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The Scholars of Toledo Foundation (formerly TPS Foundation) board announced at a press conference Monday that more than $60,000 in scholarships will be awarded to graduating TPS seniors. The foundation has awarded over $1 million worth of scholarships since its inception just over a decade ago.
More than 100 TPS students applied for scholarships this year, a double-digit increase over 2013 applications. The foundation worked more closely this year with school guidance counselors and community groups to raise awareness of available higher education funding. Scholarship selections were announced during a news conference held at the University of Toledo’s Driscoll Alumni Center.
“When we talk about supporting local and staying local, better-built in Toledo, what greater resource do we have than our own children?” asked Shanda Gore, Scholars of Toledo board president and UT’s chief diversity officer. “Our local talent pool of great minds who need our support, who need our care—many of whom work in our area, are our workforce, talents that local, national, and international companies are interested in.”
The scholarships will be awarded during the Salute to Scholars event, to be held Wed., May 14, 2014, 6 p.m., at the Premier Banquet Hall, 4480 Heatherdowns Blvd. Tickets to the foundation fundraiser are $50 and can be purchased by calling 419.491.4102. Event proceeds will help to fund future scholarships.
The local Latino scholarship winners include:
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Yadira Alejandra Gutiérrez, Waite High School, $1,000 Fifth Third Bank scholarship, who plans to attend either Owens Community College or the University of Toledo and major in finance and accounting;
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Liliana Parga, Waite High School, $1,000 Joyce Lee Awls Memorial Scholarship, who plans to attend Eastern Michigan University and major in psychology (pre-med);
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Nemesio Austin Vásquez, Toledo Early College High School (TECHS), $1,000 FirstMerit Bank Wealth Management Services Scholarship, who plans to attend the University of Toledo and major in business; and
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Rocio S. González, Polly Fox Academy, Dell Corporation Latitude Laptop, who plans to attend Owens Community College and major in criminal justice.
The foundation maintains funding sources for more than 80 such scholarships, including the Libbey Legacy Lives scholarship, funded by a Libbey alumnus to ensure graduates from that school have funding available for higher education.
The foundation board also unveiled a new Scholars of Toledo logo, which features a swooping red-and-black mortarboard. The logo was designed by 1989 Bowsher High School graduate David Woodward, whose North Design advertising agency helps to promote major events such as the 2014 Soch Winter Olympics.
“We wanted to make a slight modification to keep the emphasis on the students and and emphasis on their proud accomplishments as products of TPS,” said board member Becca Gorman. “The name change also is important, because the students are scholars—and we are very proud of them and their achievements.”
On the Internet: http://scholarsoftoledo.org/
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