The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio will release scholarship opportunities available for the 2012 Scholarship Awards Program on March 1, 2012. Multiple scholarships opportunities will be available from donor established funds within FAO, many honoring the legacy of a friend or loved one. To receive the application directly, please sign-up for the Foundation's E-Newsletter.

The economic value of education is without question. Studies clearly document increased levels of education directly associate with a substantially reduced risk of poverty. Yet in Appalachian Ohio, only one-third of adults over age 25 have any formal education beyond high school, as compared to approximately one-half of adults across the rest of the state. Of those who do attend post-secondary institutions, the Appalachian Ohio student population has far more first-generation students and a higher drop-out percentage than non-Appalachian peers – fifty-one percent of our students are first-generation college students versus 40% of their non-Appalachian counterparts.

“The Foundation is committed to ensuring every child in Appalachian Ohio has access to the opportunities necessary for success,” said Cara Dingus Brook, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Our scholarship funds help the Foundation sow the seeds for the region’s future prosperity, by encouraging and supporting youth in their post-secondary endeavors.”

Each year, the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio offers scholarships to students across the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. For more information about how to apply or how you can contribute to scholarship resources, call 740-753-1111.