Ohio University Chillicothe celebrates scholarship donors, recipients

Ohio University Chillicothe recently celebrated the accomplishments of student scholarship recipients and honored the generous contributions of the benefactors who have endowed and donated to scholarships for OHIO Chillicothe students at a Scholarship Recognition Luncheon. 

Roberta Milliken, dean of campus and community relations, welcomed scholarship donors, along with scholarship recipients and their guests as they gathered to connect and celebrate. 

“We want to thank you as some of the many benefactors of Ohio University Chillicothe for your generosity and ongoing interest in helping to support our students, and we would also like to provide our students who are recipients of this generosity and support, the opportunity to learn more about you and the kindness you have shown in creating these scholarship awards for them,” Milliken said. 

As Milliken noted, those who endow and donate to scholarships have many reasons for giving to Ohio University Chillicothe. Some have personal connections as alumni and wish to recognize the impact OHIO Chillicothe had in their lives. Others may be choosing to recognize the importance the institution played in the lives of a family member or honoring a treasured friend or relative. 

Sherry Garrett, mother of Kevin Garrett, the namesake of the Kevin M. Garrett Nursing Scholarship, spoke about her son Kevin, an Ohio University Chillicothe graduate whose life was cut short by cancer in 2013, just six days before his 25th birthday. Kevin always had a connection with kids according to his mother, and his dream was to become a pediatric nurse. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer not long after graduating from Ohio University Chillicothe with his associate in applied science in nursing. Kevin married his high school sweetheart, Jessica, in 2012 and after his passing, Jessica spoke with Kevin’s parents about honoring his memory with a scholarship. With the support of family and friends, the Garretts raised enough money to endow a scholarship at OHIO Chillicothe in Kevin’s name.

Though Kevin’s family still grieves his loss, they are glad to know his memory is honored through sharing his story and through sharing access to nursing education.   

Sophomore English literature major Grace Cooper and senior middle childhood education major Jessica Ebert shared messages of gratitude with the assembled scholarship donors.  

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, Ohio University Chillicothe provides support to students through more than 40 endowed scholarships which translates to $90,000 in scholarships awarded this year. During the 2022-23 academic year OHIO Chillicothe students received over $400,000 in institutional general fund and endowed scholarships.