Holmes County Foundation awards $855,685 in scholarships

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

While a new crop of graduates are moving on to higher education, the same community continues to provide funding to help defray the cost of higher education.

Congratulations to the 84 awardees of the 2026 Holmes County Foundation scholarships. Students receiving awards were Hiland and West Holmes seniors going to college or trades schools, as well as Holmes County seniors attending other schools and Holmes County residents pursuing graduate education.

“It’s an honor on behalf of the Holmes County Foundation to recognize our Class of 2026 graduates,” said Holley Johnson, Holmes County Foundation executive director. “The students receiving scholarships include graduating seniors from Hiland and West Holmes, graduating students, and Holmes County residents who are either home-schooled or attended other schools.”

This year the foundation awarded $290,110 in scholarships to students in their first year of higher education and $565,575 to renewing students in their second through fourth years of college or trade school.

“That’s a remarkable amount of scholarship money for a county of our size,” Johnson said. “We’re so grateful to our donors who created these funds through the foundation and to the individuals and businesses who continue to contribute to furthering the education of our local students.

“One of my favorite things about the Holmes County Foundation that makes it unique and different from most of the community foundations around us is that most of our scholarships are renewable for up to four years. This means students don’t receive funding for just one year, but they have a steady stream of support for all four years they attend college.”

Scholarships and recipients included the following:

—Aaron Kaufman Educational Scholarship: Zalina Proper.

—Aimee Frenette-Rickly Memorial Scholarship: Ella Willard.

—American Legion Holmes Post 192, Larry Shaffer Memorial Scholarship: Coryn Larimore, Zalina Proper and Avery Yoder.

—Ami Breitenbucher Memorial Nursing Scholarship: Ella Willard.

—Anonymous Donors Achievement Scholarship: Rebecca Bertram, Max Coakley, Sydney Hawkins, Brenna Horne, Bailee Hoxworth, Coryn Larimore, Alizah Sigler, Aubree Young and Leah Zaugg.

—Anonymous Trades Scholarship: Charlie Cooper, Cameran Daniels, Carsen Doty, Claire Drzazga, Savanna Holley, Tristan Houin, Megan Hughes, Brianna Poventud, Brigette VanSickle and Bailey Weiser.

—Bar Association Scholarship: Maxwell Jones.

—Baserman/Irving Family Scholarship: Jarah Gurley.

—Bigelow United Methodist Scholarship: Olivia Estill.

—Blair Slutz Memorial Education Scholarship: Alizah Sigler.

—Bruce & Janet Mann Scholarship: Brock Gallion.

—Campbell Family Scholarship: Rebecca Bertram.

—Carl & Florence Maurer Scholarship: Lillian Galehouse, Brock Gallion, Parker Garver and Kennady Miller.

—Carol Hawkins Maurer Nursing Scholarship: Kennady Miller.

—Cary Scholarship: Sarah Miller.

—Christmas Cookie Tour Hospitality Scholarship: Clairen Varga.

—Commercial & Savings Bank Scholarship: Brock Gallion.

—Dale and Catherine Lahm Family Scholarship: Yevhenii Antoniuk.

—Darb & Tootzi Snyder Family Scholarship: Ella Willard.

—David & Donna Shreiner Scholarship: Lynn Cline.

—Dennis and Kathy Schlabach Scholarship: Dylan Sours.

—Don and Oneta “Grandma” Way Memorial Scholarship: Yevhenii Antoniuk.

—Donald C. Egger Memorial Scholarship: Kallie Eckert.

—Dr. John H. and Sandra S. Gindlesberger Scholarship: Maggie Ryan.

—Dr. Owen and Mildred Patterson Scholarship: Wyatt Freeman.

—Eli & Gloria Yoder Scholarship: Alyssa Hales.

—Frances E. Brundige Memorial Scholarship: Isaac Thomas.

—Fred & Ollie Hoffman Scholarship: Max Coakley.

—Gabriel Koch Memorial Scholarship: Gabriel Umstead.

—Graven Family Nursing Scholarship: Ella Willard.

—Harold (H.T.) & Louise Blum Scholarship: Maxwell Jones.

—Heinbuch Memorial Scholarship: Lynn Cline, Emma Drumm, Nathaniel Elliott, Katherine Kaster and Kennady Miller.

—Helen Logsdon Scholarship: Maxwell Jones.

—Helen R. Youngs Music Scholarship: Robert Yabroff.

—Herbert & Corrinne Drushell Scholarship: Rowan Holasek.

—Herbert & Mary Dete Simmons Scholarship: Sydney Hawkins.

—Hiland Spirit Scholarship: Maxwell Jones.

—Holmes County Foundation General Scholarship: Chloe Beach, Andrea Berman, Sadie Covert, Alexandra Dayton, Olivia Estill, Lillian Galehouse, Jarah Gurley, Alyssa Hales, Hayden Halverson, Cassidy Holasek, Brenna Horne, Maxwell Jones, Addison Lowe, Laila Manchester, Jack Mast, Michael Miller, Perrin Miller, Grady Monigold, Owen Neville, Zalina Proper, Jenna Rafferty, Luke Snyder, Dylan Sours, Isaac Thomas, Anabelle Thompson, Joscelin Varga, Clairen Varga, Isaiah Wagler, Ella Willard, Robert Yabroff and Leah Zaugg.

