GPA: Ashland announces Tuition Relief Scholarship for fall semester

        First-time, full-time students who enroll at Ashland University this fall will have the opportunity to make use of a “2-for-1” Tuition Relief Scholarship.
        Thanks to the generosity of AU’s trustees, first-time students who complete fall term with a GPA of 2.0 or better will automatically receive the “2-for-1” scholarship which will cover any remaining tuition expenses for the Spring 2022 semester.
        “This scholarship is available to all first-time, full-time students living on campus for the Fall 2021 semester,” said University President Dr. Carlos Campo. “Ashland University is dedicated to providing financial help for any individual who wants to invest in a college education but may not be able to enroll because of financial limitations. Our goal is to close the financial gap and, in honoring our promise to offer an affordable education to all students, ensure that those who want to attend Ashland have that opportunity to do so.
        “If you want to go to Ashland University, we are committed to making it happen,” he said.
        Additional scholarship opportunities for the 2021-2022 academic year are also available for students who do not qualify for the Tuition Relief Scholarship.
         “While COVID-19 has made life more complicated for both parents and students, this scholarship is powerful and simple: enroll this fall and pay your first semester’s tuition, and Ashland picks up the tuition bill for your next semester,” Campo said.
        The initiative behind creating the trustee-funded Tuition Relief Scholarship stems directly from The Ashland Promise, a statement of Ashland University’s core promises to its students in alignment with its long-held dedication to “Accent on the Individual.”
        The Tuition Relief Scholarship, funded entirely by the university’s trustees, is designed to be a testament of the commitment to each student who attends Ashland University, Campo said.
         Additional scholarship opportunities for the 2021-2022 academic year are available for non-residential, non-traditional as well as currently enrolled students.
        Visit www.ashland.edu for more details.
 
St. Boniface to host Lenten Fish Fries
        St. Boniface Catholic School, 215 Church St., Oak Harbor, will host Lenten fish fries every Friday during Lent (Feb. 19-March 26), from 4-7 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, service will be drive-thru only.
        The menu includes St. Boniface’s “famous” fried fish, steak fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, dinner roll and ice cream. The cost is $10 per meal.
        Proceeds raised go directly to the school and its students. St. Boniface serves students in preschool through 8th grade.
 
Notre Dame Academy
sets Information Night
Notre Dame Academy (NDA) invites all families interested in learning more about NDA’s academic advantages and available scholarships in seventh or eighth grade to a virtual information evening on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.
        NDA, which currently holds classes five days a week in person, prepares middle school girls for high school in a supportive, pre-high school faith-based environment. Ninety percent of NDA eighth-graders take a high school-level course.
        To register, visit nda.org or contact Jamie Orians, director of admissions, at 419-475-9359, ext. 1280.
 
School staff vaccinations
        Wood County school staff who have chosen to be vaccinated for COVID-19 received their first dose on Feb. 19.
        Wood County Health Department is the chosen provider for all Wood County schools and is working with community partners to support these mass vaccination efforts, including Mercy Health, Wood County Hospital, Bowling Green Fire Division, Northwood Fire Department and Perrysburg Township Fire and EMS.
        Many schools went to remote learning for students that Friday to facilitate three large events where an estimated 2,900 school employees were to be vaccinated.
 
Envirothon events to be held virtually
        Northwest Ohio high school students and teachers can now register for the 2021 Area 1 Envirothon virtual competition.
        Since it began in Ohio more than 25 years ago, the Envirothon has provided high school students an opportunity to head outdoors and learn about natural resources.
        As COVID-19 continues to impact school systems and communities statewide, Ohio has decided to offer its Envirothon competition virtually in 2021.
        Teachers from area high schools can register up to two teams per school with each team consisting of five students. Team registrations are due by 6 p.m. on Monday, March 8 and can be completed online at www.area1envirothon.com/registration. The registration fee has been waived for 2021.
        At the Area Level, teams will compete by completing an online, multiple-choice test, which will consist of 100 questions covering the five resource areas of Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife and this year’s current environmental issue, Water Resource Management – Local Control and Local Solutions.
        The online test will be available from 9 a.m. on Monday, March 15 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 19.
        The Envirothon encourages cooperative decision making, team building and problem-solving, while also teaching students about the diversity and management of natural resources. Participation in the Envirothon oftentimes propels many students onto career paths in natural resources and other environmental fields.
        The top two teams from each area in Ohio will advance to the state-level competition, which will be held virtually in June. After that, Ohio’s top team will advance to the NFC Envirothon competition, which will be hosted virtually beginning July 26.
        Those in Lucas County who are interested in participating may contact Jamie Kochensparger with the Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District at 419-893-1966, ext. 2, or jkochensparger@co.lucas.oh.us.
 
