Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The Marion G. Resch Foundation has announced $1.2 million in grants to six Ohio and Pennsylvania colleges and universities for the 2014-15 school year.
The grants are for Youngstown State University, Thiel College, Lake Erie College, University of Mount Union, Westminster College and the College of Wooster.
Since 2003, the foundation’s board of trustees, with the assistance and expertise of the Farmers Trust Co., have distributed a total of $11.6 million to assist students from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties obtain a higher education. About 170 students will receive scholarships this year.
“As the job market tightens, the need for a post-secondary education is magnified,” James H. Sisek, chairman of the board of Farmers Trust, said in a news release. “As the cost of education increases and real family income decreases, these funds will enable many students from our [V]alley achieve a higher education.”
The Marion G. Resch Foundation is engaged in two main activities: funding college scholarships and supporting early-intervention programs. Students may contact the financial-aid office of the respective college to determine their eligibility for the award. The selection of scholarship recipients is made by each individual college.
The foundation supports early-intervention programs at Campbell Memorial, Chaney and East high schools. These programs provide enrichment and creative strategies to help increase student readiness and maturity for learning. About 350 students have participated in these programs.
Resch, who died in 2004, created her foundation to enable area youths to reach their potential and become influential leaders in our community.
Resch was a graduate of The Rayen School and Lake Erie College. Her husband, Paul, a 1933 graduate of Youngstown College, was a local stockbroker.