PIQUA — More than 145 students were recognized during Edison State Community College Alumni Association’s recent annual scholarship banquet.

The event provided recipients with the opportunity to meet the patrons who made their scholarships available.

Steve Baker, northern bureau chief of WHIO, spoke about the education he received while attending Edison State.

“I took a number of classes at Edison State, when it was located at the old Spring Street school across from George’s Ice Cream Shop,” said Baker. “My education was funded through the G.I. Bill that I had earned through the service of the United States Navy for four years during the Vietnam conflict and I was grateful to the taxpayers who made that possible.

“My message is very simple: we all have a lot to be grateful for, but especially you who are receiving these scholarships. Continue your education, study hard and get your degree or degrees. They will open doors for you and give you earning power. Get into a career that you’re passionate about. Appreciate your employers for the job and be thankful for the benefits. Take every opportunity to give back to Edison State so that other members of the community can continue to benefit from scholarship funding like you are.”

Scott Burnam, vice president of student affairs, offered words of advice to the scholarship recipients: “Build buildings, build businesses, build lives with meaning and purpose, build people and through them build the communities by your choice of career and work. Build the world you want to live in.”

A total of more than $100,000 in tuition grants had been awarded to the banquet honorees.

For information about scholarship opportunities available, visit www.edisonohio.edu/scholarships.