Foundation for Appalachian Ohio Announces 2011 Scholarship Awards
(June 6, 2011) Nelsonville, Ohio — the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) announced forty-four 2011 scholarship recipients from fourteen funds distributing awards this year. FAO awarded 44 scholarships to students throughout Appalachian Ohio, providing over $80,000 in support of students’ academic pursuits, in partnership with our donors.
“All of the Foundation’s educational efforts, from the I’m a Child of Appalachia Writing Contest to our regional partnerships in STEMM education, are focused on increasing educational opportunities for the students of this region and our Scholarship Funds are the ultimate example,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO President and CEO. “We are honored each year to support students as they pursue their post-secondary dreams.”
Access to higher education has historically been limited in Appalachian Ohio; 51% of our students are first-generation versus 40% of their Non-Appalachian counterparts and in a 2008 survey, lack of finances followed by lack of college access information were shown to be our students’ largest barriers to post-secondary pursuits.[i] By working with donors to provide scholarship opportunities, FAO is helping improve access to education with the goal of enhancing quality of life for citizens across Appalachian Ohio.
Each year, the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio offers scholarship opportunities to students across the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio in partnership with its donors. Click on FAO’s 2011 Scholarship Awards to view a complete list of recipients.
For additional information on FAO scholarships or to learn more about how you can contribute to scholarship resources and impact the lives of area youth, please call 740-753-1111.
[i] The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, “Access & Success – Appalachian Ohio,” May 2009.