Students & Faculty Visit Ohio Statehouse for 2023 Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted and his wife, Tina, meet with Choose Ohio First Scholars.

Story originally published in The Hannah Report on April 11, 2023. Copyright 2023 Hannah News Service, Inc.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted called April’s Choose Ohio First Scholarship Showcase -- an annual event last held in person in 2020 -- “what we hoped for” when he worked to create the program as House speaker in 2007.

The event included 32 poster presentations by Choose Ohio First scholars and was held in the Statehouse atrium. Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Randy Gardner called it “a celebration of what’s right in higher education in Ohio” and noted there have been approximately 22,500 scholars in the program since it was created. He also detailed requirements that institutions have in the program.

Citing them as an example of how the program includes public and private four-year institutions and community colleges, Gardner described meeting three scholars in particular and being astounded at their talent. They included Ashley Blum, a sophomore at Baldwin Wallace University who presented on “The Lumos Method for Histological Quantitative Comparative Analysis”; Kyle Preusser, a junior at Youngstown State University who presented on “Detection of Heavy Metals Using Metal Organic Framework-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes”; and Brett Smithers, a sophomore at Columbus State Community College who presented on “Modern Manufacturing Work Study Program and Strengthening Ohio’s Industrial Sector.”

Chancellor Randy Gardner listens to research presentation from a Choose Ohio First Scholar.

Husted added that he tried to see all of the projects, adding that one could lead to a patent and there may be others that will as well. Topics include Alzheimer’s research and clean water, and he said this “made my day.” In 2007, Husted continued, there was often a lack of understanding on what science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education involved.

He contrasted that by saying the next 10 years “will see scientific advances, particularly because of what’s happening with computer technology, that will eclipse any 10-year period in the history of humanity.” As examples, Husted discussed how the Cleveland Clinic has the first privately-held quantum computer aside from IBM’s lab, saying it could be used to address “previously unsolvable questions” as it could eventually perform in one day a calculation that would’ve taken a previous supercomputer 10,000 years.

He further told Hannah News one application of that could be testing “genetic makeup” to find particular health care solutions based on a patient’s DNA. Such technology is still in its infancy. These technological advancements could be used to extend human lifetimes, but he also cautioned that the U.S. must be at the forefront of this development given how adversary nations could use it for decryption as well.

Husted further discussed Intel’s plans and STEM talent pipeline needs and the statistic that approximately 80 percent of students go to work within 50 miles of where they went to college. He detailed Ohio’s place on electric vehicles and battery technology as well, saying they are another important advancement.

“Our commitment is to helping more of our high school graduates major in STEM, to keep more of that talent in Ohio for our employers and for us to create opportunities for you to best use that talent… In doing so, we’re going to improve the quality of life for our communities, for the state, for our nation and for the world,” Husted said in his conclusion. He further called the U.S. “the beacon of hope for the rest of the world” and said the scholars represented “a beacon of hope” themselves.

In response to a press question, Husted said the Choose Ohio First program has helped women, minority and “non-traditional” students who are an essential part of fulfilling STEM talent needs. He added that is one of the elements he is most proud of in regard to the program.

Asked about Sen. Jerry Cirino’s (R-Kirtland) SB83, Husted said the bill seeks to “modernize the law to help these colleges and universities navigate a changing landscape” with fewer students due to demographic shifts, more employers willing to hire non-college graduates and the economics of higher education becoming “very difficult.” That requires modernization in how universities work, and Husted said he thought Cirino was seeking their feedback as part of the process.

Students in attendance at the 2023 Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase

Regarding the current situation in the House, Husted said he knew how tough it is to be speaker, calling it “a challenge” and saying the members “are going to have to decide what’s most important to them.”

“I know sometimes when you have political fights, it can be very personal. Sometimes those wounds take a long time to heal, but I hope that frankly this budget process will heal those wounds because they’ll realize what a privilege it is to be a member of the House of Representatives -- that you get to make the policy and set the priorities for the state of Ohio, and that all of them will want to participate in that,” he added.