Ohio Foundation Awards $7K in Adult Student Scholarships

Going back to school as an adult takes courage, and six Coshocton County students just received something equally important: financial support to make their dreams possible.

The Coshocton Foundation recently awarded over $7,000 in scholarships to nontraditional students pursuing degrees in fields that will directly serve their community. From nursing to emergency medical services, these students are training for careers that will make a real difference.

Kelsey Steele received the largest award, a $2,000 Jones Metal Products Adult Legacy Scholarship, to study nursing at Central Ohio Technical College's Coshocton campus. Lisa Spillman earned $1,000 through the Ruby S. Hawthorne Memorial Scholarship for her business accounting degree at Zane State.

Kenson Kanczuweski is fast-tracking a master's degree in social work at Ohio State University, funded by the $1,000 Beulah Brownfield Memorial Adult Scholarship. Air Force veteran Caitlin Wiseman, who served seven years between active duty and the National Guard, won the George Leach Memorial Scholarship to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western Governors University.

Joseph France received the renewable Kenneth F. Berry Memorial Adult Scholarship for his master's in social work at Capella University. Heaven Curtis earned the Harry C. Wilt Memorial EMS Grant to complete her Basic EMT training at Res1cue Fire 7 EMS Training in Zanesville.

The Ripple Effect

These scholarships represent more than individual opportunities. Each recipient is training for a profession facing critical shortages nationwide, from nurses to social workers to EMTs.

The foundation's commitment extends beyond these annual awards. Through the Coshocton Promise program, qualifying first-time students from Coshocton County can attend COTC tuition-free. The foundation also awards over 100 scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors.

Adult learners often juggle work, family, and financial pressures that traditional students don't face. These scholarships acknowledge that dedication while investing in people who've chosen to serve their community through healthcare, emergency services, and social support.

When someone returns to school later in life, they're not just changing their own future—they're showing their families and neighbors that it's never too late to pursue meaningful work.