The South Central Ohio Educational Service Center (SCOESC) hosted a Summer Enrichment Scholarship Reception on Wednesday, May 10, at Shawnee State University for students who received scholarships to attend Summer Enrichment Programs this summer. There were two groups of students being recognized: Miami Summer Scholars Scholarship recipients and ESC Summer Enrichment Scholarship recipients.  

Sharee Price, Gifted Services Coordinator for the SCOESC, hosted the event and served as emcee. Tehya Hazelbaker, Sophmore at Portsmouth West High School, was the guest presenter. She spoke about the impact of the ESC Summer Enrichment Scholarships on her study of music. She also performed several arrangements on her harp for the audience. Tehya has received ESC Summer Enrichment scholarships each summer since 2018 and will receive one again this year to attend the American Harp Academy at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. 

  

Miami Summer Scholars Director, Amy Beissel, attended the event and awarded the scholarship certificates to the following students: Leah Abbott of Valley, Madison Ankrom of Portsmouth, Jonathan Bailey of Green, Gabriella Banfield of Glenwood, Addison Bowling of Wheelersburg, Annabelle Burke of Portsmouth, Shyann Conley of Valley, Olivia Dickerson of Portsmouth, Allison Friend of Glenwood, Tahya Hazelbaker of Portsmouth West, Josefina Parker-Ortiz of Portsmouth, Miauna Rhea of Portsmouth, and Crystal Stiltner of Valley. This selective, one-week program is designed for academically talented high school students who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2023. Funding for the scholarships comes from the Scioto Foundation’s Bess and Marie Pixley Fund and has enabled students to enroll in academically challenging summer programs at Miami University for the past 27 years. Students will work with Miami’s world-renowned faculty in intensive academic modules based on specific topics of interest, with themes like fine arts, entrepreneurship, medicine, social justice, sports management, and more. Students will experience college life and acquire learning experiences designed to prepare them for the college application process, including workshops focused on application essay writing, ACT/SAT test prep, and developing marketable leadership skills. 

Sharee Price presented scholarship award certificates to students who received ESC Summer Enrichment Scholarships. These scholarships are offered each year to students currently enrolled in grades 5-11 who have been identified as Gifted (as defined by the Ohio Department of Education). Students determine what program they are interested in attending then apply for ESC Scholarships. The following students received ESC scholarships: Breckyn Bivens of Wheelersburg, Eerie Blankenship of Minford, Nathan Cooper of Valley, Chase Crabtree of Valley, Tehya Hazelbaker of Portsmouth West, Macyn Johnson of Clay, Aubrey Roberts of Valley, Laiken Seidel of Valley, and Noelle Smith of Valley. The ESC scholarships are made available with funds obtained through grants and donations to the ESC’s Gifted Services Department. Students who apply for the ESC Scholarships must also apply to the Ohio Association of Gifted Children for summer scholarships. This year the OAGC also awarded each of our students a scholarship (so with both scholarships the students’ entire tuition costs were covered). 

Price commented that “Rigorous academic programming during the summer months provides students with significant academic gains as well as greatly improved self-esteem. For some of our students, attending summer enrichment programs provides an opportunity of a lifetime and has the potential to shape educational and career goals. For other students it is a chance to explore their creative and artistic interests which may grow into lifelong passions.” 

Sponsors for ALL of the ESC programs were also recognized during the reception. Those programs include: Artist-in-Residencies, Academic Competitions, the Scioto County Honors Music Festival, Scioto County Science Day, District Mock Trial, High School Art Exhibitions, the Scioto County Spelling Bee, the Youth MAX Leadership Conference, and the Summer Enrichment Scholarship Program. ESC Gifted Services Sponsors include: Joel & Diane Baringer, Kevin & Barb Bradbury, William & Barbara Burke, Mike & Teresa Canter, Martha Cook, Marc & Jennifer Cottle, John & Regina Craig, Dr. Paul & Mrs. Carolyn Crabtree, DESCO Federal Credit Union, Velma Feagans, Fluor BWXT Portsmouth, LLC, Glockner Enterprises, Rosalee Greene, Gary & Marilyn Hairston, Lowell & Nikki Howard, Drs. Raj and Reshma Kataria, Russ & Lindsey Kegley, Dr. Robert & Mrs. Chris Knox, Darren LeBrun, Drs. Michael & Mary Martin, Arnold & Wanda McCoy, Debbie McGinnis, Portsmouth Area Arts Council, Portsmouth Area Ladies, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home, Scioto County Soil & Water Conservation District, Scioto Foundation, Shawnee Art & Hobby Supplies, Shawnee State University, Southern Ohio Medical Center, Steve & Patty Tennant, and anonymous donors. 

Photo of Miami Summer Scholars & ESC Summer Scholarship Recipients: