Jackson County native becomes 23rd individual to receive award
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) has presented its latest Child of Appalachia award to Thomas B. Evans, an experienced investment professional who has been shaping the future of higher education for decades.
A Jackson County, Ohio, native, Evans co-founded American College of Education (ACE) to provide flexible, affordable online degree programs for working professionals in education, health care and business. ACE now offers more than 60 accredited online programs and has more than 55,000 alumni worldwide. Last fall, ACE was named as one of the top 150 public and private companies transforming digital learning and workforce skills for 2026 by GSV.
“The Child of Appalachia Award celebrates individuals whose stories provide real-world examples of the unlimited potential within the people of Appalachia,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “Through Tom Evans’ story, we see how an entrepreneurial vision and a commitment to transforming higher education is benefiting tens of thousands of learners worldwide. And that story started right here in Jackson, Ohio.”
FAO established the Child of Appalachia award in 2005 as part of a broader effort to encourage pride and high expectations among the people of Appalachian Ohio. Since that time, FAO has recognized 22 other people with the award, including Robert L. “Bob” Evans and John and Annie Glenn.
After growing up in Jackson, Tom Evans went on to receive a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio State University. He is founder and managing partner of Skyline Merchant Partners, a Dallas-based investment firm, and continues to serve as chair of ACE’s board of trustees and executive chair of ACE’s parent company.
“There is no greater recognition than to be called a Child of Appalachia,” Evans said. “This region forged in me resilience, loyalty and a deep conviction that where you come from should never limit how far you can go. The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is turning that conviction into action every single day, and I am proud to be connected to their mission. This recognition reaffirms my commitment to investing in the communities and people who made me who I am.”
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 and the regionwide African American Community Fund, 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.
To learn more about FAO and how you can support and create opportunities for the people and communities of Appalachian Ohio, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org, email info@ffao.org or call 740.753.1111.