’t for her classes,” said her mother and husband. “Amy was the kind of teacher and person that the students wanted to be with – whether in the classroom or the tennis courts. Parents have told us their daughters want to be like Amy. Some parents told us they encouraged their children to sign up for everything Amy was doing so they could spend more time with her.”

“Amy encouraged and inspired her students, and she made each and every one of them feel special. She encouraged them to push themselves to be better students, athletes and people. We want the scholarship fund to keep Amy’s legacy alive by helping those who seek a good life for themselves while helping others achieve success. Amy’s message was ‘Believe in your abilities,’ “ Fish and Keating explained.

Amy was a 1987 graduate of PHS and earned a Bachelor of English degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a teaching degree from Ohio University. She received a Master of Education degree from Concordia University. Amy was a board member of the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery and attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church. She and Tom were married on August 7, 2000, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.  Their family includes stepsons Thomas Jacob and Benjamin David Keating of Indianapolis, Indiana and stepdaughter Megan Sowkulech of McDermott, Ohio. 

Additions to the Amy M. Keating Scholarship Fund may be made by friends, family and supporters in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property at any time.  Further information about the Amy M. Keating Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities may be obtained by contacting Kim Cutlip or Patty Tennant at the Scioto Foundation office, (740) 354-4612 or by visiting the SF website at www.sciotofoundation.org. 

 

• Enrolled at an accredited college or university seeking an associate or bachelor’s degree to become a vet tech, vet assistant, or a veterinary-related degree (e.g. pre-veterinary)
• Students living in one of the following counties Adams(OH), Greenup(KY), Jackson(OH), Lawerence(OH), Lewis(KY), Pike(OH), or Scioto(OH).

• Must be a Scioto County, Ohio high school graduate
• Must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Attend Shawnee State University
• Must major in Business

The Scioto Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the new Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship Fund, established by Audrey and Ryan Schiesser who are making the scholarship available to students who are interested in pursuing a career in marketing or business. 

To be eligible for the Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship, a student must be a graduate of a Scioto County high school, maintain a 3.5 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 and attend Shawnee State University, majoring in business. Preference will be given to students studying marketing.

The Scioto Foundation volunteer scholarship committee will make annual selections of scholarship recipients on behalf of the SF Board of Governors.

“We believe that entrepreneurship and business are essential to the growth and success of our community,” said the Schiessers. “We wanted to create a scholarship that could help support students who are interested in pursuing these fields and help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in our community. Our goal is to give back to the community by supporting students passionate about those fields”

“We hope that this scholarship can help support these students’ academic and career goals,” Audrey concluded.

“It is so exciting when young people like Ryan and Audrey want to give back to the community and help other young people afford a college education, “ said Patty Tennant, Scioto Foundation Program Manager for Donor Services. “It is because of people like them that the Scioto Foundation can make a difference in our community.”

Audrey, who is the owner of Appalachian Marketing and Media, is a graduate of Portsmouth West High School. She attended Shawnee State University where she graduated with a B.S. Degree in Marketing.  She was a recipient of a scholarship from the Scioto Foundation. 

She is on the board of Scioto Christian Youth Athletics, Vice President of Main Street Portsmouth and a member of the Leadership Team for Friends of Portsmouth.

Ryan, the Business Manager for Appalachian Marketing and Media, is a graduate of Green High School. He graduated from SSU with a B.S. Degree in Cybersecurity and Business Management.  He is currently serving his 10^th year in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist.  He is a mentor at the Kricker Innovation Hub and a member of the Leadership Team for Friends of Portsmouth. 

Audrey and Ryan are the parents of Addie, three months old, and Hunter, eleven years old. 

The Appalachian Marketing and Media Company, which is three years old, has developed eight marketing services to address every need, said the Schiessers. The services include strategic marketing, photography, social media marketing, email marketing, website development, search engine optimization, videography and graphic design. 

Their intent is to grow businesses with target marketing strategies, tactics and resources aimed at attracting more clients and gaining peace of mind, the Schiessers said. 

“We believe in supporting our local community which is why we give back to local organizations in our area,” Audrey explained. 

The company has launched an internship program benefitting local college students, has expanded into eight service lines, services more than 80 local companies and currently employs seven Shawnee State University graduates, according to Audrey. 

“We focus on providing high quality marketing for our customers, excellent employment opportunities for our staff and excellent experience for local college students with our internship program,” she concluded. 

Contributions to the Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship Fund from family, friends or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property.

Additional information about the Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.

• Graduated from a Scioto County, Ohio high school
• Must have a college Sophomore, Junior, or Senior status 
• Majoring in Business or Music
• Undergraduate
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Description:

• Graduate of a Scioto County, Ohio High School

• Pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies

• Must attend an accredited college or unversity

A native of Scioto County, Bernie was a 1976 graduate of Northwest High School. He later attended Ohio University and graduated with honors in 1987, with a bachelor’s degree in environmental zoology. The following year he took a job with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
 
To his coworkers at the Ohio EPA, Bernie was known as a dedicated and likable man who had extensive knowledge of dragonflies. “He was one of those guys, if you asked him to do something you knew it would get done without any questions,” said Chris Yoder, supervisor of the ecological assessment unit where Bernie worked.
 
