Marion Community Foundation awards $485,000 in scholarships

Special to the Marion Star
·8 min read

Marion Community Foundation is marking its 25th anniversary year by awarding $485,000 in college scholarships for local students. Recipients include 185 Marion area students; the scholarships will support their education for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year.

“Despite a challenging year and volatile investment market, the Foundation’s scholarship funds came through with $485,000 in awards,” said Dean Jacob, president and CEO of Marion Community Foundation. “Our scholarship program is made possible by donors, many of whom created their scholarships to honor or remember loved ones. This keeps memories alive, while supporting the next generation of students.”

Over the past 25 years, Marion Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program has continually grown, with new scholarships added each year. Funds awarding for the first time in 2023 include the following eight: American Legion Post 162 Scholarship Fund, Beth Bayles Memorial Scholarship Fund, Charles R. Crisler Memorial Scholarship Fund, Randy & Rosalie Drazba Scholarship Fund, Kannan Family Scholarship Fund, Mitchell Libster Scholarship Fund, Mountz Girls Scholarship Fund, and Willie “Beaver” Troutman Scholarship Fund.

The Bird-McGinnis American Legion Post 162 is the first local veterans' organization to create a scholarship at Marion Community Foundation. It will award a $1,000 scholarship annually to a Marion student who is family of or active military or veteran. Left to right are: David Ross, Post financial officer, and John Jones, Post commander, with Marion Community Foundation President and CEO Dean Jacob.

American Legion Post 162 is the first local veterans’ organization to create a scholarship at the Foundation. The scholarship fund they created will generate approximately $1,000 annually for scholarships for Marion County students who are active duty military, honorably discharged veterans, including Reserve and National Guard, and their family members. Post members’ community generosity, in addition to the scholarship, has recently included support of the Imagination Library, Marion Family YMCA and for a new flagpole at Founders Park in downtown Marion.

“Our 2023 scholarship awards are made possible by our donors,” said Julie Prettyman, vice president and director of programs at Marion Community Foundation. “Scholarships are personal statements about what is important to our donors, such as supporting students who are attending their alma mater, pursuing a specific major, or who come from a specific high school or participate in extracurricular activities important to them.”

The Foundation’s scholarship committee consists of Olivia Davis, Larry Geissler, Kathy Goodman, Sue Jacob, Ruth Johnston, Spencer Mathews, Erin Slater and Kevin Smith. Additionally, many of the scholarships have their own committees that make recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The 2023 Marion Community Foundation scholarship recipients and their awards are as follows:

