Portage Foundation awards more than $58,000 in scholarships to local students
The Portage Foundation has awarded more than $58,000 in scholarships to Portage County students.
The following students, listed by their school, were honored:
Archbishop Hoban High School
Boyd and Joan Wallbrown Agricultural Innovation Scholarship: William Luli
Aurora High School
George L. and Genevieve D. Moore Endowed Scholarship: Mitchell Curtis, Makayla Ressler, Devon Salgado, Nolan Miley, Grace Williamson, Avery Hendl, Lydia Schiopota, Faith Carlson, Natalie Davet, Anthony Dolata, Brandon Witmer, Melanie Keller, Ryley Wisniewski, Alexander Moore, Payton Verespej
Crestwood High School
Bernie J. Kosar Crestwood Endowed Scholarship: Drew Ferrari
Bill and Eddye White Bowling Endowed Scholarship: Sydney Coburn
Field High School
Frances A. Patterson Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Molly Roosa
James A Garfield High School
Bill and Eddye White Bowling Endowed Scholarship: Ethan Cmunt
Kent Roosevelt High School
Anna Wang Roe Women in Science Endowed Scholarship: Paige Thompson
Bill and Eddye White Bowling Endowed Scholarship: Tara Sefchick, Matthew Richards
Louisville High School
Boyd and Joan Wallbrown Agricultural Innovation Endowed Scholarship: Ian Petz
Ohio State University
Boyd and Joan Wallbrown Agricultural Innovation Endowed Scholarship: Macee Mercure
Ravenna High School
Bill and Eddye White Bowling Endowed Scholarship: Grayson Speck
Douglas Cowell Memorial Scholarship: Christian Neff, Eathan Cobbin
PCCAN Scholarship: Christian Neff
Rootstown High School
Bailey Simons - Frank Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Gyllien Anderson, Clara Butcher, Evand Birkett
Bill and Eddye White Bowling Endowed Scholarship: Clara Butcher, Gyllien Anderson
Mark Klima Scholarship: Gyllien Anderson, Jenna Kurtz, Clara Butcher, Julia Langguth, Evand Birkett
West Branch High School
Boyd and Joan Wallbrown Agricultural Innovation Endowed Scholarship: Ryan Irwin
About the scholarships
The Bailey Simons - Frank Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created to honor the life of Bailey Simons, a Rootstown student who died in a car accident in 2015. Known for her caring nature, outgoing personality, and community involvement, Bailey will continue to inspire and lead Rootstown High School students for many years to come, thanks to the scholarship that her family established in her memory.
Doug Cowell was a lifelong resident of Ravenna, graduating from Ravenna High School in 1962. During his scholastic career at Ravenna High School, Doug was a member of the track, football, and wrestling teams. As a defensive tackle, he became “famous” for scoring a 68-yard touchdown. Cowell had a distinguished career spanning 24 years at the Ravenna Police Department, which included many initiatives to support children and senior citizens that had positive impacts throughout the community. Known as a man whom everyone respected and admired, his death in 1992 was a tremendous loss to the community. The Douglas Cowell Memorial Scholarship was established to honor his memory, with the award going to a Ravenna High School senior who was an active member of the football team and has an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
The Mark Klima Scholarship was established by Charles and Carol Klima to honor the memory of their only child. A freshman at Rootstown High School when he died, Klima aspired to become a doctor. The award is given to Rootstown seniors who, like Klima, have a long-term life goal and were able to demonstrate tenacity.
Bernie J. Kosar, former professional football player who was raised in Boardman and maintains his interest in Northeast Ohio, specifically in assisting students as the work to achieve their academic goals. Kosar is particularly interested in students at Crestwood High School and his Bernie J. Kosar Crestwood Endowed Scholarship benefits a student demonstrating leadership, strength, compassion, mentoring, community involvement and volunteerism.
The George L. and Genevieve D. Moore Family Trust has supported Aurora High School seniors since 2014. The scholarships are given to those demonstrating need, with students required to earn matching funds through gainful employment.
Frances A. Patterson Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established by friends and family to honor the memory of a larger than life individual. Frances Patterson encouraged others to share in her love for horses having participated for more than 45 years as a 4-H advisor and as a Pony Club D.C. As a tireless advocate for children and animals, Patterson was admired for her ability to bring out the best in those with whom she met. Patterson was active in Farm Bureau council, volunteered on local township and school committees, and was a member of the Carousal Association. The award benefits students who have been active members of an Ohio 4-H Horse Program.
The PCCAN-Portage County College Access Network-Endowed Scholarship was established in 2015 by the Community Action Council of Portage County, Inc. Given to a graduating senior from Ravenna High School, the scholarship recipient demonstrates leadership, strength, compassion, mentoring, and community involvement/volunteerism.
The Anna Wang Roe Women in Science Scholarship, created by the 1979 Roosevelt High School graduate, is aimed at helping young women at RHS who want to make a difference in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). Wang Roe has a longstanding interest in supporting women working in the sciences, motivated by her struggles to make a consuming research program compatible with family and personal goals.
In 1959, at the age of 29, Boyd Wallbrown Jr. and his wife Joan purchased a 93-acre farm in Deerfield. Starting with nothing but the land and youthful ambition, Boyd and Joan began their journey by raising hogs and corn. Wallbrown was innovative, willing to take risks, and willing to sail into the uncharted waters of cutting-edge agricultural methods and technologies. He embraced progressive concepts such as no-till planting, liquid fertilizers, and steel bins for grain storage. In the 1960s, he took the next step by founding Deerfield Farms Service Inc., which has continued to thrive and became Deerfield Ag Services in 2017 with more than 70 employees in four locations. The Boyd and Joan Wallbrown Agricultural Innovation Endowed Scholarship was established by their children and awarded to students choosing to pursue their education leading to a career in agricultural production, crop production or livestock/farm animals.
Bill White, previous owner of Twin Star Lanes, was instrumental in the development of the first high school bowling league in the greater Portage County area. With four of the 10 PTC bowling teams using his lanes as their home, White developed mentoring relationships with nearly every high school bowler in the area over many years. In 2010, Bill and his wife, Eddye, further proved their commitment to area youth and education by creating the Bill and Eddye White Bowling Endowed Scholarship for high school seniors who are members of their varsity bowling teams.
The Darla Winnefeld Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established by her family and friends to honor a life filled with community service. Darla Ann (Bender) Winnefeld passed away in October 2020 but left a legacy of volunteerism in which her family and her community benefitted. With more than 25 years spent volunteering and working within Rootstown Local Schools, plus additional time in healthcare and the Rootstown Volunteer Fire Co., Winnefeld touched many lives through her compassionate nature. It is in this spirit that the scholarship was created for Rootstown High School seniors.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage Foundation awards more than $58,000 in scholarships