Counts conducted aquatic ecological studies for sites regulated by the Division of Emergency and Remedial Response. He investigated the environmental damage done by chemical spills and other pollution problems. Over the years, Bernie was involved in evaluating more than 80 rivers and streams in Ohio. He helped raise the alarm about the hazards in the Little Scioto River in Marion County long before Marion’s pollution problems became widely known.
 
An avid reader and life-long learner, Bernie was a member of the Dragonfly Society of America and the Ohio Odonata Society. He contributed a chapter to Dragonflies of Ohio, written by his friend, Bob Glotzhober, curator of natural history for the Ohio Historical Society.
 
“Bernie dedicated his life to making a small footprint on the planet. He was involved in many environmental protection issues and practiced what he preached,” said co-worker Dave Altfater. Bernie will be fondly remembered as an excellent colleague, an advocate for the environment, and a man dedicated and passionate about his work. All who knew him felt fortunate to have called Bernie Counts a friend. 

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must complete the Bill Newman Sportsmanship Essay

• Must show good sportsmanship

• Must be a graduating senior of a Scioto County, Ohio High School

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Bill was an advocate of youth and sports for most of his life. He was a retired OHSAA official for baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball. Through his 50-plus years of officiating and his 29 years of coaching American Legion Baseball, he was privileged to mentor and touch many lives. His teams won many league championships and one state championship. Several of his players went on to play major league baseball. He officiated in district, regional, and state tournament games. He was inducted into the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame and into the Portsmouth High School Hall of Fame. He was honored with the signing of a star on the Portsmouth Floodwall. Bill received numerous honors and recognitions throughout his career for his many sports accomplishments. Bill always believed his greatest accomplishment was the love and support of his family. HOT-CHAMALE!
 

Scholarship Criteria: 

• Graduating senior of a Scioto County, Ohio High School unless the scholarship is renewed

• Enrolled at Shawnee State University

• Child of an employee of the City of Portsmouth.

• Active in the community

• Must attend an accredited college or unversity

May be renewed for three additional years if recipient maintains a 2.0 GPA.

UPPER CLASSMAN can only apply if a renewal

Proceeds of the City of Portsmouth's Employee Recognition Dinner held January 18, 2003, Established this fund honoring Bobby J. Burns. The dinner was sponsored by Tri-State Coca-Cola Bottling Company and numerous local businesses. Officials from the City chose to honor the memory of Burns through this scholarship.

"During the final stages of the development of this scholarship, we lost a good friend -- Bob Burns. Sometime during the days that followed, we were struck with the notion of what better way to say thank you to Bob than to name this scholarship after him. Through this award it is our hope Bob's life and good work will continue for many years to come," said Mayor Greg Bauer. 

The scholarship will assist a graduating senior who plans to attend Shawnee State University and is a child of a City of Portsmouth employee. The recipient must be active in the community. This scholarship is renewable for three years provided the recipient maintains a 2.0 GPA. The first recipient will be chosen Spring 2004. 

Bobby J. Burns was born in Huntington, WV., in 1959. He was the son of Polly Faye Maynard Burns and the late Paul Burns. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Michele Wylie Burns and children, Leah Burns, Micah Burns and John Burns.

Burns was a 1977 graduate of Chesapeake HS and a 1995 graduate of the Scioto County Joint Vocational School where he received his Licensed Practical Nursing degree. He worked during some of his off-hours from the city as an LPN, his last being in the Emergency Department of the Adams County Hospital.

"Often when asked by others what type of work he did, Burns would always reply by saying he was public servant, which is exactly how he saw himself. He lived to help others, young and old. As he puts it, the young ones, 'they just need someone to really listen to them and he would just be there for them and the elderly. He would always feel the seniors would so graciously extend their arms and welcome him into their family. He believed that his job gave him the opportunity to help," remembers his wife, Michele. 

"Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday. He always said he had a lot to be thankful for because it seemed he was always getting a lot more than he gave. Nothing could shine his name brighter than a scholarship for children, and we, the Burns family, thank all of those involved in helping a true loving man's name live on," expressed Michele. 
 

• Junior or Senior status
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• Majoring in Special Education
• Must attend an accredited college or university
• Graduate of a Scioto County high school 

​

​The Brenda Musser Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Eric Musser to honor his mother who died on January 12, 2011 after a long, four-year battle with lung cancer.

​To be eligible for the Musser Scholarship, a student must be a junior or senior enrolled at an accredited college or university majoring in special education with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students must have graduated from a high school located in Scioto County.

Brenda Sue Musser was born February 14, 1953, the daughter of Goldie Wireman Griffith and the late Paul W. Griffith. She was a 1971 graduate of Portsmouth High School and a faithful class reunion organizer.  She earned a BS degree in Special Education in 1975 and a MA degree in Economics Education in 1981, both from Ohio University. 

​A cancer educator and advocate of children with special needs, she retired from the Portsmouth City School District in 2008 as the Facilitator of Special Needs.  She was an active member and past president of the Portsmouth City School Teachers’ Association. She was also the Local District Representative to the Ohio Education Association for 25 years.

​“Mum may have gone into special education due to its higher demand, but she never liked the derogatory tone in people’s voices when they called her students names,” said Eric when remembering his mother. “She saw the potential in her kids that other teachers would ignore.”

