Education roundup: Central Catholic seniors receive awards

The Repository
·4 min read

CANTON − Central Catholic High School seniors Georgia Bentzel and Ryan Parlin recently received awards on behalf of the American Legion Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test.

According to the American Legion, “the Americanism and Government Test is recognized as a leading youth program in the state of Ohio. The test is open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Students answer a multiple-choice test and complete an essay question.”

Bentzel and Parlin earned the highest scores for Post 221 in the District and County awards. There was a total of six winners from Post 221. As a result of their test scores, their essays have been selected to move onto the next level of the contest and will be sent to the 10th District Commander.

Central Catholic High Principal David Oates recently presented awards to Ryan Parlin on behalf of the American Legion, Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test.
Central Catholic High Principal David Oates recently presented awards to Ryan Parlin on behalf of the American Legion, Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test.
Central Catholic High Principal David Oates presented an award to Georgia Bentzel on behalf of the American Legion, Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test.
Central Catholic High Principal David Oates presented an award to Georgia Bentzel on behalf of the American Legion, Massillon Post 221 for scoring the highest grade on the Americanism & Government test.

Scholarships available

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering scholarships of up to $5,000 to college-bound high school seniors affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses as part of its annual Teens for Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship. Entries can be submitted at www.alzfdn.org/scholarship and must be received by 5 p.m. March 1.

Eligible teens can apply for the scholarship by submitting an essay (1,500 words maximum) or submitting a video, no more than four minutes long, describing how Alzheimer’s disease has impacted their lives and what they have learned about themselves, their family and/or their community through their experience with Alzheimer’s.

Examples of ways that Alzheimer’s impacted a student’s life can include:

  • Having a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness

  • Helping care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness

  • Volunteering or working in a care setting that serves individuals with dementia

  • Raising Alzheimer’s awareness in their school or community

  • Conducting Alzheimer’s research

The program is open to current high school seniors living in the United States who will be attending a U.S. college or university this Fall. Students already attending college are not eligible to participate.

The top prize awarded is a $5,000 scholarship. Additional prizes are awarded for runners up and honorable mentions. Last year, AFA awarded $90,000 in scholarships to 117 high school students.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has been able to provide these scholarship funds with the support of charitable donors. People wishing to support this and other programs and services for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease can do so by visiting www.alzfdn.org/donate or calling the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at 866-232-8484.

Mount Union awarded second Choose Ohio First grant worth $504,000

ALLIANCE − For the second consecutive year, the Ohio Department of Higher Education has awarded the University of Mount Union funding as part of its Choose Ohio First grant program. The total awarded to Mount Union was $504,000, and combined with the previous grant received, the University has been awarded a total of $709,625 from Choose Ohio First.

Mount Union plans to use these funds to increase access for underrepresented students from Northeast Ohio wishing to pursue majors and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), according to a news release. This includes bolstering existing partnerships with Akron North High School and Alliance High School, as well as support neighboring school districts in Stark and Summit Counties.

Included as part of these efforts would be to provide “gap funding” to students from these local high schools wishing to study STEMM related disciplines at Mount Union. This would help make a college education possible for students of all backgrounds who are interested in Mount Union.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education has awarded more than $161.3 million in grants over the past four years as part of the COF initiative to support STEMM education.

Walsh receives expansion grant for 'Bridge to Literacy Success 2.0’

NORTH CANTON − Walsh University’s School of Arts, Sciences and Education received a $65,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education through a collaboration with the University of Cincinnati in support of the Ohio Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement initiative. Funding will be used to sustain and expand Science of Reading applications from past grant funding at the undergraduate and graduate levels while supporting new partnerships with local school districts, according to a news release.

This is the third facet of the project, which includes expanding partnerships with local school districts. The Bridge to Literacy Success 2.0 grant encompasses Clearmount and North Wood Elementary Schools in North Canton, McKinley Elementary School in Lisbon Exempted Village, Watson Elementary School in the Perry Local School District, plus teaching and professional resources for Walsh literacy education students.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Education roundup: Central Catholic seniors receive awards