Main Street Medina and its partners awarded $3,000 in scholarships to five Medina County seniors pursuing business and higher education.MSM
With the support of Cool Beans Cafe and the Medina High School Class of 1970, Main Street Medina is pleased to announce the recipients of scholarships awarded to Medina County graduating seniors.
The Cool Beans Café Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarship, established in 2024 by local entrepreneur Laura Cavey in collaboration with Main Street Medina, provides financial support to aspiring entrepreneurs in Medina County. Applicants for this scholarship were either high school seniors or full-time college students at accredited institutions. Candidates must demonstrate leadership through community service or extracurricular activities and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Main Street Medina matches $1,000 from Cool Beans for a total of $2,000 in awards. This year’s Cool Beans Cafe Emerging Entrepreneur Scholarships go to four students: Zeylen Yanmaz of Medina High School, Jeffrey Kowza of Highland High School, Bree Vargo of Brunswick High School, and Travis Avallone of Buckeye High School. Each student received $500.
Zeylen Yanmaz played varsity baseball for Medina High School and was a volunteer coach for Medina Youth Baseball and Sting baseball programs. He has an entrepreneurial mindset and has done power washing, lawn care, dog walking and snow removal in the community for many years. Yanmaz plans to attend Tri-C to study business, marketing and entrepreneurship.
Jeffrey Kowza served as a swim instructor with the annual Highland Youth Swim Camp, a DARE role model (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), apprentice with Kirby Enterprise and student leader at Sharon Elementary School. He plans to study business, marketing and entrepreneurship at Miami University.
Bree Vargo’s community activities included participating in blanket making for the homeless with the Brunswick High School gymnastics team, volunteering at RMH Holdings LLC and tutoring a Medina elementary student. She will attend Kent State University to study business, marketing and entrepreneurship.
Travis Avallone was very active in the community both within the Buckeye School District and at large. His service includes the Valley City Community Group, Valley City Frog Jump Festival, Christmas in the Valley, Unified Champion Sports, youth clinics and camps, in addition to being a three-sport athlete. He will study business, marketing and entrepreneurship at Kent State.
The Medina High School Class of 1970 is also proud to offer a scholarship in collaboration with Main Street Medina, providing financial support to students pursuing higher education. Applicants for this scholarship were either Medina High School seniors or students from the Medina County Career Center whose home school is Medina High School. Candidates must demonstrate leadership through community service or extracurricular activities and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
This year’s Class of 1970 Scholarship of $1,000 goes to CarterShamis of Medina High School. Known for his leadership, persistence and passion for service, he is the founder and chairman of the Community Service Committee at Medina High School and an active member of numerous organizations, creating impactful volunteer opportunities while inspiring others to engage in the community. Shamis will attend the University of Tampa.