“She would take the extra time and effort to help children with dyslexia learn to overcome their difficulties. A friend of mine who was one of her former students commended her as the only teacher to ever take the time to teach him how to read despite his dyslexia,” Eric recalled.  

         “Throughout school, when I would talk with her students on the playground or in the halls, when they found out I was her son, the story was always the same: ‘She's your mom! She's tough! I feel sorry for you.’ After I graduated when I would run into her former students, they always had similar stories but it was much different from school. ‘She's your mom! She was the only teacher I learned from. She was my favorite’,” Said Eric.                            

“I hope the future educators who qualify for this scholarship go into the field looking to empower the children they will come into contact with as my mum did. I hope they impact the lives of their students in such a way that their children hear similar stories on the playground and after graduation that I did,” concluded Musser.
 

Additional information about the Brenda Musser Memorial Scholarship Fund or other scholarship funds invested at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting the staff at (740) 354-4612 or by visiting the SF website at www.sciotofoundation.org. 

• Graduate from Manchester High School, Adams County, Ohio
• Majoring in Education or Healthcare
• Enrolled in an accredited college or university

• Graduate from a high school in Scioto County, Ohio 
• Majoring in Education or Healthcare 
• Enrolled at an accredited college or university

Scholarship Description:

• Scioto County, Ohio high school graduate

• Have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Brooks was born in Portsmouth and attended the U.S. Grant grade school until he moved to Union Township after the 1937 flood. There he lived along the little Bear Creek near Highway 73. He attended Union Township Grade School and Otway High School. At the age of 17, Carl left the area to join the Navy Seabees during WWII. Served in Guinea and the Philippine Island. Books retired U.S. Customs Agent. 
 
During his 20 years as an agent, Carl became interested in learning Spanish but never quite achieved his goal. Upon retirement, he renewed his efforts to learn Spanish, which ultimately took him to Cuernavaca, Mexico. For two months he lived there with a Mexican Family and attended a language school. When Brooks returned to Ft. Myers, he gained teaching experience by instructing English to Spanish-speaking immigrants. For the past 11 years, he has devoted himself to teaching English to people of other languages. 
 
Why did Brooks create this fund, according to Carl, “ I thought I should try to do something beneficial for the town and county of my birth, the place and people that nurtured me during my formative years. I hope that this gift, Portsmouth and Scioto County will be better off because of Carl E. Brooks passed this way on a journey through life.”

Established in 2000
 

• Graduating senior of Portsmouth West High School, Scioto County, Ohio
• Must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Someone who is good classmate with a good personality

Scholarship Fund created by Carolyn’s grandchildren Keely McGraw and Kyle Locher to honor the beloved West Portsmouth resident and long-time Washington-Nile School bus driver. 

The Carolyn Locher Memorial Scholarship is designated for the benefit of a student of Portsmouth West High School with a minimum GPA of 2.75 who is a good classmate with a good personality.  The student may attend the college or technical school of his or her choice.  Selection of the annual recipient will be made by the Scioto Foundation volunteer scholarship fund.

Carolyn retired in 1994 after a 25-year career as a bus driver for the Washington-Nile School System.  While working in the school system she helped unionize the entire school staff, according to her granddaughter Keeley. 

“Carolyn was an excellent employee. She loved the children and was very child safety-conscious,” said Pat Ciraso, former Washington-Nile School Superintendent. “She was always willing to do extra things that needed to be done. I always saw lots of kids giving her hugs.”

 After retiring from the school system, Locher operated her own pet grooming business, “Love on a Leash,” for 25 years. 

“She was always big about giving back to the community and very involved in school sports” Keely said. “She had five sons, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She loved watching the kids play sports and was always their biggest fan. She loved going to their ball practices just to watch.” 

 “Carolyn and her husband Chet were both athletic boosters for many years and they were both ‘die-hard West Portsmouth people,” said Keely. “She was the kind of person that made everyone laugh.  She was so funny and she liked to travel. Everyone took her with them when they went anywhere. She was everybody’s nanny and her house was the headquarters for everyone.” 

 “She was so big about education that I wanted to do something for her,” Keely explained about her reason for setting up the scholarship in Carolyn’s memory.              

McGraw is an intervention teacher for the Notre Dame School System and her brother Kyle works at the Portsmouth Enrichment Plant. Both are graduates of West Portsmouth High School.          Contributions to the Carolyn Locher Scholarship Fund from family, friends, fans, supporters or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property.

Additional information about the Carolyn Locher Scholarship Fund and other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.

• Must pursue a degree in Vocal Performance, Music Education with an emphasis in voice/choral conducting, or Church Music with an emphasis in voice/choral conducting
• Scioto County residents will receive first priority
• Residents of neighboring counties may apply and will receive consideration
• GPA 3.0 or higher
• Audition and essay are required. - The essay must be 500 words or more on your intent, outlining musical training and experiences, as well as your goals in the field of music, both short and long term.
• Must attend an accredited college or university

• A graduate from a Greenup Co. (KY) or Scioto Co.(OH) high school
• Pursuing a Music degree
• Submittal of a music audition is required
• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Graduating Senior of Portsmouth West High School
• Enrolled at The Ohio State University 

• Graduate of East High School

• Graduating Senior of Notre Dame or Wheelersburg High School. (One will be award to each school district)
• Plan to attend an accredited college, university, or technical school for post secondary education.
• Complete the essay that discusses their adherence to Coach Miller's philosophy of faith, family and football. 
• Students must demonstrate hard work, showcase pride in school and have a desire to achieve are encourage to apply

Scholarship Description: 

• Graduate of a Scioto County high school

• Sophomore rank or higher at an accredited college or university

• Majoring in education and planning to pursue a career in teaching

• Undergrad

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Preference is given to students who are interested in coaching athletic teams at the elementary, middle and/or high school level.

