2025 scholarship application

Applications are being accepting Monday, Jan. 13, through Friday, Feb. 14.

This scholarship is included in FAO’s general scholarship application, allowing applicants to apply for nearly 30 scholarship opportunities through one easy-to-access application.

FAO has transitioned to a new online system, Foundation Cloud Community Portal, for funding applications, including scholarships. Before applying for a scholarship, all applicants must register and create an account in the new system. Once registered, click on the “Scholarship Application” tab and then select “Available Scholarships,” where you can access the specific scholarship application form.

For questions, please contact FAO at 740.753.1111 or view the Frequently Asked Questions page below.

Apply here using FAO general application Applicant FAQ

Ralph L. and Linda S. Warne Engineering Scholarship

When Ralph Warne was 8 years old, he began selling TV Guides and The Grit newspaper door-to-door in Guernsey County. And through high school, he worked part time at the White Cross drug store in Cambridge.

After graduating from Cambridge High School, Ralph earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University. While there, he worked part time at OSU’s Engineering Experimental Station and as a construction laborer for two summers.

He was the recipient of a two-year Air Force ROTC scholarship at OSU. While awaiting his active-duty orders, Ralph worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Ralph served in the U.S. Air Force as a C-130 Navigator and Air Operations Officer. While serving, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

After his service, Ralph worked as a traffic engineer in Texas; city engineer of Worthington, Ohio; and an airport engineer, storm drainage engineer and construction engineer for the City of Columbus. While working for the City of Columbus, Ralph taught construction-related courses at Columbus State Community College as an adjunct faculty member.

Throughout his professional career, Ralph worked with many talented individuals who possessed the skills and aptitude to be engineers, but they lacked the financial resources to pursue postsecondary education.

Having experienced the financial challenges of pursuing a formal education himself, Ralph and his wife, Linda, established this scholarship fund to assist economically challenged residents of Guernsey County who want to pursue a career in engineering.

Eligibility Requirements and Criteria
  • Applicant is a resident of Guernsey County
  • Pursuing postsecondary studies in engineering
  • Attending or planning to attend an accredited engineering program at a public four-year college or university in the state of Ohio
  • Priority given to applicants with significant financial need and demonstrated desire to succeed and overcome obstacles
  • Demonstrate a strong work ethic and relevant work experience
  • Demonstrate outstanding character, academic excellence, and work and extracurricular experience
  • Have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale

Previous scholarship recipients who demonstrate a high level of academic success and require support to continue their bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate program in engineering are eligible to reapply.

Application

Scholarship applications are accepted annually in January and February.