The Columbus Foundation awarded the $25,000 Columbus Performing Arts Prize to the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra to support the world premiere of an original work by five-time GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste, which will be performed before a sold-out audience at the Southern Theatre the weekend of May 3.

The Erica Alexis Bell Memorial Scholarship has been established by her parents, with pride, to help others who, like Erica, want to become teachers. For graduating seniors from Columbus City Schools to attend Central State University in Xenia, Ohio.

The scholarship was established in memory of the donor’s brother, William F. McGuire; mother, Ruth H. Holcomb; and stepfather Kenneth P. Holcomb. The scholarship provides tuition and books for the education of students who have a physical disability.

David J. White, son; Cozine A. White Short, daughter; and Mitzi Short, granddaughter, established this fund in memory of their mother and grandmother, Ina Fern (White) Hereford. This memorial fund initially provided scholarships for students, grades 3-6, attending the Gloria S. Friend Christian Academy at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Beginning in the fall of 2022, the Ina Fern (White) Hereford Scholarship provides financial support to college-bound youth who are members of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Ina Fern (White) Hereford (1910-2000) was born in North Wilkesboro, NC, and lived in Columbus, OH for most of her life. She was a faithful member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church for over 60 years. She served as the church clerk and for 12 years, she served as the Church Secretary. Affectionately known as “Mother Dear,” her great mission in life was to be a teacher and storyteller. She told Bible stories at the Juvenile Detention Center located at 50 E. Mound Street for more than 16 years. She exemplified a tower of faith and strength in God. All whose lives were touched by this beloved Christian woman were truly blessed. She left a legacy that is admired and remembered. The scholarship honors her legacy – her love for God and her church, her passion for education, and her tireless effort to “put feet on her prayers.”

Christine Grant Beach established this fund in memory of her mother, Louise Morhart Grant, to provide scholarship assistance to qualified students who reside in Middleport, Ohio, are in the graduating class of Meigs High School, and who plan to study music through postsecondary education.

Mary E. Harper established this scholarship fund in memory of her husband, George L. Harper, Sr., who did not have the opportunity to attend high school, and her stepson, George L. Harper, Jr., a member of the Hilliard (Ohio) High School Marching Band, who was killed in a school bus accident at the age of 13.

The Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Arts Council (GHMCAC) established this scholarship as a way to assist graduating high school seniors, who are residents of Grandview Heights or Marble Cliff, pursue post-secondary education. The award is given in honor of Nancy E. Kukla.

The scholarship was founded to honor Don Jakeway, a life-long resident of Johnstown, Ohio. Mr. Jakeway was a highly decorated World War II paratrooper who earned four Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts along with numerous foreign decorations. Don parachuted behind the lines into Normandy the night before D-Day and later fought in both Holland and the Battle of the Bulge, when he was wounded. He returned to Johnstown in August 1945 to a life that revolved around his community and his wife, Rene. He became involved in his community through Kiwanis, Village Council, and the athletic boosters, is credited by the community for bringing youth baseball to Johnstown, and was honored in 2008 as a local hero. According to a Columbus Dispatch article from that year, Mr. Jakeway is quoted as saying, “I’ve traveled all over the world. And I can tell you there is no more beautiful place than Johnstown, Ohio, because of the people.”

The K.N. Stravelakis Family Scholarship Fund was established in December 1997 by Katherine K. Stravelakis to honor the memory of her husband Konstantinos (Kosta) N. Stravelakis and her son George K. Stravelakis. Konstantinos was born in Greece, in the town of Kardamyla on the island of Chios in 1912. He left his island birthplace at 17 to join the Greek Merchant Marine and worked his way up over the next 17 years to become an officer First Mate. Over these years, while on the sea traveling the world, he taught himself English. He ported many times in the U.S. and all corners of the world, which made him an asset to the U.S. WWII Shipping Administration. He accepted their offer of employment in early 1944 as an executive officer for large U.S. Liberty cargo ships, thus proudly establishing himself as a WWII Armed Services Veteran, with equivalent U.S. citizenship. His ship was in the southern France, Italy, and Sicily invasions carrying 500 lb. bombs. His U.S. primary residency began in 1944. Konstantinos grew up in a poor Greek family as the youngest of six children. Unlike in America, after graduating high school on a small island, he was faced with few financial opportunities. As an immigrant in America, he lived as a proud and grateful U.S. citizen who persevered in the face of many obstacles. He realized impressive business success through personal initiative and self-education. As a lifelong learner, he was a strong proponent of the benefits of furthering one’s education. He felt that education was the key to opening doors of opportunity. He would encourage this to anyone who would listen, especially his three children. Konstantinos Stravelakis passed away in January, 1995, just days after his 82nd birthday. Preceding him in death was Kosta and Katherine’s 24-year-old son George, their middle child who died tragically in an automobile accident in 1974, while pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Forty-four years later, in December 2018, Katherine Stravel

This scholarship is available for a graduating senior of St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio planning to attend The Ohio State University.