Established by former athletes of Coach Shurl Shoemaker, this fund provides scholarship assistance to a worthy high school graduate from the Scioto County area who has progressed beyond the second year of study at a college or university that he or she intends to pursue a full-time career in teaching. 

Preference will be given to candidates who are interested in coaching athletic teams at the elementary, middle and/or high school level.

Shoemaker was born in 1934. He attended North Moreland school and graduate from Portsmouth East high school in 1952. Following graduation, Shoemaker graduated from Ohio University with BS in Education. In 1956, he started teaching in the Portsmouth city school district, and taught there for the next 30 years. 

Shoemaker was active in coaching, including teams for North Moreland, Roosevelt, Mckinley and Portsmouth high school girls basketball. 

In addition to coaching in the Portsmouth city school district, from 1953 to 1975, Shoemaker was active in the New Boston Kiwanis Little League. 

According to former athlete, Norm Burroughs, "Coach Shoemaker is one of those rare individuals we are very lucky to brush up against in life. I'm so thankful to have been blessed with his influence and care. He has made a difference in my life."

 

• Graduate of Portsmouth High School, Scioto County, Ohio
• Majoring in Education

The Constance Burns Ackerman Memorial Scholarship Fund was created by her husband Marion Ackerman in memory of his wife of almost 57 years.

To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a graduate of Portsmouth High School and plan to major in education. Preference will be given to students that attend Ohio University.

The volunteer scholarship committee of the Scioto Foundation will make annual selections of scholarship recipients on behalf of the Board of Governors.

Constance Ackerman passed away on August 12, 2021, at age 82. She was born in Portsmouth in 1939 and graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1957. One of nine children in the Burns family, she worked while she attended the Ohio University Branch in Portsmouth for two years and then transferred to the main campus where she met her future husband. After Constance graduated from college, the couple lived in Portsmouth for several years where Constance taught at Garfield Elementary School and earned her Master’s Degree in Education in 1962 while her husband was in the Peace Corps. Later, with their young daughter Susan, the Ackermans established their home in Westerville where Connie continued her career in education and Marion became a contractor.

The family later moved to Sunbury where Connie spent most of her career teaching fifth and sixth graders at Westerville’s Hanby School. She enjoyed helping students who were slower in their studies and could always be found working with children with math or reading after school. She retired after teaching for 31 years and then substituted for several more years.

Connie loved children and knew she wanted to become a teacher from the first time she went to school herself, according to her husband. “An education is something no one can ever take away from you,” she frequently said.

Connie loved to write letters to keep in touch with distant relatives and friends over her lifetime. She never knew a stranger and always made people feel welcome, her husband said. She was active in retirement – delivering meals at SourcePoint in Delaware, organizing funeral meals at First Presbyterian Church in Westerville, working with the Community Library Friends and the Big Walnut Area Historical Society, making cookies, visiting home-bound seniors and spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters.

Marion formerly created two scholarships for graduates of Salem High School in northeastern Ohio where he attended school; they were designated for vocational studies at the local community college since he was a contractor and his family worked in the trades, he explained. Now he wanted to set up a fund in memory of Constance in the educational field in Portsmouth where the couple had lived for several years, he said.

Marion was also inspired by the Salem High School Alumni Association which originally created an endowment in for the school in 1903 and is now valued at around $11,000,000.

Contributions to the Constance Burns Ackerman Memorial Scholarship Fund from family, friends or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of cash, securities or properties.

Additional information about the Constance Burns Ackerman Memorial Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.

Scholarship Description:

• Graduating senior at Portsmouth, Minford, Notre Dame, Valley or Wheelersburg high school, Scioto County, Ohio

• Maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher

• Received at least two varsity letters

• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Exhibited leadership qualities, pride in school, their community, good communication skills, community involvement and overall good character.

• Must include an essay describing why you are deserving of this scholarship, how your achievements parallel Courtney's and how you live your life by dedication, determination and discipline.

• Additional reference letter from a coach is required.

The Courtney Clifford Outstanding Achievement Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Courtney Clifford. Courtney bravely battled ovarian cancer for five years and was a thyroid cancer survivor, having been diagnosed at the age of 14.
 
Courtney was a valedictorian of the Class of 2001 at Portsmouth High School. While at P.H.S., she was an All-State Athlete in tennis, basketball and softball, senior class president and football homecoming queen.
 
Courtney graduated summa cum laude in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she was also a member of the women’s tennis team. She was president of the Public Relations Student Society of America and event chairperson of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life on the campus of UNCC. Courtney was also involved with the Catholic Campus Youth Ministry.
 
Following graduation from UNCC, Courtney was employed by American Tennis Professionals (ATP) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
 
Shortly following her employment, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and returned home to begin the fight of her life.
 
