More than $700,000 in scholarships awarded to students across the region
GALLIPOLIS, Ohio – The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) and the Gallia Community Foundation have awarded more than $700,000 in donor-established postsecondary scholarships to students across the 32-county region, including two students from Gallia County.
Grace Heffernan of Patriot and Jazahera Moore of Cheshire received the Bob Evans and Wayne F. White Legacy Scholarship, honoring the legacy and commitment these two friends had to the Appalachian Ohio region. Heffernan, a 2025 homeschooled high school graduate, plans to attend the University of Rio Grande. Moore, a 2025 Ohio Valley Christian School graduate, plans to attend the University of Kentucky.
Moore also was awarded the AK Steel Foundation Scholarship, supporting students pursuing studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, with particular emphasis on metallurgy.
FAO partners with donors, an advisory committee of volunteers and its affiliate foundations, including the Gallia Community Foundation, to award scholarships to students across the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio through a competitive application process.
To date this year, FAO has awarded more than 600 postsecondary scholarships to more than 300 students across 26 counties thanks to gifts from residents and friends of Appalachian Ohio who recognize the role education plays in ensuring the region’s people and communities can flourish.
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.