Here’s a fun activity for a snow day – or any day you’re looking for extra cash to help with college or professional school expenses: Fill out a form for the Licking County Foundation, which manages more than 100 scholarships to help Licking County residents.
The minimum scholarship is $1,000, and many offer more money. Online applications for scholarships for the 2025-26 school year are now being accepted by the foundation based in downtown Newark. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3.
The application and details about the program can be found on the foundation’s website at https://www.thelcfoundation.org/scholarships/.
The scholarships aren’t just for graduating high school seniors, according to the foundation. They are also for recent high school graduates, current undergraduate college students, adults starting or returning to school, and for students attending graduate or professional schools.
“Each year, our scholarship program supports as many as 400 students at every stage of their education, and it’s all because of our donors,” Mike Schmidt, president of the Licking County Foundation, said in a news release. “Our scholarship donors come from all walks of life but have one thing in common: They are passionate about lowering the cost barrier to education and training. They also know everyone’s learning or career journey is different – and our opportunities reflect that. It’s truly an honor to help donors provide support that changes lives.”
In 2023, the disbursed $4.6 million to the community through grants and scholarships to Licking County organizations and students. Established in 1956, the Licking County Foundation now manages nearly $150 million in assets.
Among the 100 scholarship funds established by donors since 1964 are eight new funds offering support for the first time this year:
- The Frank Annarino III Memorial Scholarship for Nursing, established by Frank’s family to celebrate his love of his second career and to support students interested in a nursing career.
- The Frederick A. Bailey Scholarship, a renewable scholarship that supports graduating high school seniors pursuing a career or technical education certificate at a Licking County institution.
- The Valerie R. Bailey Scholarship, for graduates of Heath High School, including students who attended C-TEC Secondary Center, who demonstrate financial need and are pursuing a certificate or a degree.
- The Jennifer Dixon Memorial Scholarship, established in memory and celebration of Jennifer Dixon to support female Utica High School seniors and recent graduates who participated in athletics to further their studies at an accredited four-year college or university.
- The Dan and Shirley Dupps Leadership Scholarship, established by the children of Dan and Shirley Dupps to honor their parents’ dedication to developing youth leadership.
- The Jim and Jo Fedor Scholarship, established by the couple to support Licking County residents with financial need while pursuing certificates or associate degrees in any career or technical education field.
- The Edna Felumlee Mercer Scholarship for Students Touched by Breast Cancer, established by Michelle Hanger in celebration of surviving her own battle with breast cancer and in memory and honor of her mother, Edna Felumlee Mercer, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2005.
- The Cheri Thompson Scholarship, established by Cheri’s children, Kelsi Leppla and Kory Thompson, to honor Cheri’s unwavering kindness and unconditional love and to support students who graduated from a Licking County High School with financial need but hope to continue their education.
In addition to these new funds, the Gracie Dudgeon Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2018 by Gracie’s parents, Mike and Jennifer Dudgeon, will make its final new offers in 2025 – the year that Gracie would have graduated with her Heath classmates. The fund will provide renewable support for five Heath High School students who demonstrate a record of extracurricular activities and community service.
Anyone with questions about the Licking County Foundation’s scholarship program can contact Amy Dell at scholarships@thelcfoundation.org. To learn about establishing a fund with the foundation, including scholarships and educational awards, contact Jennie Dawes at 740-349-3863.