College of EEHS helps students during economic hardship

Kelsey Misbrener

During this economically troubled time, student scholarships for the College of Education, Health and Human Services are especially important, Dean Dan Mahony said.

“For a lot of our students, it’s becoming a lot harder to get through college,” Mahony said.

Bouncing her baby on her lap, Michele Crum, graduate student in middle childhood education, said the scholarship she received is paying for her whole fall semester. She said she applied for every scholarship in the college.

“It lets me stay home with her,” Crum said, smiling at her baby girl. “Otherwise, I’d have to work part time.”

Every table in the ballroom on Thursday afternoon was filled with students, family members, friends and scholarship donors. Faculty members awarded more than 70 awards and scholarships to students.

Some students applied for scholarships to help pay for school, while other students were nominated by faculty members for awards and recognition.

Genevieve McGeary, junior nutrition and food major, said in the past she relied on financial aid to help her pay for college. This year, she had to turn to student loans because she didn’t receive any aid.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever won a scholarship,” McGeary said. “This will be my only financial aid.”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever won a scholarship. This will be my only financial aid.” – Genevieve McGeary

The scholarships make life a little easier for busy students paying for college themselves, said Luc LaBonte, freshman nutrition dietetics and exercise science major.

LaBonte received a $1,000 scholarship. He said he also gets an honor scholarship and works at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to afford his education.

“We’re real proud,” said Romeo LaBonte, his father. “He’s working, doing extracurriculars and holding down a 4.0 (GPA).”

Meredith Reinhard, junior nutrition major and another scholarship winner, is a student and cheerleader for Kent State.

She said she pays for college with scholarships and grants, so the award will be helpful.

Scholarship donors Jim and Ellen Marsey said they “understand education is an expense and a sacrifice.”

When their daughter died in a car accident in 1996 before she could complete her special education degree, they decided to start a scholarship for other students.

“Maybe we can continue it by having a scholarship and helping them (other students) do what she wanted to do,” Jim Marsey said.

Mahoney said the number of scholarships continues to grow.

“There always seems to be one or two more,” Mahoney said.

Contact Kelsey Misbrener at [email protected].