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Columbus High School 2023 graduates of trade school and technology training can apply for scholarships by the Columbus Education Foundation now through March 29.
According to a release, six scholarships are available for a trade or technology school and offers opportunities for advancement. One scholarship is sponsored by Jason Sweatt, senior account executive, of First Financial Group of America. Sweatt is also a Bernardo resident.
“We want to make our company’s scholarship an annual CHS scholarship,” Sweatt said. “We want to designate it for tech and job training schools. From my experience with three daughters, I know not everyone flourishes in a college environment. I feel like many people are better served in tech/ job training schools. And, unfortunately, students are not always encouraged enough to go that direction and pursue other training.”
Five scholarships are sponsored by Sam and Patsy Hodge.
Patsy said, “Both Sam and I graduated from college but we realize that not everyone can invest the time and money required to attend a four-year college, especially today with reports of overwhelming amounts of student debt upon graduation. We also realize skilled workers are valuable assets in a community. Enhanced skills can lead to a lifetime of higher income potential because of their training. All of this leads to a stronger community and we’re all for that since it improves everyone’s lives.”
The CEF said all six scholarships will expand opportunities for those who want to attend a job training/tech school.
An organization spokesperson said CEF was established to create more opportunities for CHS students by establishing scholarships to continue education after graduation— either college or a trade/tech school. CEF’s establishment was encouraged by Superintendent James Connor to build a pathway for community donations to flow to that end—to encourage advanced education, according to a release.
Applications are available online and through Amy Venghaus, CHS scholarship coordinator.
To learn more about CEF’s work, visit columbuseducationfoundation. org or call 979-733-2122.
In addition, the foundation said its board members—Wi l l ie Mae Williams, Shannan Gerik, Becca Edmiston, Phillip Garcia, Rachel Post and Patsy Hodge—are working diligently to accumulate more scholarships. The foundation also said alumni can donate to the alumni fund to help build new scholarships. The CEF works with donations of any size through gifts and memorials, according to a release. The president of CEF is Thomas B. Hancher, MD.