Seth G. Abraham - Marion Rotary Club Robert C. Dowd, Andrew Wigton MemorialManuel Acuna - Robert & Dorothy WopatJada Adams - Dr. James S. & Mary Gray Greetham Memorial, Three Sisters NursingJoshua Anderson - Whirlpool Corp/OneEnergy STEMJacob Arndt - Carol S. Geissler Memorial, Helen M. Thew Memorial, Willie “Beaver” TroutmanCaitlin Askew - HarrisMadeline Aurigemma - Mandy Kruder MemorialDylan Baisden - Ted & Elaine MitchellMallori Ballinger - Beatrice Prior Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatRebecca Bash - RidgemontSarah Bash - RidgemontJacob Beaschler - Kathy & Malcolm Goodman, Kory Kirkpatrick Memorial, Joe Petrich & Al Beach MemorialIan Beavers - Wayne Hoch Memorial, Whirlpool Corp/OneEnergy STEMAbigail Bennett - AB & Hazel AugensteinAliyah Bennett - Marion Elks Lodge No. 32Mitchell Block - Allyson M. Haycox Memorial, Eula M. RhoadsAubrey Boehm - Robert & Dorothy WopatShealana Booker - Whirlpool Corp OneEnergy STEMJonah Bowdle - Pleasant Local Schools Board of Education, Marion Rotary Club R.T. Lewis, Robert & Dorothy WopatCarlyn Bower - Jacob Pfeiffer & Kevin Pfeiffer Memorial, David G. Wilhelm Memorial, Youth Engaged in PhilanthropyBrayden Boyd - Alex Cooper Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatTaylor Boyd - Robert & Dorothy WopatFaith Brenzo - Adam Johnston MemorialSage Brewer - Robert & Dorothy WopatMcKinley Britton - Catherine Amelia Thew BrownAbbie Burns - Robert & Dorothy WopatJailynn Bussey - Taft Middle School Music Dept.Grant Butler - Brian & Denise Spires, Logan Stevens MemorialAlison Butz - Caledonia Alumni AssociationKalli Caldwell - Mandy Kruder MemorialGabby Cametti - Douglas & Elaine Waring MemorialDrayson Campbell - Marion Academy of Medicine, Robert & Dorothy WopatEllie Campbell - Robert & Dorothy WopatGrace Carr - Marion Rotary Club Warren Brown, Robert & Dorothy WopatKiya Carter - Taft Middle School Music Dept.Justine Chevalier - AB & Hazel AugensteinPayne Clark - RidgemontJayden Combs - Marion Rotary Club Robert C. Dowd, Robert & Dorothy WopatAJ Comer - Vera O. McDanel, Wesley & Karen Schertzer Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatEmilee Cornell - Brenda Dye Music Boosters, Robert & Dorothy WopatEvan Craig - Dr. Herman & Mrs. Jean Reas, Robert & Dorothy WopatHaleigh Creps - Marion Rotary Club George BrownJonathan Curren - Vera O. McDanelRobert Curren - Bergmann Family, Vera O. McDanelBrenna Dawson - John & Kathleen O’Shea, Robert & Dorothy WopatJacob Dendinger - John T. Gordon Memorial Eagle Scout, Eugene & Cecilia ReszczynskiKajal Desai - Robert & Dorothy WopatLindsey DeWitt - CollierJoshua Dunn - Charles E. OrcenaBridget Dutton - Gregory A. Rees Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatAmarise Edgell - Ted & Elaine MitchellElizabeth Edgell - Robert & Dorothy WopatNoah Englund - CollierTaylor Everhart - Robert & Dorothy WopatEva Feasel - CollierNicole Flock - Dr. Herman & Mrs. Jean ReasDominic Garcia - Carey FamilyRandi Goney - Jeannette White Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatAllie Green - Rob’s Hauling & Vance Family, Robert & Dorothy WopatHaylei Green - Bill & Joan ConesLillie Griffith - Marion Rotary Club, Gary & Diana Sims Family, Robert & Dorothy WopatMolly Hafer - Daniel B. Stover MemorialAdisyn Hall - Andrew Wigton Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatKylar Hall - Laura Rush & Tom Rosol Nursing StudentRiley Hamm - Altrusa Club II, Marion Women’s Business Council, Robert & Dorothy WopatAbigail Hawk - RidgemontNicholas Hecker - Paul Pezley Baseball, Danny Sipes MemorialTiffany Hix - Jeannette Turner MemorialJanelle Hoback - Marion Rotary Club Robert C. Dowd, Whirlpool Corp/OneEnergy STEM, Robert & Dorothy WopatDillon Hoskins - Dr. Herman & Mrs. Jean Reas, Robert & Dorothy WopatHallie Howard - RidgemontTaylor Iden - Beatrice Prior Memorial, Geraldine M. Hedges Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatAudrey James - Stephanie K. Lust MemorialLily Janson - Janet Palm Memorial, Christopher B. ReamKyle Jolliff - Jacob Pfeiffer & Kevin Pfeiffer MemorialMekenzie Jolliff - RidgemontAbigale Jordan - Beatrice Prior Memorial, Marion Rotary ClubCarson Kalb - Collier, Marguerite Marcelin Hastings MemorialLane Kanagy - AB & Hazel AugensteinRuth Kaple - CollierStephanie Karrick - Dr. Shelton & Becky WilliamsJessica Keller - Harper-Stuckey MTCKalyn Kimball - Stephanie K. Lust Memorial, Gary & Diana Sims FamilyAlex Kitzmiller - Jerew Family Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatMindi Klaus - Robert & Dorothy WopatSidney Knickel - AB & Hazel AugensteinOlivia Kyrk - Mountz GirlsMykenzie Lance - RidgemontKylie Lang - Allyson M. Haycox Memorial, Eula M. RhoadsCaroline Lee - Robert & Dorothy WopatMelanie Lee - Eddie Shelton Agricultural, Clifford & Frances Strine Family, John & Jackie WatkinsEmma Lichtenberger - Robert & Dorothy WopatMateusz Lisiecki - Marion Rotary Club Warren G. Harding, Whirlpool Corp/OneEnergy STEM, Robert & Dorothy WopatJamie Long - Marion Area Auxiliary, Robert & Dorothy WopatChloe Lust - Robert & Dorothy WopatCollin Lust - Robert & Dorothy WopatEthan Marshall - John T. & Lois SchmidtHannah Marvich - Pleasant Academic Boosters, Pleasant Local Schools