Submitted Photo

Pictured left to right: Janet Baker, Secretary; Dan Ross, Newsletter Editor; Sharon Webb, Membership Chair; Beverly Eichenlaub, President-Elect; C’Dora Gulick, Assistant Treasurer; Garnet Renn, Treasurer; Bill Webb, President and Therese Egbert, Scioto Foundation’s Staff Accountant.

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Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

The Scioto Foundation has announced a new scholarship fund established by the Scioto County Retired Teachers Association. Beginning in 2014, the new scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from a Scioto County high school who plans to major in education at an accredited college or university.

Toni Dengel of the Scioto Foundation said SCRTA will make annual scholarship selections and if the organization ceases to exist, the Scioto Foundation volunteer scholarship committee will make the selections.

Founded in 1959, the local Retired Teachers Association has awarded two scholarships each year to Scioto County students after awarding an initial scholarship in 1996. In all, the organization has given 33 scholarships totaling $19,000 through 2012.

“We decided to partner with the Scioto Foundation to build this new fund and work to make it self-sustaining,” Bill Webb, current president of the Scioto County Retired Teachers Association, said. “We are so happy that the Scioto Foundation is available to invest the funds and see that this type of project continues. It is a plus to partner with the Foundation.”

According to Webb, SCRTA conducts no fundraising activities. Funds for the scholarships come from members’ donations and small bequests. Webb said members and friends are encouraged to name the Scioto County Retired Teachers’ Association Scholarship Fund as a favorite charity for memorials and special gifts.

Webb said the organization now consists of approximately 260 members, and conducts ongoing recruitment for retiring teachers to join. The group participates in other community projects such as filling Operation Christmas Child boxes and working with Habitat for Humanity. Last year SCRTA also made a donation to the Shawnee State Department of Teacher Education to assist students with costs associated with professional preparation programs.

Additional information about the Scioto County Retired Teachers’ Association Scholarship Fund and other scholarships held by the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting SF staff at 740-354-4612 or visiting the Foundation’s one-stop scholarship locator site online at www.ucanfindascholarship.org.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com