HCEF News

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   11th Annual Frenette Golf Tournament Raises Over $4,300

    On Sunday, June 27, 2010, the 11th Annual Aimee Frenette-Rickly Golf Tournament was held at Fire Ridge Golf Course in Millersburg.  One hundred and forty golfersarrived for a tee off at 9:00 a.m.  The ‘tournament’ included a hot summer day for the 18-hole course.  The team consisting of Bryan Shaw, Mitch Immel, Mitch Leavengood and Aaron Shanklin came in at first place with a score of 53.

     The event, which lasted until 4:00 p.m., brought in over $4,300 for the Aimee Frenette-Rickly Memorial Scholarship fund, held and managed by the Holmes County Education Foundation.  Countless local businesses and community members also contributed to the cause with hole sponsorship, including Bakerwell, Buckeye Deli, Burgett Insurance, Commercial & Savings Bank, Fifth Third Investments, First Knox National Bank, Killbuck Savings Bank, Steve Maag, Moore’s Lawn & Garden, Pizza Parlor II, Attorney Sam Steimel, Subway of Holmes County, and Village Motors. Businesses and individuals also offered door and raffle prizes.  Organizers of the event would also like to thank the Mansfield Coca-Cola Company, as well as P & G IGA in Killbuck for their continued contributions toward this annual event.

     Aimee Frenette-Rickly attended West Holmes high school where she was actively involved in softball, volleyball, National Honor Society, student council and 4-H.  She graduated in 1994 and went on to study Family & Consumer Science Education at Ohio University, graduating in 1998.  Following graduation, she student taught in both the East and West Holmes school districts.  She also served as assistant softball coach for West Holmes High School.  Aimee passed away in 1999. This year’s recipients of the Frenette-Rickly Scholarship are Lindsey Arnold, who will be studying nursing at Otterbein College, and Shelbie Henderson, who will be studying nursing at Walsh University.

    The Holmes County Education Foundation (HCEF) has been encouraging further education for Holmes County residents by awarding well over $5.5 million in scholarships and grants since 1991.  To learn more about the Foundation, visit our website at www.hcef.net.  Darla Stitzlein, HCEF Executive Director, can be reached by calling (330) 674-7303.

OCAN and Great Lakes invest in the
Holmes County College Access Program
to Prepare Local Kids for College

(For more about the College Access Program, Click here!)

(Millersburg, Ohio) -- The Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) recently awarded $20,000 to the Holmes County College Access Program as part of the competitive Great Lakes College Access Investment Grant process.  This grant, funded by Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, is designed for community-based OCAN members to implement new programs, enhance existing initiatives or build capacity to strengthen their overall operations.

The need for college access services is supported by a recent poll by The Joyce Ivy Foundation which states the role of an Ohio high school guidance counselor is often a “loosely-defined overflow position for the school administrator”.  Rather than spending significant time assisting students with goal setting and college planning, guidance counselors are often required to spend their days managing student schedules, testing, records, signing tardy slips and tending to students other immediate needs.  The Holmes County College Access Program directly augments the work of local guidance counselors by situating our program advisor in the school who provides career guidance, financial aid advising, need-based scholarships and other services.

Like OCAN, the Holmes County College Access Program’s goal is to help more Ohio students pursue and complete education beyond high school, with particular focus on low-income students and those who are first in their families to go to college. 

To further address the need for special services in Holmes County during the 2010-2011 academic year, Great Lakes College Access Investment funding awarded to the Holmes County College Access Program will be used to continue to operate the Holmes County College Access Program and provide our students with the knowledge, guidance, and encouragement to be successful in obtaining a higher education. 

“Since we began offering these college access advisory services in 2003, we have seen the county’s average college-going rate of high school seniors rise from 54.5% in 2003 to 69% in 2010.  The symbiotic relationships with the guidance counselors are working and are making a positive difference in these student’s lives,” according to Darla Stitzlein, Executive Director of the Holmes County Education Foundation who serves as fiscal agent for the program.

“OCAN is grateful that we have been able to assist community-based college access organizations for 11 years with funding that has improved Ohio’s college-going rate.  Local access organizations have leveraged state and private dollars like those committed by Great Lakes in a remarkable way.  I appreciate all of their contributions,” added Dr. Reginald Wilkinson, OCAN President & CEO. 

The Holmes County College Access Program is available to Holmes County residents and provides free advisory services to students and adults pursuing education beyond high school.  Assistance is offered in college & career searches, financial aid & scholarship searches, application filing and FAFSA filing.  Ann Gastier serves as Program Advisor and can be reached at the Holmes County Education Foundation in the Cary House, 114 North Clay Street, Millersburg or by calling 330-674-1255.

The Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) was founded in 1999, by KnowledgeWorks Foundation, in collaboration with the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Business Roundtable.  OCAN works to establish college access programs across the state and is the first statewide coordinating body for college access programs in the nation.  The goal of the organization is to help more Ohio students pursue postsecondary education through the work of local college access programs, which provide financial aid advising, last dollar grants, career guidance and other services.  Currently, 39 college access programs serve nearly 300 of Ohio’s 612 school districts.

Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation works with college access programs, schools, and governments to change lives for the better through higher education.  Great Lakes supports these partners with financial, educational, and operational resources that help students and families pay for college and build brighter futures.  Great Lakes employs more than 1,200 nationwide.  For additional information, visit www.mygreatlakes.org.

Don and Oneta “Grandma” Way
Memorial Scholarship Created to Assist
Education and Business Students

Millersburg, OH – The Don and Oneta “Grandma” Way Memorial Scholarship was recently created with a major gift from the estate of Oneta Way, and is being administered by the Holmes County Education Foundation (HCEF).  The scholarship will be awarded in 2011 to Holmes County students demonstrating financial need and majoring in either education or business.  Students may apply for the scholarship beginning in January 2011 by visiting the Foundation’s website at www.hcef.net. 

     Oneta Way’s passion was teaching.  She married Don Way, and  had 2 children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.  Oneta earned a BAA from The Ohio State University in 1939 and returned to earn a Master’s degree in Child Development.  She was a retired farmer and educator.    In addition to teaching in various church youth classes, Oneta taught pre-K at Glenmont Head Start at age 60, and retired ten years later.  She was a member of Ripley Church of Christ.

     “Upon the creation of this scholarship, I did not know anyone with the name Oneta, but once I heard ‘Grandma Way,’ the memories came back!” said HCEF Administrative Assistant Anna Patton.  “Grandma Way was often found in my elementary classrooms, smiling and helping to guide us as students.  I’m sure countless kids, young and old, were touched and impacted by Oneta’s efforts, and I believe her passion and legacy will continue with this scholarship.” 

     The Holmes County Education Foundation currently administers 40 different scholarships and has been encouraging further education for Holmes County residents by awarding more than $5.5 million in scholarships and grants since 1991.  Recently, $342,875 was awarded to new and renewing students currently enrolled at a higher education institution for the 2010-2011 academic year. To learn more about establishing a scholarship with the Holmes County Education Foundation, stop in at the Foundation office located in Millersburg at the Cary House, 114 North Clay Street or contact Darla Stitzlein, Executive Director, at (330) 674-7303. 

Saving Money for College Essay Winners Announced

Millersburg, OH – The Holmes County Education Foundation recently received  a grant from the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. This grant was to be used to encourage students to save money for college.  The Foundation sponsored anessay-writing contest that was open to 8th graders attending Hiland and WestHolmes Middle Schools.  The topic was “Why it is important to save money for college.”  Several essays were submitted and the winners are:

 For Hiland Middle School:  1st Place: Sarah Strong; 2nd Place: Maryssa Mast; and 3rd Place: Emily Yoder.  Their English teacher is Mrs. Myrick. For West Holmes Middle School: 1st Place: Emily Molnar; 2nd Place: Joy Allison; and 3rd Place: Page Hershberger.  Their English teachers are Mr. Wengerd and Mrs. Swank. The winners will receive college saving gift certificates in the amount of $650 for 1st place; $400 for 2nd place; and $200 for 3rd place.  The certificates will allow the students to establish a College Advantage 529 Savings Plan which can be used for their future college education.  To learn more about saving for college visit the website www.collegeadvantage.com.   

The Holmes County Education Foundation has been encouraging further education for Holmes County residents by awarding morethan $5 million in scholarships and grants since 1991.  To learn more about the Foundation, visit our website at www.hcef.net.  Darla Stitzlein, Executive Director, can be reached by calling (330) 674-7303. 

Did you know that you can support the Holmes County Education Foundation, just by searching the internet?

Now, the Foundation can earn a penny every time you search the internet. GoodSearch is a new search engine that donates half of its revenue- about one penny per search- to the charities its users designate.  You use the Goodsearch Toolbar just as you would any search engine like Google, and it's powered by Yahoo!

How can I get the GoodSearch toolbar?

Go to www.goodsearch.com and under the section marked "Who do you GoodSearch for?" Type "Holmes County Education Foundation" and hit the enter key on your keyboard or click "verify".  Then, click on the section marked "Get the GoodSearch plug-in or toolbar," follow the directions, and start searching for good!