Hayes Presidential seeking student works
        Attention high school students…the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is looking for articles and short essays, stories and poems inspired by presidential history, one or more U.S. presidents, the media or presidents’ relationships with the media.
        Submissions will be considered for publication in a special student section of “The Statesman,” Hayes Presidential’s quarterly newsletter. The section will run in the spring edition of “The Statesman,” which will be published in May.
        Entries must be emailed to Education Coordinator Joan Eardly by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 31. A PDF format is preferred.
        Submissions are open to high school students (grades 9-12) only and may be one of the following:
        • All writing must be the student’s original work unless cited (MLA, APA or Chicago style).
        • Entries are limited to a maximum of 350 words
        • Each submission must include the student’s name and address, grade, email and name of school.
        Students whose work is selected will receive a recognition letter, a Hayes Presidential sticker and a copy of “The Statesman.”
        For information, contact Eardly at 419-332-2081, ext. 246, or jeardly@rbhayes.org.
 
Terra State women’s basketball season canceled
        Terra State Community College’s women’s basketball team has canceled their season due to COVID-19 protocols.
        “We are very sad to have made this decision for our athletes,” said Frank Gioffre, athletic director for Terra State, “They were very excited for the rest of our season because of the postponement from last semester. We will use this time to build our strength and work on our skills, so that we come back strong in the fall.”
        The women’s basketball team competed in one game on Feb. 5 against Hocking College. The Titans finished with a 79-61 win.
 
Mercy College enrollment up
        Mercy College of Ohio’s spring semester enrollment is 1,302 students, up 7.6% from this time in 2020.
        Much of the increase can be attributed to pathways that provide students options for GPA forgiveness and dual degree enrollment, according to Mercy College President Susan Wajert, Ph.D. Mercy College has 74 students who are enrolled in a dual degree program at Bowling Green State University or Tiffin University.
        “I’m happy with the enrollment growth and proud of the resilience our students, faculty, and staff have demonstrated through the pandemic,” Wajert said. “Our graduates are needed now more than ever."
        Mercy College of Ohio is a Catholic institution sponsored by Mercy Health. It focuses on healthcare and health science programs in both on-campus and online formats. The college offers degrees at the graduate, bachelor’s, associate level, and certificate programs. More information is available at mercycollege.edu.
 
Terra State Testing Center reopens
        The testing center at Terra State Community College is now open Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
        Terra State is a certified Pearson Vue testing center and can proctor more than 300 different tests, including the NCLEX and GED. There is a $25 fee for proctored tests for those who are not students at Terra State.
        The center is also available to proctor testing for other schools and offers testing accommodation services for Terra State students.
        A full list of Pearson Vue certifications and licensure exams can be found online at home.pearsonvue.com/Test-takers/A-to-Z-program-list.aspx.
        The center is within the Academic Services Center, located in the General Technologies building. Masks are required while on campus. All areas and computer labs are laid out to maintain social distancing. Guests will sign in and receive a temperature check upon entering the building.
        To schedule an appointment, call 419-559-2139 or visit terra.edu/testingcenter.
 
Owens hosting Big Read exhibition
        Owens Community College will present, “The Big Read Exhibition: Hiding in Plain Sight…Poverty,” through April 2 in the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery, 7270 Biniker Rd., Perrysburg. 
        “The Big Read” is an annual book read among students, faculty and staff intending to bring awareness of different perspectives through books and accompanying activities on campus and the surrounding community. The Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery has created an exhibition based on the Big Read book “Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth,” written by Sarah Smarsh. The memoir focuses on her turbulent childhood in Kansas in the 1980s and 1990s and on the class divide in our country and the myths about people thought to be less because they earn less.
        The exhibit creates a visual learning experience that addresses the issue of poverty in Northwest Ohio.    
        In response to COVID-19, the art gallery will be by appointment only and every exhibition will be available to view online. Additional information is available at www.owens.edu/fpa/cfpa/terhune/.