Courtney untiringly advocated for herself and others affected by cancer. She attended Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Summits in Texas and at the Ohio State University. She also attended the National Ovarian Cancer Alliance Conference in Washington D.C. Courtney will be remembered for her cancer awareness efforts and her selfless work to ensure that someday cancer will be eradicated.
 
Courtney's journey in the cancer world showed her intense fight and drive to never give up hope. She has touched many lives with her courage and strength.
 
Courtney passed away from this terrible disease on February 11, 2011 at the age of 28, but she will continue to touch lives through this scholarship fund and ovarian cancer awareness.

Courtney Recognized as a Woman of Courage...

Demonstrated remarkable acts of courage when confronted with adversity
 
Served as a role model to family, friends, and the community-at-large for her selfless fortitude in striving to overcome the challenges thrust upon her
 
Made a difference in the lives of others
 
The Scholarship

The goal of the Courtney Clifford Outstanding Achievement Scholarship Fund is to provide financial assistance to a deserving senior at Portsmouth High School, Notre Dame High School, and Minford High School who is planning to attend a university/college of their choice. The scholarship will reward a student who best exemplifies Courtney's achievements and character. 
 
The Courtney Clifford Outstanding Achievement Scholarship Fund is held with The Scioto Foundation, P.O. Box 911, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662, which is a non-profit community foundation. The Scioto Foundation is responsible for accepting contributions, investing and managing the fund. Donations to the fund are tax-deductible.
 
Income from the fund will be distributed to the award-winning student's university/college, based on eligibility and the recommendations of the Courtney Clifford Outstanding Achievement Scholarship Committee.
 
 

• Graduating Senior at Notre Dame HS, Portsmouth Ohio
• Participants in outstanding community service projects
• Must attend an accredited college or university

• College sophomore or junior
• Majoring in history or education
• ​Must be a resident of Ohio, Kentucky or West Virginia
• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Graduating senior of a Scioto County, Ohio high school
• GPA 2.5 - 3.00
• Planning to Attend Shawnee State University
• Family income of $45,000 or less
• Must attend an accredited college or unversity

• A least a high school junior or senior at a Scioto County, Ohio or Greenup County, Kentucky high school
• Planning to attend a summer music camp of at least six weeks in length or pursuing a baccalaureate degree in music at a college or university. Music Education and music performance are included.
• Audition required.
• Those pursuing a music degree must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be a graduating senior at Valley High School, Lucasville, Ohio 

• Must possess the following: the ability to think critically and creatively, express loyalty to the school, family and community; a desire to contribute to the community; competitive spirit; commitment to goals; and academic performance

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Established by the Valley Local School Board, the Doug Booth Scholarship Fund will assist a graduating senior annually from Valley High School who possesses the following: the ability to think critically and creatively, express loyalty to the school, family and community; desire to contribute to the community; competitive spirit; commitment to goals; and academic performance. The first recipient was chosen in the spring of 2004.
 
The Valley Local School Board has named the fund the “Doug Booth Scholarship” in honor of Mr. Douglas L. Booth who has spent his entire career of over 40 years as a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent in the Valley Local Schools. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Booth has shown a commitment to providing a better quality of education for students of the Valley Local School District. He has exemplified throughout his career the power of ideas, creativity, loyalty and competitive pride. He, along with the Board, provided leadership for the district to obtain modern buildings and facilities that promote quality teaching and learning for the students of the district. The scholarship is a means to acknowledge the years of efforts and achievement of Douglas L. Booth and is an expression of gratitude to him for his contributions to current and future generations of students. 
 
“I take great pride in the accomplishments of the school district and our students’ achievements, all of which is a tribute to the dedicated staff and Board of Education. My role has simply been to serve the community of Lucasville and to care for our most prized possessions, our children. I am truly humbled and proud that the board has chosen to name this scholarship in my honor. It is my sincere hope that these funds will assist worthy students in attaining an education that might not otherwise have been available to them,” comments Booth. 
 
The Valley Local School Board believes in and supports the continuous physical, mental and emotional growth of the students enrolled in the Valley Local School District. The Board believes that students should be given the opportunities to participate in society to the best of their abilities. Being dedicated to these beliefs, the Board has established this fund for the purpose of providing students scholarships to assist deserving students to attain a college education. 
 
Board member, Dr. Charles Wilson explains, “this is an idea that the Board has discussed for a long time. Currently, Valley Local High School has many different scholarships to offer worthy students, but the amount just does not make a big enough difference in the cost of higher education. The scholarship fund was created in hopes of someday providing full scholarships to deserving students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to seek higher education."
 
Booth states, "making a difference in the lives of children is what all of us in the education field strive for each day. This is the best retirement gift an educator could possibly receive. I sincerely thank those who made it happen.”   

 

Scholarship Criteria:

• Graduate of a Scioto County high school or a current resident of Scioto County
• Minimum high school and/or college grade point average of 3.0/4.0
• Pursuing a degree in science with a preference for healthcare.
• Enrolled at college or university listed in the most recent US News and World Report’s National University or National Liberal Arts College rankings of “Top 200 Schools.”
• Submit three letters of recommendation from a family member, an employer or coach and a teacher, faculty or staff member of their current school.

The Scioto Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Dr. James R. Mullins Scholarship Fund, established in memory of a local physician who practiced medicine for 31 years in Portsmouth. The new fund has been set up by Mullins’ daughters, Jame Rebekah Monroe of Powell, Ohio and Remi Mullins-Murphy of Tracy, California.

