River View counselor Pepper earns full scholarship

Courtney Pepper, a school counselor at River View High School, received a full scholarship to pursue an advanced degree, thanks to an anonymous gift to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and a new partnership with American College of Education.

Pepper is part of FAO’s Growing Home Fellowship, a five-year program launched in 2023 to recruit and prepare young educators for leadership roles in their broader communities. She is among 15 fellows who were selected to receive ACE scholarships through a competitive application process.

“These scholarships will allow Courtney and others to earn doctorate degrees, principal’s certificates or other master’s level credentials they otherwise might not be able to pursue while managing work and family responsibilities,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “These young community builders are already leading in deep and meaningful ways across Appalachian Ohio, but now they’ll be able to strengthen their skills and advance their careers and their service to their communities.”

Through the Growing Home Fellowship, FAO has invested in more than 100 emerging leaders who have chosen to grow their lives and their careers in Appalachian Ohio. Fellows commit to live, work and serve in the region for at least five years. In return they receive financial support, leadership coaching, immersive retreats, access to grant funding and a network of peers who share their commitment to their communities.

Fellows are currently serving in 29 of Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties. Through their service they are addressing food insecurity, increasing health and wellness, strengthening economic vitality, creating access to arts, stewarding the environment and more.

With her ACE scholarship, Pepper is pursuing a doctorate in leadership, focusing on public and nonprofit leadership.

“Continuing my education is something I always knew I wanted to do. However, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to pursue next,” she said. “Through my Growing Home Fellowship, my next step became crystal clear. I fell in love with public service, and a passion was sparked for making a greater impact on my community. By obtaining my Ed.D. in leadership and focusing on public and nonprofit, I will gain the education, skills and confidence to take my passion for public service to the next level, advocating for the students in my community on a larger scale including at the state level.”

Pepper serves on the board and promotional committee of Our Town Coshocton, working to revitalize the historic downtown district and local economy to make Coshocton County her students' first choice of where to settle down after graduation instead of their backup plan. Through her service, she has helped create a partnership between OTC and the local chamber of commerce and helped design an economic initiative that brought $50,000 to local businesses. Pepper also gives local presentations about the importance of community involvement.

Co-founded by Jackson County native Tom Evans, ACE is a fully accredited online private college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, health care and nursing, which allows fellows to continue their education while managing work and family responsibilities.

“These young leaders are committed to making a difference, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Monica Carson, ACE chief growth officer. “We’re proud to partner with FAO to provide them with opportunities to deepen their skills in ways that will benefit their students, their families and their communities for years to come.”

A 501(c)(3) public charity, FAO is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. In partnership with 14 geographic affiliate foundation partners and the regionwide African American Community Fund, FAO works to unleash the collective potential within Appalachian Ohio by encouraging and supporting philanthropy.

Four years into the pilot fellowship program, Growing Home Fellows are serving more than 90 nonprofit and civic organizations, actively contributing to the vitality of their Appalachian Ohio communities. For more information about FAO’s Growing Home Fellowship, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org/GrowingHome.