91视频

Alumni and Friends

OHIO Match Program provides students access to excellence

College Green at 91视频

In 2013, 91视频 dedicated $25 million to enhance the University鈥檚 endowed scholarship program through the OHIO Match, a program that aims to lower the cost of tuition for future Bobcats.

Since then, dozens of students across the University have received scholarships made possible by generous donors whose gifts were matched $0.50 on the dollar by the OHIO Match Program funds.

鈥淲e often hear that students have to choose a school where it economically makes the most sense,鈥 Assistant Vice President of Advancement Communications and Chief of Staff Jennifer Bowie said. 鈥淲e are able to offer scholarship awards that really make a difference so they can choose OHIO.鈥

Jacob McGinty, recipient of an OHIO Match scholarship

Jacob McGinty works on-campus in the Division of Student Affairs鈥 Outdoor Pursuits.

The program鈥檚 flexibility has made it popular among donors and allows the University to recruit the brightest students with fewer barriers. Scholarships from the program must be University-wide or college-wide and designated for undergraduate students on the Athens Campus.

Jacob McGinty, BSRS 鈥18, received the Jessica Woodruff Memorial Scholarship, an award for students enrolled in the Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education. McGinty is the current student manager for Outdoor Pursuits, OHIO鈥檚 adventure recreation department in the Division of Student Affairs.

鈥淚鈥檝e used the money to help pay my tuition,鈥 said McGinty, who will graduate in December. 鈥淭he scholarship and others I received provided me the opportunity to not pay out of pocket, which was great.鈥

After graduating from OHIO in 2002 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in specialized studies, Jessica Woodruff unexpectedly passed away in 2011. To honor her passion for teaching and helping others, her father, Tom Woodruff, established the scholarship.

Maxwell Posner, BBA 鈥19, received the Harold F. White Scholarship in Business and said the financial help is key to increasing access to higher education.

Maxwell Posner, recipient of an OHIO Match scholarship

Maxwell Posner received the Harold F. White Scholarship in Business this year.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to have these scholarships because they are what give a lot of students the opportunity to go to college,鈥 Posner said. 鈥淲ith the rising cost of tuition across the country, every little bit that is given out goes a long way.鈥

Following graduation, Posner said he plans to either attend graduate school to earn his MBA or look for a job in the technology sector.

McGinty and Posner received just two of 57 distinct awards that were established or enhanced by the OHIO Match Program across all nine OHIO colleges during the 2017-18 school year.

鈥淥HIO may be a student鈥檚 first-choice school, but they might have to pick someplace else if they don鈥檛 have the scholarship support,鈥 Bowie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding to see more students be able to choose OHIO just like the program was designed to do.鈥

Visit the University Advancement website to make a donation or to receive additional scholarship eligibility criteria. Donors may specify the college of the scholarship recipient or choose to make the donation University-wide.

Published
July 19, 2018
Author
Michaela Fath, BSJ 鈥20