Endowment benefits Ohio students

Fred R. Ross (Class of 1967) was a first-generation college student who arrived at MSU in the fall of 1963. Growing up in Clermont County, Ohio, Ross hadn’t ventured much across the Ohio River, but when he and a classmate decided to take a look at MSU, they found a warm and welcoming environment in a beautiful setting.

Throughout college, he worked weekends, holidays, and summers to pay for his education. Ross then went on to teach in various school systems in Kentucky and Ohio and eventually served as an area coordinator and financial consultant for the Ohio Department of Education’s Division of School Finance. He also was an adjunct professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati and after more than 50 years in the field of education, Ross retired in 2017.

With his retirement, Ross wanted to encourage students from Clermont County to consider MSU. Through the establishment of a $200,000 endowment, the Fred R. Ross Scholarship provides students from Clermont County a great reason to consider becoming an Eagle.

To be able to go to a college where I’m getting a scholarship that is specific to the county I am from in Ohio is amazing to me - I’m so grateful.

-Lillian Wildey, recipient, pictured above

Stokes Family Scholarship established

Paul R. Stokes (Class of 1976) and Paula Y. Stokes (Class of 1978) created the scholarship. Paula earned an associate, two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees, all from MSU. Following her public-school teaching career, she taught for five years in the Volgenau College of Education. Paul earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from MSU. Their children, Kevin, Matthew (Class of 2007) and Anna (Class of 2011), all attended MSU.

Paul and Paula recognize that cost can be an impediment for students, especially when there aren’t financial resources available. They want to help students when these expenses create an impediment to completing their degree, continuing their education or securing employment.

They established the Stokes Family Scholarship to encourage retention and degree completion with preference given to students who have a need for assistance with the cost of academic testing. Testing fees include those necessary to remain a student at MSU or to gain admission to graduate degree programs and for professional licensing. This could include payment for ACT, GRE, LSAT, MSAT and obtaining a professional license such as the nursing licensure test or the Praxis test.