12 YSU students get GM scholarships

By Burton Speakman | September 28, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

LORDSTOWN

Twelve students were honored for their academic achievements at the General Motors assembly plant.

The Youngstown State University students each received a $500 scholarship through money raised from the People’s Store at the plant Thursday. The store is a nonprofit entity that sells GM merchandise, and the profits go toward the scholarship fund.

To qualify for the scholarship, the students had to be dependents of plant employees.

The 12 students who received the scholarships are Paul Gruver, Austintown; Melissa Haug, Poland; Beth Myers, Canfield; Halie Calhoun, Niles; Chelsea Kernan, McDonald; Jon Michael Valentine, Canfield; Tori Heverly, Lordstown; Brian Remias, Austintown; Robert Schnellback III, Newton Falls; Taylor Daugherty, Youngstown; Tessa Lowry, Youngstown; and Marissa Rose, Niles.

“This is a great program where employees and visitors can purchase American- and union-made apparel, and the proceeds go toward helping students,” said Glenn Johnson, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112. “It’s a way to offset the skyrocketing costs of [higher] education. We all know how those costs are going up.”

This is just another example of General Motors and union members supporting education, he added.

GM has had this program for the past 17 years, said Dr. Cynthia Anderson, president of YSU.

“General Motors sets an example for everyone in the area in supporting education and giving back to the community,” she said. “I can’t imagine Northeast Ohio without General Motors.”

Every bit of scholarship money helps in attending college, Calhoun said. This was her second year receiving a scholarship from GM after receiving $1,000 for her freshman year at YSU. She is a sophomore majoring in fashion merchandising.

“My dad applied for this for me. I didn’t even find out about it until he came home and told me,” she said. “I’m grateful for any money that I get.”