Born November 4, 1946 in Magnolia, Arkansas, Dr. Mullins died on November 9, 2011 at the age of 65. He was a son of the late Cennie and Mae Smith Mullins. Dr. Mullins was a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley, received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center and was a New York Life Medical Scholar. 

He was a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners, Board Certified by the Board of General Medicine and an active member of the Ohio State Medical Association. He came to Portsmouth to establish his practice in 1980. Locally, he was a past chief of staff of the Southern Ohio Medical Center and former medical director for The Counseling Center. In addition to his two daughters, Dr. Mullins was the grandfather of four grandchildren with another expected in six weeks.

“Our dad was a consumer of information, a champion of knowledge,” said Mullins-Murphy. “He believed that greatness could come from anyone and that education is the best avenue to facilitate meaningful advances and changes in people’s lives. Moreover, those tangible results make huge differences in our communities here and around the globe.”

“Our father viewed education in such high regard,” Monroe said. “I know he would be pleased that we have moved forward with this fund.”

To be eligible for the Mullins Scholarship, a student must be a graduate of a Scioto County high school or a current resident of Scioto County. In addition, applicants must have a minimum high school and/or college grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be pursuing a degree in science with a preference for healthcare. 

Applicants must attend a college or university listed in the most recent US News and World Report’s National University or National Liberal Arts College rankings of “Top 200 Schools”. Candidates are required to complete and submit three letters of recommendation from a family member, an employer or coach and a teacher, faculty or staff member of their current school.

Annual scholarship selections will be made through an advisory committee working in concert with the Scioto Foundation Board of Governors. The initial members of the committee will be James and Rebekah Monroe, Remi Mullins and one other member. In the event that either Monroe or Mullins-Murphy or another immediate family member of Dr. Mullins resigns, dies, or for any other reason becomes unavailable, the selection will be made by the SF Board of Governors or on its behalf by the volunteer scholarship committee of the Scioto Foundation. 

• Enrolled at Shawnee State University

• Must be a Scioto County high school graduate
• Majoring in business
• Enrolled at Shawnee State University and major in business
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 and be a local student 

 The application can be found through the guidance office. Selection is made by the school. 

Scholarship Criteria:

• A graduate of Eastern High School, Pike County, Ohio or Eastern High School Student attending Vern Riffe JVS in Piketon, Ohio

• 3.0 GPA  or higher

• Must major in Education​

• Must exhibit good character

• Show financial need

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Criteria:

• Graduate from an Adams or Scioto County, Ohio high school

• Majoring in Secondary or Elementary education

• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Graduating seniors from any public Adams County high school, including Manchester High School. 
• Top 25% Class Standing
• Must have a good work ethic 
• Must show extracurricular activities 
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be a graduate of a Scioto County, Ohio High School

• Must be in a pre-med program

• Must attend an accredited college or university

The Larry Keller – Eva McCowen Medical Scholarship Fund was established from a bequest from Eva McCowen Keller‘s estate. 
 
Keller’s parents were Edward Oscar McCowen and Clara Edith Smith McCowen. Keller was one of six children. She and all of her siblings followed in the father’s steps and chose the field of education as their occupation. 

Edward started the first “Normal School” in Scioto County in order to train teachers. He believed in educating his daughters as well as his sons.
 
Keller then attended Miami University in Oxford. Eva was next to the oldest in her family; however, she outlived all of her siblings. She was 95 at her death. She lived alone and maintained her own affairs until five months before her death. She was intelligent and followed the news and world events and could discuss politics and history after turning 95. Eva was a 63-year member of the DAR. 
 

• Graduating senior from South Webster or Wheelersburg HS, Scioto County, Ohio
• GPA 3.0 or Higher
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Description:

• Graduate from a Scioto County, Ohio high school

• Undergrad

• Must have financial need

• Must attend an accredited college or university

In August of 2001, Larry Fitch established the Fitch Family Fund in honor and memory of the Fitch family of Scioto County, Ohio. The fund provides assistance to needy and worthy students to attend the college or university of his or her choice. Applicants must be graduates of high school in Scioto County, Ohio. 

According to Larry, growing up in New Boston and having very little inspired him as an adult to give back to the community through the creation of this fund. 

Founding donors to the scholarship include Lawrence G. Fitch, Lee Oscar Fitch and James C. Fitch. 

 

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be a graduating senior at Notre Dame High School, Portsmouth, Ohio

• Must complete an essay describing “the three most important qualities a person should possess and one that a person should not.”

• GPA of 2.75 or Higher

• Must attend an accredited college or university

The Holsinger Family Scholarship Fund was established by Floyd’s wife Phyllis, his sons Christopher and John, and daughter Christina in August 1998.  Applicants for the scholarship must be graduates of Portsmouth Notre Dame High School who have maintained a minimum GPA of 2.75 and who, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, best meet the additional guidelines established. 

Each candidate must submit an essay describing “the three most important qualities a person should possess and one that a person should not.” Additional guidelines require that the applicant should be a genuine, self-motivated, disciplined, hard-working individual who embraces God, family and education. The candidates’ commitment to their community, church, home and school shall be considered by the Selection Committee in evaluating each applicant. 

