ATHENS, Ohio -- This fall, Monica Chillious of Bedford Heights, Tishara Clement of Cleveland, Yousef Faroniya of Brookpark, Chasen Hasan of Cleveland Heights and Nicole Shaffer of Strongsville are among 10 new Templeton Scholars at Ohio University. The Templeton Scholars program is a merit scholarship program for academically gifted multicultural students.
Recipients of the Templeton scholarship must have been ranked in the top 20 percent of their high school graduation class and scored a minimum of 28 on the ACT or 1,240 on the SAT. Other requirements included a written essay, interviews with Ohio University faculty and staff members and current Templeton Scholars and endorsements from their high school teachers and administrators. The scholarships are renewable provided the students complete 16 credit hours and maintain a 3.3 GPA.
Chillious, a graduate of Bedford High School in Bedford, Ohio, will study pre-med. While in high school, she served as president of the band and was a field commander for the marching band for two years. She also volunteered at the Adeline House, a local orphanage. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Barbara Chillious.
Clement, a graduate of John Marshall High School, will major in biology/pre-med. She was a member of the Multicultural Club and the school's yearbook staff. She also was listed in the Who's Who Among American High School Students and was named an Outstanding Participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. She is the daughter of John and Lydia Clement.
Faroniya, a graduate of Berea High School, will major in magazine journalism and psychology. In high school, he served as the president of the Cultural Diversity Coalition and was a recipient of the school's "Brave Leadership Award," presented to students who have displayed excellent leadership skills. An avid writer, he wrote columns for Boxing Insider.com and his high school newspaper. He is the son of Mazen and Ana Faroniya.
Hasan, a graduate of St. Ignatius High School, plans on majoring in exercise physiology/physical therapy. As a member of the rowing team, he helped the team win the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championship. He was a member of the National Honor Society, a co-founder of the Young Democrats Club and participated in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership program. He also has been involved in his church's youth group and works as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. He is the son of Sahir and Patricia Hasan.
Shaffer is a graduate of Strongsville High School and will major in public relations. She was involved in National Honor Society, was a D.A.R.E. role model and was listed in "Who's Who Among America's High School Students." She is the daughter of Jon and Linda Shaffer.
The scholarship is named after John Newton Templeton, who became Ohio University's first African-American graduate in 1828. He who was born a slave in South Carolina around 1805, was emancipated in 1813 and went on to serve as a principal and teacher at the African School in Pittsburgh, the city's first school for African-Americans. He died in 1851.
"We are well pleased with these exceptional students and their choice to attend Ohio University," said Assistant to the President Erek Perry, who directs the scholarship program. "These Templeton Scholars have many outstanding qualities, possess a deep commitment to excellence and will continue to honor the legacy of John Newton Templeton."
