East High grad tells Choffin students how OSU program sent him to college

YOUNGSTOWN

Cametreus Clardy, a 2011 East High School graduate, earned his bachelor’s degree in special education in May from Ohio State University and heads this fall to Vanderbilt University to earn a master’s degree.

Clardy was selected when he was a sixth-grader at the former Volney Rogers Middle School into the Young Scholars Program, where he earned a full-tuition scholarship to OSU as long as he maintained his grades, participated in the group’s community service events and fulfilled other program obligations.

He credits YSP with providing him with those opportunities.

“Even when I was in sixth grade, I was aware of the struggles my mother was going through at that time as a single mom,” Clardy said.

OSU’s Young Scholars Program offers academically promising students who are the first in their families to attend college with scholarships. The program targets those with financial need.

The program pointed Clardy in the direction he wanted his life to go.

“It showed me, ‘You’re going to school, and you’re going to be able to do things for yourself and your family,’” he said.

Clardy spoke Wednesday at Choffin Career and Technical Center at a public forum on college affordability.

Dr. Michael V. Drake, OSU president, led the forum, part of OSU’s tour around the state.

Read more about his visit and the program in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.