Education roundup: Stark students receive scholarships

The Repository
·6 min read

Two students from Stark County, Kenzie Bohrer and Alison Landon, are among the 32 Ohio students who have received $1,000 scholarships from the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program and The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Foundation. The scholarships were awarded to students pursuing a career in the natural gas and oil industry. Bohrer is a sophomore at the University of Akron studying mechanical engineering, and Landon is a freshman at Waynesburg University studying environmental science.

Scholarships are awarded to students interested in obtaining training certifications and associate or bachelor’s degrees in relevant fields of study. Post-graduate job opportunities include careers such as welder, petroleum engineer, geologist and construction technician, according to a news release.

To qualify, students complete an application process and must be an Ohio resident or plan to attend an accredited Ohio institution of higher education. The $1,000 annual scholarship may be renewed with a total of four years of potential eligibility.

Since 2007, Ohio’s natural gas and oil industry has awarded 599 scholarships to 342 students totaling $599,000. Recipients are vetted to ensure they possess the skills and credentials to obtain an education that will support a fulfilling career. Applicants are screened for essay writing, academic achievements, letters of recommendation, career choice and other special recognitions.

The 2022 class is diversely represented by individuals across 22 Ohio counties, 15 institutions of higher education, and covering 20 different majors, the news release said.

More information on the scholarship opportunity and a full list of 2022 scholarship winners is available at oogeep.org/teacher-students/scholarships/.

Walsh University honors outstanding alumni

NORTH CANTON − Walsh University honored its 2022 Outstanding Alumni with a special ceremony Sept. 16.

The Outstanding Achievement Award honors alumni for their achievements, leadership and contributions to their professions, their communities and their alma mater.

  • Steven Burger ’90, ’12, Chief Financial Officer for Employers Health in Canton, is a board member and past president and treasurer of the Beacon Charitable Pharmacy in Canton. He is treasurer of the Akron Area Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a member of the Stark State College Foundation Board, member of the Mercy Development Foundation Board, and the Stark Community Foundation Audit Committee. Burger was a member of the United Way of Greater Stark County’s 2020 and 2021 Campaign Cabinet serving as chairman of the nonprofit and Cornerstone divisions. As an alumnus of Walsh University, is on the President’s Advisory Board, DeVille School of Business Advisory Board, Accounting Advisory Board and as a mentor. He coordinated an Employers Health Ohio TechCred training program through Walsh University. In 2015, he was the Crain’s Cleveland Business CFO of the Year. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Walsh University, as well as his MBA. He is a certified public accountant and a graduate of Leadership Stark County.

  • Teresa Reolfi ‘15, grew up in Canton. She worked at Walsh University as a Student Service Center representative for five years and 12 years and a coordinator until her retirement this year. She has volunteered for many university events and supported the Walsh Fund for student scholarships. Reolfi graduated from Walsh University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and was a nominee for the Walsh University Tower of Excellence Award.

The Professional Achievement Award was established in 2017 to recognize alumni who have experienced significant achievement in a profession or career achievement.

Ben Davis ’96, left the corporate world to become an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley after a decade in enterprise sales with Fortune 500 companies, Davis co-founded Pixiem in 2003, which was among the first of its kind as a developer and publisher of mobile video games. In 2005, Pixiem was acquired by WinWin Gaming. Davis co-founded Phizzle in 2006 and has led the company through major innovations and technology adaptations, while raising $25 million in venture capital funding. He is a board member at Elon University, School of Communications; member of the Alliance of Chief Executives; and a board member of Boys Hope Girls Hope. Formerly a professional basketball player in Europe, he resides in San Francisco. Davis is a graduate of Walsh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business.

The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1994 to recognize alumni who have provided exemplary service to the Alumni Association.

Marlene Toot ‘85, a Canton native, attended Canton South High School and then began a 17-year career with The Timken Company. She graduated from Walsh in 1985 summa cum laude. She entered Goodwill Industries as a volunteer, became a trustee and later received the organization's Distinguished Service Award. She served on the Women's Board of Aultman Hospital for many years. She served on the Walsh University Board of Directors (June 2012-June 2021) where she was chair of the Governance Committee and was a member of the Executive, Advancement and Academic Affairs committees. At the University of Akron, where she earned a master's degree in nutrition, she is on the Foundation Board and chairs the Stewardship and Women in Philanthropy Committees. She is on the Foundation Board of Akron Children's Hospital and a member of the Children's Hope Roundtable Committee and the Cuddler Program. She is on the American Heart Association Board of Trustees and does talks on nutrition for them. As a Walsh alumna, she serves on the Women's Board and is chairwoman of the Scholarship Committee. Toot is active on Walsh's campus as a nutrition and exercise speaker and is frequently seen at sports events.

The Young Alumni Leadership Award was established in 2017 to recognize alumni who are 35 or younger and have experienced exemplary professional achievement, focus on service to the community, and uphold a relationship with Walsh University through engagement and/or philanthropy.

  • Ashley Collins ’10, ‘16, is the founder and chief operations officer at AVO (Amore Vincent Omnia) Behavioral Health. In honor of her sister who went missing after she couldn’t find the help she needed, Collins dedicated her life to creating a place to heal one’s mind, body and soul with evidence-based treatment. She has returned to campus for speaking opportunities, to be a professor for a day and she has partnered with counseling services to support Walsh students. Collins graduated from Walsh with a degree in marketing and an MBA. She established Arika’s Angels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Collins is president of the Board of Directors for Community Health Center Addiction Services, the Opiate and Addiction Task Force Leading Education and Advocacy Group, and a member of the Summit County Addiction Task Force.

  • Dr. Aaron Palmer ’11, is a neurosurgeon, educator, and advocate. He is completing a neurosurgical residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. He was raised in Akron and taught himself to buy, fix and resell used cars to pay for his college tuition after becoming interested in medicine. Palmer earned his medical degree at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. He was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, awarded “medical student of the year” three out of four years, and earned over $130,000 in academic scholarships. Palmer mentors students interested in medicine, researches disparities in health care and chairs the department’s community engagement committee.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Education roundup: Stark students get scholarships