Resch Foundation awards Thiel scholarship grants

March 13, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Thiel has received more than $300,000 to fund specific scholarship programs.

GREENVILLE, Pa. — The Marion G. Resch Foundation of Youngstown has awarded Thiel College $128,000 in scholarship grants for the 2008-09 academic year.

The Resch Foundation currently supports three programs at the college: The Resch Science Scholarship, the Resch EXCEL Early Intervention program and an Academic Persistence Scholarship Program.

“Thiel College is proud to not only continue this beneficial relationship with The Resch Foundation, but to have it grow each year,” says John Rindy, dean of Thiel’s Office of Educational Outreach. “We are honored to receive support from a foundation that is so community-minded, with a strong focus on building the intellectual resources within an area that has persevered through some difficult economic times.”

Thiel’s Resch Science Scholarship is awarded to students who meet specific requirements and enter a four-year degree program in biology, chemistry, environmental science, neuroscience, communication sciences and disorders, physics or one of the college’s affiliated pre-professional programs, such as pre-medicine or pre-pharmacy.

Four of the seven scholarships each year are reserved for female students from the Mahoning Valley area. Established in 2007, the EXCEL (Excellent Choices in Education and Lifestyles) Early Intervention Program is a partnership between Thiel and the Youngstown City Schools’ East High School.

The program provides educational opportunities throughout the year to inner city youths who show academic promise and exemplary behavior. It includes a one-week summer program on Thiel’s campus each year.

The academic persistence scholarship is available to Mahoning Valley students who have persisted to their sophomore or later years at the college and have maintained a certain grade point average. These awards are reserved for students who demonstrate a certain level of financial need.

Over the last two years, Thiel has received more than $300,000 from The Resch Foundation to fund these programs. The late Mrs. Resch was a strong advocate of the education of young people and The Resch Foundation, managed by Butler Wick Trust Company of Youngstown, honors her legacy by granting money in support of scholarships and early intervention programs for students in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio.