COLUMBUS – The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC), through its Ohio Scholars Program, awarded 974 scholarships statewide to students enrolled in its 34 member colleges for the 2015-2016 academic year. The total value of the scholarships is more than $1.75 million.

“Scholarships are still the most important factor in assisting low-moderate income students to not only advance to college but also to stay enrolled and complete their degrees. They can significantly reduce college loan debt, which can persist far beyond graduation and are, therefore, of great value to our students as they face the challenges of paying for a higher education. Our donors – corporations, foundations and individuals – have touched and changed lives forever by providing scholarships for students and giving them the opportunity to reach their academic goals”, said Gordon R. Brollier, President, OFIC.

The Ohio Scholars Program is currently funded by ­­­162 corporations and foundations whose contributions provide scholarships to academically qualified students who, otherwise, might not consider higher education an affordable option.

Fifty-nine students from the Northwest Ohio area are attending college this year with financial assistance received through OFIC.

Local students receiving scholarships were:

• Kayla Richard, Minster, received the Battelle Scholarship. She will be attending Ohio Wesleyan University.

• Paige Atterholt, DeGraff, received the Logan County Founders Club Scholarship. She will be attending Heidelbrrg University.

• Andrew Jones, DeGraff, received the Hill & Hamilton Insurance & Financial Scholarship. He will be attending Urbana University.

• Ivy Barker, Sidney, received the Battelle Scholarship. She will be attending Otterbein University.

• Shannon Deal, Sidney, received the AmeriKohl Mining Inc. Scholarship. Deal will be attending Cedarville University.

• Nicolette Holthaus, Sidney, received the Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. Scholarship. She will be attending Urbana University.

• Douglas Murray, Botkins, received the Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. Scholarship. He will be attending Ohio Northern University.

• Keith Paul, Sidney, received the Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. Scholarship. He will be attending Ohio Northern University.

• Jillian Schneider, Botkins, received the Emerson Climate Technologies Inc. Scholarship. She will be attending Defiance College.

All scholarship recipients are selected based on recommendations from their colleges and meet criteria established by the donors. These criteria may include area of study, academic standing, geographic region or ethnicity, to name just a few.

Since the inception of its Ohio Scholars Program, OFIC has distributed more than $36.25 million in scholarships and has assisted nearly 20,000 students in attaining access to independent higher education.

OFIC, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, the primary corporate and foundation solicitation organization for 34 independent Ohio colleges and universities and operates one of the largest, most comprehensive and diverse scholarship management services in the state. OFIC member colleges award one-third of all bachelor’s degrees in the state. Since 1950 OFIC has worked to highlight the leadership, value and excellence of independent higher education and has provided unrestricted operating funds and scholarship commitments through funds raised in annual solicitations of businesses and foundations, thereby assuring continuation of excellence in private higher education. OFIC is governed by a board of trustees comprised of Ohio’s corporate leaders, as well as presidents of the 34 member colleges.

The member colleges are Ashland University, Baldwin Wallace University, Bluffton University, Capital University, Cedarville University, University of Dayton, Defiance College, Denison University, The University of Findlay, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Franklin University, Heidelberg University, Hiram College, John Carroll University, Kenyon College, Lake Erie College, Lourdes University, Malone University, Marietta College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Muskingum University, Notre Dame College, Oberlin College, Ohio Dominican University, Ohio Northern University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Otterbein University, University of Mount Union, Urbana University, Ursuline College, Walsh University, Wilmington College, Wittenberg University and The College of Wooster.

Donors for the scholarships are AcuSport Corp., Belletech Corp., Citizens Federal Savings & Loan, Crown Equipment Corp., Duff Quarry Inc., Farmers & Mrchants State Bank, First Federal Bank of the Midwest, Fissel Floor Covering Inc., Lee Surveying & Mapping Co. Inc., Hill & Hamilton Insurance & Financial Services, Mark and Joan Haushalter, Mobile Instrument Service & Repair, Steven H. Austin, The UPS Foundation Inc. and Thomas & Marker Construction.