The Gates Foundation-Ross County Scholar’s Fund announces 2026 class of area recipients

The Gates Foundation-Ross County Scholar’s Fund has announced the 2026 class of recipients, with scholarships being awarded to 18 continuing and incoming college students from the area.

Larry Gates and his wife, Mary, established the fund to relieve much of the financial stress involved with attending college, thus helping talented, hard-working Ross County students pursue their ambitions. This marks the 23rd class of scholars, and since the scholarship fund’s inception in 2004, approximately 350 scholarships have been presented.

In all, 10 of this year’s recipients have selected Ohio University Athens or Ohio University Chillicothe as their college homes. 

Following is a list of the 2026 class of The Gates Foundation-Ross County Scholar’s Fund recipients:

Seniors

Olivia Beatty                Ohio University Athens
Isabella Fischer           Mount Saint Joseph University
Drew Lane                  The Ohio State University
Aiden Spaulding         Ohio University Athens

Juniors

Kailee Adkins             Ohio University Chillicothe
Connor Davis              Wilmington College
Hannah Hull                Ohio University Athens
Jadan Lamerson         Ohio University Athens
Maya McCoy              Ohio University Chillicothe
Kayla Penn                  Wright State University

Sophomores

Aaron Ballentine         Rider University
Macklin Mohan           The Ohio State University
William Skeens           Ohio University Athens
Emma Willett              Ohio University Athens

Freshmen

Carlie Clark                 Ohio University Athens
Magnolia Holbert        University of Cincinnati
Cooper Stoneking       Wilmington College
Keagan Willison          Ohio University Athens

Gates Foundation Directors include Nicole McLaughlin, Michelle Shanholtzer, Matthew Haller, Kimberly Hirsch, Nancy Harris, Jack Jeffery and Valerie Miller. Since the scholarship fund was initiated, the membership of the committee has remained intact.

“We are appreciative of the dedication of the committee members,” Mr. and Mrs. Gates said. “These individuals reflect the spirit of the scholarship fund in helping make this vision become a reality.”

The fund is administered by the Ohio University Foundation, the private fundraising arm of the university. More information on the Gates Foundation-Ross County Scholar’s Fund is available online at https://give.ohio.edu/advancement/gates-scholarship.