Recipients are Keilah Bryant of Youngstown Early College and Emily Partika of Lowellville

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The YWCA of Youngstown awarded $20,000 in scholarship money to two Mahoning Valley high-school seniors – Keilah Bryant of Youngstown Early College and Emily Partika of Lowellville High School.

Bryant was awarded $3,000 a year for four years and Emily received $2,000 a year for four years.

The scholarships, awarded as part of the YWCA’s Young Women with Bright Futures program, were made possible through a grant from the Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.

Each year, through the Bright Futures program, the YWCA recognizes young women in their senior year of high school who have demonstrated a commitment to serving their schools, communities, and families.

The candidates are selected by their teachers or administrators for their leadership qualities, academic excellence, creativity and volunteerism. Thirty area high schools participated in the event this year.

Bryant will further her education at Youngstown State University.

“I truly appreciate this award and know it will be a tremendous help in my continued academic success,” Bryant said. The award “lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of higher education, learning,” she said.

Partika will attend the College of Wooster in the fall.

“I am so grateful to receive this scholarship award and I am honored to represent the women of our area,” she said. “Participating in the Young Women with Bright Futures program has been a great experience and I wish the best of luck to each of the other honorees.”

Winners were chosen anonymously by a Bright Futures subcommittee.

Criteria for selection is based on points earned from participation and attendance at three leadership development sessions, a community-service project, attendance at the Bright Futures orientation and banquet, an essay on eliminating racism and empowering women, and completion of the application packet.

Scholarships are limited to honorees pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a college with its main campus in Northeastern Ohio or northwestern Pennsylvania.

To continue to receive the scholarship, awardees must maintain full-time student status and a minimum 3.0 grade point average.