Owens and Walters Family Announce Endowed Scholarship
PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and the Walters Family are honoring the legacy of Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters and their commitment to lifelong learning by establishing a new $7,100 scholarship endowment fund in their memory.
Proceeds generated from the scholarship fund will be used to assist future Owens students with aspirations of careers in early childhood education, information systems, computer programming and computer systems. The new Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship will be awarded annually.
“Owens Community College is proud to honor Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters through the creation of this scholarship program, which will assist students in pursuing their educational and career aspirations for many years to come,” said Ann Savage, Owens Executive Director of College Development and the Owens Foundation. “Ryan graduated from Owens Community College and he and his wife, Mary, and their son, Hayden, are a part of the alumni family. The creation of this endowed scholarship fund will serve as a lifetime tribute to their educational values, lives and memory.”
“On behalf of my family (Walters, Arquette, Gerwin, DeFriece and Sigler families), I would like to thank the community for their sponsorship and support of the first-ever Walters Family 5K Run,” said Robin Arquette, who is the sister of Ryan Walters. “The contributions from this event will provide students who are attending Owens Community College with scholarships.”
Selection criteria for the new scholarship initiative will be based upon recipients being enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours at Owens per semester and achieving a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Additionally, preference will be given to a student who is majoring in early childhood education, information systems, computer programming and computer systems.
In June 2010, Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters lost their lives as a result of a tornado and damaging storms that devastated the Northwest Ohio region. The initial contribution to the new Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship Endowment Fund came from the inaugural Walters Family 5K Run to honor the seven victims of the June 5, 2010 tornado. Over 300 individuals participated in the first-ever event, which took place on June 4 in Millbury.
The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $2.5 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 32 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.
Press Release Contact Name: Brad Meyer
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Organization Name: Owens Community College