Olney Friends School Instructor Awarded Scholarship
Press Release
NELSONVILLE, OH– Fifteen emerging community builders from Appalachian Ohio have received full scholarships to pursue advanced degrees, thanks to an anonymous gift to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) and a new partnership with American College of Education (ACE).
Scholarship recipients are part of FAO’s Growing Home Fellowship, a five-year program designed to recruit and prepare young educators for leadership roles in their broader communities.
Included in the group is one local teacher.
Hannah Vera, Spanish instructor, farm assistant and dorm parent at Olney Friends School, is pursing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. In addition to her work at the school, she is involved in the Captina Conservancy, nonprofit land trust also headquartered in Barnesville, where she leads volunteer teams, plans community events, monitors newly acquired conservation sites and installs and maintains trail counters.
Through the Growing Home Fellowship, FAO has invested in more than 100 emerging leaders who have chosen to grow their lives and their careers in Appalachian Ohio. Fellows commit to live, work and serve in the region for at least five years. In return, they receive financial support, leadership coaching, immersive retreats, access to grant funding and a powerful network of peers who share their commitment to their communities.
“These scholarships will allow 15 of our Growing Home Fellows to earn doctorate degrees, principal’s certificates and other master’s level credentials they otherwise might not be able to pursue while managing work and family responsibilities,” said Cara Dingus Brook, FAO president and CEO. “These young community builders are already leading in deep and meaningful ways across Appalachian Ohio. But now, they’ll be able to strengthen their skills and advance their careers and their service to their communities.”
Co-founded by Jackson County, Ohio, native Tom Evans, ACE is a fully accredited online private college specializing in flexible and affordable programs in education, business, health care and nursing. Five Growing Home Fellows are enrolled in doctoral programs through ACE, and 10 are pursuing master’s degrees.
“These young leaders are committed to making a difference, both inside and outside the classroom,” said ACE Chief Growth Officer Monica Carson. “We’re proud to partner with FAO to provide them with opportunities to deepen their skills in ways that will benefit their students, their families and their communities for years to come.”
Four years into the pilot program, Growing Home Fellows are serving in 29 of Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties, meeting critical needs and creating new opportunities to ensure that everyone in the region has opportunities to flourish. Through their service, they are addressing food insecurity, increasing health and wellness, strengthening economic vitality, creating access to arts, stewarding the environment and more.
Fellows currently serve more than 90 nonprofit and civic organizations, actively contributing to the vitality of communities throughout Appalachian Ohio. Details of each scholarship winner’s community involvement is profiled on the foundation’s website.
(Foundation for Appalachian Ohio press release)
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