—Holmes County Employee Growth Skilled Trades Scholarship: Savanna Holley.

—Holmes County Farm Bureau Larry Lee Lang Memorial Scholarship: Alyssa Hales.

—Holmes County Ministerial Association Scholarship: Jonas Risner.

—Holmes Family Medicine Scholarship: Max Coakley and Leah Zaugg.

—Hummel Group Agency Scholarship: Parker Garver.

—Jennifer Bird Duff Memorial Scholarship: Zalina Proper.

—Jennifer M. Jones Memorial Scholarship: Ella Willard.

—John Bock, M.D. Scholarship: Ella Willard.

—John W. & Geneva Schuler Scholarship: Katherine Kaster.

—Judson & Beverly Schuler Scholarship: Wyatt Freeman, Paige Gertz, Maggie Ryan and Caden Zeigler.

—Julius & Helen Grassbaugh Scholarship: Emma Eberhard.

—Kaufman Realty Scholarship: Emma Eberhard.

—Keith Nowels Memorial Scholarship: Rowan Holasek.

—Kevin & Lisa Kauffman Scholarship: Lynn Cline.

—Key Foundation Endowed Scholarship: Yevhenii Antoniuk.

—Killbuck Area Scholarship: Dylan Sours.

—Kimberly A. Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship: Brock Gallion.

—Lakeville United Methodist Church Scholarship: Brock Gallion and Maggie Ryan.

—Leguillon Family Scholarship: Natalie Thorpe.

—Lilian Grace Edna Duncan Scholarship: Lynn Cline.

—Marcia L. Stutzman Memorial Scholarship: Dylan Sours.

—Marilee & Patrick Roche Scholarship: Katherine Kaster.

—Mary M. Fals Memorial Scholarship: Alyssa Hales.

—Master’s Service Scholarship: Asher Rubio.

—Maxine Waltman Memorial Scholarship: Cadence Frankart, Callie Quire and Avery Yoder.

—McNutt Scholarship: Kallie Eckert.

—Melanie A. Gehm Memorial Scholarship: Natalie Thorpe.

—Mike & Cindy Taylor Family Scholarship: Moriah Yoder.

—Millersburg Lions Club Scholarship: Yevhenii Antoniuk, Rebecca Bertram, Alyssa Hales, Bailee Hoxworth, Owen Neville, Luke Snyder, Clairen Varga, Bailey Weiser and Aubree Young.

—Millersburg Rotary Club Scholarship: Cassidy Holasek and Asher Rubio.

—Patricia M. Morganti Scholarship: Cassidy Holasek.

—Patten Family Memorial Scholarship: Cassidy Holasek.

—Paul & Elizabeth Young Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Estill.

—Paul & Esther Haudenschild Memorial Music Scholarship: Chase Coblentz.

—Purdy Memorial Scholarship: Teagan Clark, Emma Drumm, Nathaniel Elliott, Olivia Estill, Lillian Galehouse, Parker Garver, Owen Mallasch, Maverick Rickly and Dylan Sours.

—R. Dean & Jean A. Smith Scholarship: Kennady Miller.

—Ralph B. and Alta M. Dickersheet Scholarship: Grady Monigold.

—Raymond J. and Louella F. Patterson Scholarship: Brooke Kaufman.

—Rebecca Metcalf Science Scholarship: Gabriel Umstead.

—Richard & Judy Seaman Scholarship for Community, Creativity and Entrepreneurship: Emma Eberhard.

—Robert & Della Ramseyer Scholarship: Perrin Miller.

—Robert and Elsie Galley Educational Scholarship: Briar Cline, Chase Coblentz, Kallie Eckert, Brock Gallion, Chanelle Kellogg, Emily Manges, Maverick Rickly, Asher Rubio, Natalie Thorpe, Myla Troyer, Gabriel Umstead, Carson Weaver and Moriah Yoder.

—Rodhe Family Scholarship: Clairen Varga.

—Roy & Dorothy Stallman Memorial Scholarship: Teagan Clark.

—Sauerbrey Memorial Scholarship: Teagan Clark, Lynn Cline, Kallie Eckert, Lillian Galehouse, Rowan Holasek, Owen Mallasch, Jenna Rafferty and Adelaide Risner.

—Thomas Layman Memorial Scholarship: Taegan Geiser, Jonas Risner, Adelaide Risner, Maggie Ryan and Isaiah Wagler.

—Walnut Creek Foods - Coblentz Family Scholarship: Chase Coblentz and Nathaniel Elliott.

—Warren McCulloch Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Estill.

—Weber Girls Scholarship: Max Coakley.

—West Holmes Spirit Scholarship: Aubree Young.

The Holmes County Foundation strives to inspire generosity by connecting philanthropic resources with essential needs. If interested in donating to one of the many scholarship funds or creating a new fund, call the Holmes County Foundation at 330-674-7303 or email Johnson at hjohnson@hcef.net.