Dr. Allen Smith Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Allen Smith Memorial Scholarship Application

The Dr. Allen Smith Memorial Scholarship, celebrating the legacy of the late Dr. L. Allen Smith, a native of Jackson, Ohio, is housed at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.

During the upcoming year, the Allen Smith Scholarship will begin annually awarding two scholarships, the Smith Scholastic Award and the Smith Community Service Award, to Jackson County students. The first, the Smith Scholastic Award, will focus on student achievement in Math, Science and Engineering. The second, the Smith Community Service Award, will recognize student community service, stewardship and interest in arts & culture in honor of Dr. Smith’s mother, Mrs. Mary Ellen Smith.

The scholarship opportunity and the accomplished lives of Dr. Allen Smith and his mother, Mrs. Ellen Smith, will certainly promote the pursuit of education and life dreams for the Jackson County community. Dr. Allen Smith, a graduate of Ohio University and the University of Leeds of England, led two distinguished careers. He was a professor at Simmons College in Boston for 31 years, and associate dean from 2006 until his untimely death in August, 2008. Dr. Smith also became a highly skilled Farrier, a shoer of horses, serving two terms as president of the American Farriers Association.

Dr. Smith’s mother, Mrs. Mary Ellen Smith, was actively involved in Jackson County’s public education. Mrs. Smith was the first woman to serve as a school board member to Jackson City School Board, a board she later chaired.

The Foundation's 2010 Scholarship Program hosted the inaugural year of the Dr. Allen Smith Memorial Scholarships.

Eligibility Requirements
Scholarships will be awarded exclusively to graduates of Jackson City High School and shall be distributed to institutions of higher learning selected by scholarship recipients. Both the Smith Scholastic Award and Smith Community Service Award are intended to be awarded to students planning to attend a 4 year Ohio college or university. Non-traditional students meeting the selection criteria are also welcome to apply.

The selection criterion for the Smith Scholastic Award includes:

high overall academic achievement, with a particular emphasis on high achievement and career interest in the Math, Science or Engineering fields;
financial need; and
community and extracurricular involvement, including musical and cultural activities.

The selection criterion for the Smith Community Service Award includes:

high overall academic achievement, with particular emphasis on high achievement and career interest in music or arts;
financial need; and
strong community and extracurricular involvement, demonstrating significant community service contributions and a commitment to live lives of productive community service and stewardship.

Award Amounts
At least two scholarships will be awarded annually, one Smith Scholastic Award and one Smith Community Service Award.

2010 Dr. Allen Smith Scholarship Awards

Kimberly Cook, Dr. Allen Smith Community Service Award. Cook, a graduate of Jackson City High School, will attend Shawnee State University this fall to pursue studies in Biology, with plans to go on to medical school to eventually earn her doctorate in Optometry.
Cody Rader, Dr. Allen Smith Scholastic Achievement Award. Rader, also a graduate of Jackson City High School, plans to attend either Miami University or the Ohio State University this fall to pursue a degree in Chemistry, with plans to continue on to graduate studies in Pharmacy.