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Edison Brings Donors, Scholarship
Recipients Together
The longstanding benefits of a college education can sometimes be a
goal that seems unattainable to some due to the financial strain that
getting a degree can bring. As student loan debt continues to grow,
more students are reaching out for assistance through scholarship
programs.
Through the generosity of donors from throughout the region, many
students at Edison State College have found the resources necessary to
take their dreams and make them a reality. At the annual Scholarship
Recognition Dinner held in Edison’s Robinson Theater on Nov. 8,
students and their families were given the opportunity to connect with
the donors who have helped shape their futures.
Edison student Natasha Flaugher, recipient of two scholarships and
currently pursuing her degree in nursing, addressed the audience
following the opening reception and dinner.
“Without these scholarships, a lot of the students here would have a
great burden on their shoulders,” said Flaugher, who received
scholarships from the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce and Miami County
Safety Council. “Getting a scholarship has been a great motivator for
me personally, because I know someone has put a lot of faith in me and
I don’t want to let them down.”
Donors like Linda Long and Carol Wood believe in those students, and
see the opportunity in providing a scholarship to a deserving student
as a way of honoring the memory of a loved one. The Holly Hahn Memorial
Scholarship is set up to provide financial assistance to a student for
whom English is a second language, a cause that was very close to the
former Edison professor’s heart when she passed away in 2005.
“She had a passion and love for teaching,” said Long, who started the
scholarship seven years ago with Wood. “She worked with students in the
Czech Republic, Russia and this area teaching English as a second
language and serving as a language tutor.”
Edison President Dr. Cris Valdez spoke to the audience on the
importance of recognizing the many individual donors and organizations
that work through the college’s foundation to help students succeed.
“We’re building and creating a culture of philanthropy here that starts
with our donors,” said Valdez. “Not everyone has the financial means to
contribute and we are very appreciative of those that do. We know that
higher education opens up so many opportunities to students.”
As an institution, Edison strives to provide those opportunities, all
the while understanding that many of its students are working while
going to school and taking care of family members. Statistically, the
average number of students receiving some form of financial aid at
Edison is just around 70 percent, compared to other major schools in
Ohio where the number is more than 90 percent.
Offering resources such as the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program
(PSEOP), which allows qualifying students to take college credit
courses while still in high school tuition-free, helps students and
families reduce future costs while easing the transition into a higher
education institution.
“We have more than 600 students attending Edison now as PSEOP
students,” said Chris Norman, Vice President of Institutional
Advancement. “Annually, that’s helping to save more than one million
dollars in tuition costs for students.”
Parents like Kim Maniaci, whose two daughters Brittany and Gabrielle
both attend Edison and were recipients of scholarships, expressed her
gratitude to the donors and institution that have provided a strong
foundation for their academic success.
“Edison has been very helpful in finding scholarships to continue their
education,” she said. “As a single parent, it has benefitted all of us
financially. We are very fortunate to have Edison here in the
community.”
Edison State College celebrates its 40th anniversary of providing
higher education and advanced training opportunities for the people of
Darke, Miami and Shelby Counties. Visit us online at
http://www.edisonohio.edu With campuses in Piqua and Greenville, Edison
provides both a Personal Experience and a Rewarding Education.
Find them both at Edison.
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