The Selection Committee has the option of awarding the scholarship to any candidate on a continuing basis until he or she has graduated from a four-year college or to a first-year college freshman. 

The Selection Committee is composed of the Senior Guidance Counselor and Principal of Notre Dame High School and family members Phyllis, Floyd Christopher Holsinger, John Phillip Holsinger and Christina Holsinger Dever. 

Born on November 24, 1937 in Scioto County, Floyd Holsinger was involved in local businesses for over 40 years. He was co-owner of Bob & Floyd’s Tire Sales, former owner of Christy’s Dairy Bar and a real estate developer of Whispering Pines, Oakwood Estates and Harbour View Estates in Stout, Ohio.

Floyd was a member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge and the Portsmouth Elks Lodge and served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1962 until 1965. He attended Nauvoo Methodist Church, Wheelersburg United Methodist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was also a Kentucky Colonel. 

Floyd’s family was of the utmost importance to him and he built a strong family with his gift of loving and sharing unconditionally. The community in which he lived and worked was also important to Floyd and he gave willingly to make it a better place for all to live, according to tributes at the time of his death. He also loved the outdoors and enjoyed the many hours he spent walking and exploring the woods of his subdivisions. 

 “We started the fund because so many people made donations when Floyd died,” said Phyllis Holsinger. “We were overwhelmed and we wanted to put the money to the best use.”

“Floyd was thirsty for education and eager to learn. He was a great supporter of the kids, always boosting them in school,” she added. “He wanted the children to go to Notre Dame where he felt they would be encouraged by the influence of a Catholic education, church discipline and the love of people at the school.”

 “After graduating from Wheelersburg High School in 1956, Floyd tried to attend the University of Dayton, but without funding and encouragement, he left before finishing a semester. He wanted his kids to go to college,” his wife said.

Several Holsinger family members have been involved in education and the schools, including Phyllis’s sister, Garnet Renn, a teacher in the Portsmouth West School System for over 30 years. Daughter Christy taught for many years and is now the principal at Oak and Stanton Elementary Schools in New Boston. She graduated from Otterbein University. 

Both sons attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Floyd Christopher is a Professor of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California and John Phillip is Assistant Director of Managed Marketing for Merck Pharmaceutical Company in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. 

 For over thirteen years Phyllis worked in food service at the Notre Dame Elementary School cafeteria, serving as supervisor before moving on to become New Boston School Cafeteria Supervisor in 2003 until she retired. Since 2011 she has worked part-time as an educational aide with the South Central Educational Service Center and Minford Schools, as well as other area school districts, enjoying working with all levels of students. 

Donations to the Floyd Holsinger Family Fund may be made by friends, family and supporters in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property at any time.  Further information about the Holsinger Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities may be obtained by contacting Kim Cutlip or Patty Tennant at the Scioto Foundation office, (740) 354-4612 or by visiting the SF website at www.sciotofoundation.org. 
 

• Graduating senior at South Webster High School, Scioto County, Ohio
• Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
• Majoring in education
• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Must be a graduating senior at Wheelersburg High School

• Must be a graduating senior at Piketon High School, Pike County, Ohio
• Pursuing a degree in education
• GPA of 2.5 or higher 
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be a graduating senior of Valley High School, Lucasville, Ohio. 

• Must show showing evidence of community service and financial need.

• Must exhibit these qualities: highly self-motivated individual or “hard worker” who did not quit in the face of adversity.

• Must attend an accredited college or university

Through the contributions of the friends and family, and dedication of Mrs. Angel Romanello, the Ginger Rudd Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2003. 
 
The scholarship will assist a graduating senior from Valley High School, showing evidence of community service and financial need. More importantly, the scholarship recipient must exhibit the qualities that the late Phillips possessed: that of a highly self-motivated individual or “hard worker” who did not quit in the face of adversity. 
 
Phillips graduated from Valley High School and received her Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. She received a Master’s degree in education from Rio Grande in 1999. For many years she drove a school bus for the Valley Local School District. During the last 11 years, she taught in the Valley Local Schools. 
 
Angel Romanello, a longtime friend, explains why Phillips would want a scholarship in her name. Phillips had a special way of opening her heart to everyone. She loved life and saw each day as an opportunity. She always saw good and possibility in people, especially children. She loved teaching and helping friends and family whenever there was a need.  With this scholarship, Phillips will be able to continue helping to educate the children she loved so much.
 
Valley Local School Board member, Dr. Charles Wilson, expresses, “Phillips was a super person, willing to do anything the district asked of her. A scholarship fund is exactly how she would want to be remembered. She cannot be replaced and will be missed by all, including the future kids who will not have the opportunity to benefit from her love of teaching.”
 

Scholarship Description:

• Parent or guardian is a member of IBEW Local Union #575

• Submit a 250-word essay, "What the Labor Movement Means to Me".

IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local Union #575 Scholarship Fund is to be officially known as the Gordon M. Freeman IBEW Local Union #575 Scholarship Fund was created in 2011.

The fund is named for an important union leader who worked on behalf of labor organization and service from the 1930’s until his retirement in 1968, according to Dan Shirey, business manager for IBEW Local Union #575.

During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, Freeman helped establish an industrial federation to organize Tennessee Valley Authority workers in seven states, then served on the resulting association’s leadership council. He also served as the vice-president of the 4^th District from 1944 to 1955.

