Memorial Scholarship Supports Students at Stone Laboratory
Lydia Bailey, alumna, student, staff member, and friend to The Ohio State University, wanted to honor her father, Arley Duff Blankenship, after he passed away in 1999. Born in Justice, West Virginia, Mr. Blankenship was an avid outdoorsman and took a deep interest in natural science. He volunteered for multiple religious and community organizations and actively participated in natural resource educational opportunities. Lydia fondly remarked, "He was the most amazing man I've ever met, and everyone he knew was better having known him." In his memory, she established The Arley Duff Blankenship Memorial Fund at Stone Laboratory in May 2010. The endowment fund recognizes and celebrates his love of education and nature by providing scholarships for students taking introductory courses at Stone Laboratory with preference given to students from Appalachia.
Lydia's love of Stone Lab began the same year that her father entered hospice care. "The lake is amazing, and it was a relief to be on the island during that stressful period of time in my life," she explained. Although her father was never able to visit the lab, she knew that he would have enjoyed spending time there. He was an advocate for education and would have whole-heartedly supported Stone Lab's mission. The establishment of this scholarship was the best way to honor him while also supporting the lab and helping students. "The world becomes a better place when we have better educated citizens," Lydia remarked. As treasurer of the Friends of Stone Laboratory Board, she is extremely dedicated to the lab and has a tremendous amount of respect for its director, Dr. Jeff Reutter, and the dedicated team of researchers and educators that work through Stone Lab to improve and protect the Great Lakes. It is her hope that this scholarship endowment will be a great help not only to its recipients, but also to the lab itself by attracting the best and brightest students.
The Arley Duff Blankenship Memorial Fund at Stone Laboratory truly exemplifies Lydia's love of Ohio State, Stone Laboratory, and most of all, her father. In his memory, countless grateful students will have the opportunity to take advantage of life-changing opportunities and achieve success by receiving an education that may not have been possible otherwise.
-- Kelly Votino
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center Board Room Named in Honor of Bea Cleveland
On Oct. 6, the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board celebrated the honorific naming of the Bea Cleveland Board Room with a dedication ceremony.
Dr. Beatrice J. Cleveland served for 32 years as a dedicated faculty member of Ohio State University Extension, including many years in the State 4-H Office. Bea has been an outstanding volunteer and advocate for the 4-H program for more than 65 years. She served 4-H at the national level by participating on the National 4-H Policy Committee, the National 4-H Foods and Nutrition Development Committee, and the National 4-H Foundation.
Bea's volunteer fund-raising activities resulted in more than $1 million for the 4-H Foundation Endowment. In addition, she has given generously to the 4-H Center and plans to make future gifts to the 4-H Center via her estate.
Closing in on the Students First, Students Now fund-raising goal
Students First, Students Now is a university-wide initiative. Kicked off by President E. Gordon Gee January 2009, Students First was created to ensure continued access to education for current and future Ohio State students. The Students First, Students Now venture is comprehensive, and involves scholarships, loans, aid, and emergency funds.
The university's overall fund-raising goal for Students First, Students Now is $100 million, and CFAES was challenged to raise nearly $2.8 million before June 30, 2011. By the end of Fiscal Year 2010, the college's generous supporters had given $2,159,951, putting CFAES at 77 percent of its goal. These dollars are solely for scholarships and emergency funds to students who needed immediate financial help to stay on track toward their degrees.
Throughout the course of Fiscal Year 2010, 773 CFAES students on the Columbus campus received $1.5 million in scholarships and 138 ATI students received $300,000 in scholarships. Generous donors made this possible.
One of the students who has benefited from scholarship support is Lauren Slutzsky, a double major in Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, and Psychology. Slutzsky, a Cincinnati native, received the Shepherd Scholarship Award; the Alfred Soboyejo Scholarship; the Ohio and Michigan Equipment Dealers Association Scholarship; the Women in Engineering Scholarship; an Honors & Scholars award.
"My mother was the first person in her family to graduate from college, and I know how hard she had to work to pay for her own tuition," said Slutzsky.
"Having my tuition paid for has allowed me to focus on my academics and to search for opportunities that have given me broad exposure, not just a paycheck. I've presented research at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, and have done volunteer work with Women in Engineering, City Year Columbus, and the emergency department at Nationwide Children's Hospital."
As university president E. Gordon Gee has explained, "Our profound commitment is to providing access to Ohio State's excellent educational opportunities. Now more than ever, we must assure that young people are able to pursue their dreams, earn a degree, and use their talents to enhance our economy, our state, and our world."
To make a gift to the Students First, Students Now campaign, visit www.giveto.osu.edu.
-- Amy McKenzie
"I am eternally grateful for the support I've received."
Lauren Slutzsky knows the value of an education. A second-generation college student, she set her sights high with a double major in psychology along with food, agriculutral, and biological engineering. Now in her fourth year, Lauren plans to go on to medical school to become a physician scientist.
Even with such inspiring goals, Lauren recently faced a major challenge when both of her parents lost their jobs. With graduation becoming uncertain, Lauren was grateful to receive the generous support of donors. "I was incredibly fortunate to receive a scholarship that helps pay my tuition," she said.
Students like Lauren deserve a chance to make their dreams come true. By joining together, Ohio State alumni and friends can make a difference for students in need.
Help Ohio State put Students First, Students Now by making a gift today at giveto.osu.edu/studentsfirst.
