The Geauga County Township Association held its second annual Scholarship Fundraising Breakfast for Kent State University’s Geauga Campus in Burton on Friday, February 26.
According to Chuck Walder, Fiscal Officer for Russell Township and Vice President/Treasurer for the Geauga County Township Association, “We currently are at 92.1% performance to goal to obtain endowed status. The GCTA received $7,747.00 from this year's scholarship breakfast which included the GCTA's 2016 contribution of $1,000. This takes into account this year’s payout of scholarships. The GCTA has one additional $1,000 contribution due in 2017 to fulfill its commitment to funding the scholarship.”
“We anticipate obtaining our endowed status in 2017.” Walder stated. That’s good news for students.
The scholarship is in its third year and has provided scholarship money to four Geauga County students, with two more awarded after June 1. Once fully endowed the Geauga County Township Association scholarship will make scholarships available to deserving students, in perpetuity.
The scholarship is administered by Kent State University in conjunction with the Geauga County Township Association’s scholarship committee guidelines and is made available to Geauga County students who are attending Kent State University Geauga Campus and Regional Academic Center.
Emceeing the breakfast was Jim Dvorak, Burton Township Trustee and Geauga County Township Association President.
Dvoraks’ daughter, Julie Ann Porter, spoke about how she is proud to say she’s an alumni of Kent State Geauga and she credits the convenience, financial advantage, and quality of education as a spring board that led to finding success in her banking career as a V.P. for Senior Portfolio for Wealth Management at PNC Bank.
Nursing major, Genesis Elliot, thanked all donors for their investment in higher education and gifts of support to help students achieve their academic goals and aspirations. She proudly stated that she will be a first generation college graduate.
Also, student Diana White, a middle childhood education major, talked about the importance of finding a career of choice. She stated that “scholarships mean a yes; that a group of people or an organization believes in you and cares. They believe in your dream without ever knowing you.”
Dvorak enthusiastically said that “The response from our donors at each annual breakfast has always been phenomenal. I was raised hearing that each generation should strive to be a little bit better than the last. So with this event we help the next generation defray some of the costs of college. I feel that is very important for Geauga County. The Geauga County Township Association are ordinary people reaching out to the community, together doing extraordinary things.”
Special thanks were given to the generous support of the sponsors which included Time Warner Cable Business Class, Ohio Farm Bureau, Integrity Dental Inc., Dominion, First Energy Foundation, and Ohio Insurance Services.
Dean Tudor thanked the GCTA for all their support to public higher education and Kent State’s Geauga Campus. During the ceremony he noted that “this scholarship fund helps students realize their dreams.”
Kent State University at Geauga has provided excellence in education for over fifty years in Geauga County and surrounding communities. Making long-term economic impact through meaningful partnerships.
Kent State Geauga welcomes opportunities to explore new partnerships. For more information please contact our office of Institutional Advancement at 440-834-3761. Gifts that keep on giving!