OHIO announces first Folley Family Foundation Appalachian Scholars

Ohio University’s Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR) in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to announce the inaugural Folley Family Foundation Appalachian Scholars, Allison Saaty and Alison Mingus. 

The scholarship is available for two students for four years who are full-time undergraduate students enrolled in OMSAR’s Appalachian Scholars Program.

“Through its generosity, the Folley Family Foundation has honored Ohio University with the presence of these two outstanding Appalachian scholars who are committed to academic excellence, civic leadership, and service to their communities, and OMSAR is proud to provide them academic support at every turn of their journey as Bobcats,” OMSAR Director Dr. Marlene De La Cruz-Guzmán said. 

Saaty is from Logan, Ohio, and graduated from Logan High School. She is a first-year student majoring in psychology and hopes to one day attend graduate school, as she wants to learn as much as she can.

“Getting my scholarship really opened a lot of opportunities. I didn’t have money from my family to go to college. I wasn’t able to go without scholarship money. Now I can think about graduate school, too,” Saaty said, while also noting that the Folley Family Foundation Appalachian Scholarship is much needed in this region. “It’s extremely generous.” 

Saaty is also excited to utilize OMSAR’s resources along with the scholarship, including access to tutoring, academic advising, and leadership coaching. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to tap into it and to make the world a better place with my degree and career,” Saaty said.

Mingus is from Athens, Ohio, and a graduate of Athens Senior High School. She is very excited about staying in her own community by attending OHIO. She hopes to one day be a medical physician. She fell in love with healthcare work through volunteering at OhioHealth O’Bleness hospital, so she is majoring in biological sciences. 

“Through the Folley family generosity, they have allowed me, personally, so many more opportunities than I would have been able to have, including how comfortable I am going forward financially,” Mingus said. “Through this scholarship, I am on equal footing with other students. I won’t be struggling to stay at the same level with others because of the financial support.”

Mingus also hopes to double major in Spanish, and has noted that the University community has been very welcoming during her first semester. She also gives credit to her sister, Emily Mingus, for easing her fears and guiding her throughout high school and to OHIO. 

The Folley Family Foundation Appalachian Scholarship fund was set up by the Folley family in order to give opportunities to Appalachian students at OHIO. The Folley Family Foundation’s mission is “dedicated to the betterment of all life by supporting health, education and the environment.” 

Janet Folley explained that the family feels strongly about the foundation’s efforts to support education. The fund was started because her son, Maxwell Folley, BSVC ’07, came to OHIO and the family wanted to give back after he received an “excellent opportunity of education.” He also met his future wife, Allison Marshall, BFA ’07, at OHIO. 

“We wanted to give Appalachian kids an opportunity they may otherwise not have to attend college,” Janet Folley said. “A lot of times, not everyone has that opportunity for an education, and we wanted to help.” 

“I am excited for this new scholarship opportunity for Appalachian students, which will further OHIO’s accessibility and inclusion goals. I want to thank the Folley Family Foundation for their generous contributions in setting up this scholarship fund,” Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Gigi Secuban said. “Southeast Ohio is an area with limited access to broadband technology and WiFi access for many students, particularly impacting our Appalachian students. It is through funding opportunities like this that we can continue to support our students’ educational goals.”