Freeman was elected IBEW International President in 1955. During his tenure he created departments for each major industry within the Union to facilitate organization and improve service to all membership groups. Under his direction, the Union helped Locals expand their four-year apprenticeship programs to include electronics, and in 1959 the IBEW appointed a skill-development training director so that full-fledged members could keep up with technological advances.

Along with skilled improvement and atomic energy, Freeman improved the training programs for technical fields such as industrial electronics, motor control, electrical heating and the National Electrical Code. Under his direction, scholarships were also created for students pursuing degrees in electrical engineering.

In 1964 Freeman pushed for organizing efforts in the South where right-to-work laws and strong antiunion tradition prevailed. 
 
He served at the request of U.S. presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson as vice president of the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. He also served on the Executive Council of the Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO from 1955 – 1968.

After his retirement, Freeman served as International President Emeritus until his death in 1983.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must furnish evidence that a parent or guardian is a member of local IBEW Local Union #575 and submit a 250-word essay on the subject, “What the labor movement means to me.”

On an annual basis, the Executive Committee of the IBEW will select a shortlist of potential candidates to receive the scholarship. The Board of Governors or the Volunteer Scholarship Committee of the Scioto Foundation will make the final selections.

From time to time additional contributions may be made to this fund by the IBEW, its members or the general public. Additions may be made in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property to the fund at any time.

Amounts available for distribution from the fund will be based on the current spending policy of the Foundation or will be the net income when not otherwise provided in the Foundation’s spending policy.

Information about establishing scholarship funds or creating other named funds at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.
 

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be enrolled in at Shawnee State University 
• Graduate of a high school in Scioto County, Ohio, Greenup or Lewis County, Kentucky 
• Majoring in Business
• GPA 3.0 or above
• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Graduate from a high school in Scioto County, Ohio
• Majoring in education
• Must attend an accredited college or university

Scholarship Criteria:

• Graduating seniors of Portsmouth West High School, Scioto County, Ohio

• Must attend an accredited college or university

• Graduate from a high school in southern Ohio
• Majoring in Architecture
• Accepted in an accredited college or university's school of architecture

• Graduating senior at Northwest or Wheelersburg High School, Scioto County, Ohio
• Enroll at the Ohio State University

• Employee of Hillview Retirement Center and their children are eligible
• Work for Hillview Retirement Center for at least one year
• Maintain an exemplary employment and performance record

• Parishioner of Cornerstone United Methodist 

  ---

Scholarship Criteria

• Graduate of Portsmouth High School or a member of First Presbyterian Church
• Majoring in education, dental hygiene, or the field of sports/physical education
• Enrolled at Shawnee State University
• dental hygiene students must attend Shawnee State University or the University of Louisville

Scholarship Criteria:

• Must be a graduating Senior of Portsmouth West high school, West Portsmouth, Ohio

Ira was born June 12, 1950, in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was one of ten children of the late Roy A. and Gladys Tatman Swearingen.  Ira was a graduate of Portsmouth West High School and attended the Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College.
 
He was a decorated Vietnam Veteran. He served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Enterprise as a hospital corpsman. For his dedicated service, Ira was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Services Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. At the time of his death, Ira worked as an orthopedic consultant for Sulzer Medical, Inc. in Austin, Texas and was a certified Physician's Assistant.
 
Ira had strong ties to his family, especially his 19 nieces and nephews, 31 great-nieces and nephews and two great-great nephews. It is because of his love of children that the family members decided to establish this memorial scholarship fund in his name.
 
From the outpouring of contributions and donations to the fund, it is evident that Swearingen was loved and touched many lives across the country. His friends at Marli Medical Supplies, Inc. located in New York, will miss him dearly. The Southern Surgical Consultants, of Jacksonville, Florida think of him often.  “We had the great fortune of working with Ira over the past ten years.  Our company’s success is due in large part to Ira’s efforts and dedication. He was always there to help, no matter the task or hour of the day. He was truly a great friend. We will miss him dearly.”

Scholarship Criteria:

• Graduate from an Adams or Scioto County, Ohio high school.
• Undergraduate or graduate 
• Has financial need
• Showcases good moral character
• Satisfactory scholastic record

Scholarship Criteria:

• Member of the Girl Scouts, Seal of Ohio Girl Scouts Council

• Must live in Scioto, Adams, or Pike County, Ohio

• Must prove five years of membership in the Girl Scouts of the USA

• Have a “B” average or better for four years of high school

• Participate in church, school, and community activities

• Undergraduate

The purpose of the Jessie M. Payne Memorial Scholarship Fund is to benefit Girl Scouts in Scioto, Adams and Pike counties with college scholarships. 
 
Mrs. Payne was a life member of the Girls Scout Council, Inc. She volunteered over 40 years of service to area Girl Scouts. She served on the Wider Opportunities and Financial Assistance committees, led numerous Girl Scout Area I Association. Throughout her volunteer career, she served in many other capacities. 
 
In honor of her exemplary service to Girl Scouting, the Seal of Ohio Girl Scout Council awarded Mrs. Payne the Thanks Badge, which is a national award created by the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Low. 
 
The Jessie M. Payne Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Mrs. Payne’s sister, Mrs. Willa B. Preston, in her honor.