Board of Education, Marion Rotary Club Karl W. Schell, Robert & Dorothy WopatTahvean Mason - Louise KlingKatlyn McAvoy - Robert & Dorothy WopatGrace McCrery - Robert & Dorothy WopatAshley McDuffie - Altrusa Club of Marion I, Marion Rotary Club James M. Bazzoli MD, United Church HomesEllery McGuire - Alex Masters Memorial, Catherine Amelia Thew BrownMadison McKinniss - Robert & Dorothy WopatZane Menzie - Robert & Dorothy WopatAiden Miller - Cornell/GoodmanNya Miller - Community’s Memorial, Marion Rotary Club Catherine Ferguson, Marion Rotary Club Robert E. KibbeyFatan Millhouse - Charles E. Orcena, Jeannette Turner MemorialTaylor L. Miracle - American Legion Post 162, Robert & Dorothy WopatKayleigh Morgan - Robert & Dorothy WopatBlake Mosher - Robert & Dorothy WopatBrock Mosher - Marion Noon Kiwanis ClubBrooklyn Mosher - Marion Rotary Club Warren Brown, Robert & Dorothy WopatMaddie Motes - Robert & Dorothy WopatBrookes Nelson - Civitan Club of Marion, Marion Rotary Club Karl W. SchellIvan Ni - Robert & Dorothy WopatLexi Olt - William & Marjorie GroverEden Osborn | Marion Rotary Club Robert E. Kibbey, Robert & Dorothy WopatElivea Owens - John D. & Kathleen E. O’SheaMya Persinger - Carey Family, Elgin High School Wider Horizons, Marion Rotary Club RT LewisAbbigail Peters - Carol S. Geissler MemorialJayde Pineda - Marion Noon Kiwanis Club IIPaige Powers - Aris Kasotis Memorial, Marion Rotary Club Warren G. HardingTrinity Prater - Kannan Family, Eugene & Cecilia ReszczynskiJoselyn Prince - Everett Family, Tasha Jones MemorialBriAnna Ramey - Craig, Marion Noon Kiwanis ClubRyan Ratliff - Donald B. Justice Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatKacey Redmon Timm - Dr. Sarah Kulkofsky MemorialA’nya Reynolds - Robert & Dorothy WopatDevin Reynolds - Marion Elks Lodge No. 32Morgen Rhodes - Helen & Bob Bintz, Mitchell LibsterParker Richards - John F. Kreis MemorialAlexia Rivers - Rocco Nicolosi Memorial, Elizabeth ShumakerBrandy Roberts - Dr. Kathy Dixon MemorialHayden Roberts - Elgin Alumni AssociationAmber Roth - Carey FamilyAlyvia Roth - Gary W. Troll Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatAnahi Salinas Villa - Marge Sorreles Davies MemorialSarahi Salinas Villa - Marion Noon Kiwanis Club IIMadisen Schenk - Clare Cooke Performing Arts, Louise Kling, Marion Music ClubRacheal Schoen - Irene Ballinger Memorial, Donna M. Flach MemorialAllister Scott - Art & Anne Huggler Memorial, Kenny Martin MemorialKhalil Scott - Robert & Dorothy WopatEmily Seckel - Robert & Dorothy WopatDina Shah - Joe & Peggy Casey Memorial, Marion Noon Kiwanis ClubSaxon Sharp - Eric Benjamin Foos MemorialAdrian Shipley - Randy & Rosalie Drazba, Beatrice Prior MemorialLeah Shipley - Robert & Dorothy WopatKatie Shoaf - Dr. James S. & Mary Gray Greetham Memorial, Marion Rotary Club James M. Bazzoli MDBraden Shuff - Kaufman Family MemorialTaryn P. Simmers - Helen E. Evans, Mandy Kruder Memorial, Stewie Family, Robert & Dorothy WopatRaiden Sipes - Robert & Dorothy WopatAbrianna Smith - Dr. Noel & Maria Eboh Family, Catherine Leila Ferguson Memorial, Donald B. Justice MemorialMaria Smith - CollierTaryn Smith - Dr. Noel & Maria Eboh FamilyMacie Snyder - Marion Noon Kiwanis Club IISarah St. Germain - Altrusa I, Elgin Alumni AssociationGracelyn Staley - Roger & Donna Holbrook, Marion Music Club, Robert & Dorothy WopatKelsey Stanfield - RidgemontGrace Staton - Adam Johnston Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatCagney Stewart - Erin Y. James MemorialShelby Stimson - Mandy Kruder Memorial, Beatrice Prior Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatBrielle Stone - Alex Family, Beatrice Prior Memorial, Robert & Dorothy WopatKaitlynn Sutherland - Isabel Freer Memorial, Marion Rotary Club RT LewisOlivia Temple - Dr. David & Alice BaileySophia Thacker - Gladys & Everett Granger MemorialCaitlyn Thiel - Charles R. Crisler Memorial, Charles L. Hastings Memorial, Helen M. Thew Memorial, Donald S. & Beulah Mae WilliamsMatthew Thomas - Aris Kasotis MemorialSophia Thompson - Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski, Max Ross MemorialCadence Tighe - Pleasant Academic BoostersSofia Tinnerello - William & Martha Buckingham, Janet Palm MemorialMariah Toombs - Stormy Ray Cushing, Robert & Dorothy WopatJulia Valentine - Freshour FamilyAlexandra Vandeborne - Robert & Dorothy WopatRobert Vandeborne - Whirlpool Corp/OneEnergy STEM, Robert & Dorothy WopatCadence Varner - James A. Flickinger MemorialKenzi Vaught - Carol S. Geissler Memorial, Herbert & Jane TillettKatie Vela - Ted & Elaine MitchellLillian Wagner - Beth Bayles Memorial, Eddie Shelton AgriculturalLuke Waldo - LaRue Alumni Association, David K. Rogers MemorialKolby Wasserbeck - Marion Rotary ClubAshley Watkins - Mary Ellen Withrow, Norman Withrow GolfKyra Wilcox - Cheryl Oehler MemorialMakayla Yake - Dr. Shelton & Becky Williams

The list of scholarship recipients and more information about the scholarship program can be found online at MarionCommunityFoundation.org.

The Foundation is located inside the Stengel True Mansion at 504 S. State St. Office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Community Foundation awards scholarships to 185 area students