The scholarship encourages women to acquire a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field. The donor’s bachelor’s degree is in mathematics, followed 15 years later with a master’s degree in business administration. Her degree in mathematics provided opportunities for jobs in software development and application, medical research, technical documentation, organizational education and training, scientific research, and business. Her career was challenging, dynamic, encouraged creativity, never boring, offered schedule flexibility that allowed her to parent her four children, provided career choice independence, and was lucrative. Go STEM Girls!

The scholarship was established by the family of Ryan Andrew Beavers to support graduating high school seniors from Hilliard Davidson High School that are pursuing Music Education.

Floyd Edwin Younkin (1916) and Mary Irene Pontius (1920) were born and raised in Pickaway County. The struggles involved in working family farms during the Depression established a strong work ethic and determination that they carried throughout their lives. They instilled that same principle in their three children as well as Irene’s twin sister’s three children whom they raised after her untimely death.   After their marriage in 1940, they moved to Columbus and purchased 9 acres of ground on Greenlawn Avenue where they ran a wrecking company during WWII and later used the land as a temporary trailer park for returning GI’s. What started as 25 temporary spaces grew to a dozen manufactured housing communities and nearly 2500 residents. A pioneer in the industry, Floyd’s park designs and building methods and Irene’s hands-on management led them to both being inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame as a testament to their success. Along the way they also built parks in Florida and transitioned that into a public company known as Dycom Industries, a leading construction company in fiber optics which is currently traded on the NYSE.   Following Floyd’s death in 1997, Irene continued her active role in the businesses they built until her death in 2015. She paid forward to the communities they loved and educating youth with her contribution to form the Floyd E. Younkin branch library in Ashville and the Younkin Success Center at The Ohio State University. Although they never had the opportunity to attend college, both strongly believed in the rewards that education brings. To continue the legacy that they started, Floyd and Irene’s family established this scholarship.

Brenda Muller was an avid reader. The last seven years of her career with the State of Ohio were in the Department of Education. Charles Muller was the recipient of a scholarship that made an otherwise unobtainable college education possible. His studies of America’s material culture could not have been without the assistance of many libraries. Libraries are the keepers of history, the preservers of culture and the gateway to the pursuit of intellectual curiosity.

James Lawrence attended Columbus Public Schools graduating from East High School and The Ohio State University. He was a World War II veteran and retired from the Defense Supply Center of Columbus. Ruth was an active volunteer with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s East Unit Women’s Auxiliary. Ruth passed away in 1999, and James passed away in 2015.

Harry H. “Cork” Howarth was born December 23, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio to Harry and Margaret Howarth. Cork earned his PhD in psychology from The Ohio State University, where he taught as a professor of psychology for many years. Cork loved to travel, especially his many trips to France. While on his many travels in Ohio, he would take his beloved dog, Boris. He loved the opera and classical music and even found time to play the cello. He passed away at 85 in 2017.

The scholarship was founded by Lloyd Edison Fisher, Jr. and his wife of 47 years, Twylla Peterson Fisher. Lloyd was born on October 23, 1923 in Medina, OH, and was awarded a Stadium Cooperative Scholarship at The Ohio State University (OSU), but his college years were interrupted by World War II. He served in the United States Army, attaining the rank of staff sergeant and engaged in combat in Europe, followed by occupation duty in Japan.   He returned to OSU to complete his undergraduate degree and graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University College of Law, where he was editor-in-chief of its law review publication. Lloyd began his legal career with Ohio’s Department of Taxation, before electing to become a trust officer with the Huntington National Bank. He subsequently joined the Columbus law firm then known as Alexander, Wenger, & Holschuh; which later merged with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur. After practicing law for nearly 63 years, Lloyd retired from the firm. Lloyd was an active member of Maple Grove United Methodist Church and was instrumental in establishing a robust pension program for retired clergy.

The scholarship was created by the Fisher family in memory of Dorothy Neal Fisher, who came from a line of strong, educated women. Her mother, Elizabeth Lloyd Neal, lived in Marengo when there was no high school. Her family knew the importance of an education, so they rented a room in Cardington so Elizabeth and her two sisters could attend the high school. Although travel was difficult in the early 1900’s, their father would make the trip twice a week so they could be home on weekends. The Neal sisters graduated from Cardington High School, and then from Otterbein College. Elizabeth felt that Cardington helped her become the woman she aspired to be, so she returned after college to raise her family. Dorothy inherited her mother’s tenacity, and was one of the few women who played basketball for Cardington High School and was known for her strong swimming. Dorothy and her husband, Merle, both graduates of Cardington, continued a family legacy that includes graduating all five of their children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren from the school. Dorothy was an active supporter of the school and the Cardington Alumni Association. She loved to play the piano, and played at most of Cardington’s community events and played the school song on the piano at the annual alumni banquet.   Dorothy passed away in 2005, and is remembered for her love of the piano, ballroom dancing, and being a fast driver. The Dorothy Neal Fisher Scholarship was established to continue the family’s dedication to Cardington High School and to help its students as they pursue their dreams.

Arlan J. Clayton was an energetic and vibrant individual who believed it was his mission to leverage his personal success for the benefit of future generations. Arlan was born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1938 and attended ITT in Chicago, where he received an engineering degree. He found great success in the field of powder metallurgy – among other technologies – and became an industry leader as President of the Metal Powder Industries Federation, who awarded him with the organization’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Philanthropically, he supported many education initiatives and scholarships, including a strong commitment to STEM programs. Together, he and his wife, Dale, also supported many community and cultural organizations in their beloved home of Sarasota, Florida. His creation of this scholarship was part of his larger legacy vision to benefit deserving students in communities where his work created economic impact.

The Robert & Lynn Ness Scholarship was created by ODW Logistics on its 50th Anniversary to honor founder Robert (Bob) E. Ness and his wife Lynn Ness. Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit lead to the founding of the company in 1971. His leadership and commitment to ethics and integrity enabled ODW’s growth over the years. Bob learned the value of hard work, education and perseverance from his parents. He earned his Eagle Scout and attended Wittenberg University where he met Lynn. Lynn was a school teacher and then an active school volunteer as she raised her family. Together Bob and Lynn have invested in education and students throughout their lives. Bob served on the Board at Wittenberg for 25 years, Lynn earned an Honorary Degree from Wittenberg and together they endowed a chair at the university. Bob also served on the school board in Upper Arlington while Lynn spent decades volunteering in the schools and community. Their dedication to family, ODW, and their Christian (Lutheran) faith have inspired the company to develop this opportunity for the families of ODW Logistics. This scholarship is available to dependents of ODW Logistics employees to pursue their educational goals.