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Choose Ohio First Scholars Honored by Governor, Chancellor, State, Business and University Leaders at Columbus Statehouse Reception

February 24, 2009

COLUMBUS — Nearly 200 scholars and faculty mentors were saluted by family members, college and university educators, state officials and business leaders at a Statehouse reception today honoring Ohio's first class of Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program participants.

The Choose Ohio First scholars are attending 36 of the state's public and private colleges and universities, which have some of the most innovative science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine, or STEM programs, in the country. The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program is intended to encourage talented high school STEM students to remain in Ohio to study. The program is part of Ohio's ongoing effort to remake its economy by increasing the role of Ohio’s higher education institutions in building the talent and research pipelines critical to the state’s economic success.

"I am so proud to recognize our first group of program participants, who represent some of the best and brightest college students in Ohio," said Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said. "The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program makes significant investments in our state by keeping future leaders in Ohio, and it creates opportunities for our colleges and universities by boosting their research in the fields that will help advance our economy."

The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program is a $100 million investment to be awarded over five years, targeting universities and colleges recruiting Ohio residents into current STEM programs, supporting the increased success of students in those fields, and making substantive improvements to the pipeline of STEM students and STEM educators. Scholars attending the reception won competitive scholarships from the March and June 2008 award cycles. The average award funding for collaborations involving the 36 public and private colleges is $2.9 million. Educational/industrial partnership members total more than 950.

"This is an excellent program with bright, talented, motivated students," said Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut. He added that the scholars in attendance are the first of what the state hopes will be 10,000 Ohio college graduates who will be Choose Ohio First scholars over the next five years.

Choose Ohio First is one component of th Ohio Innovation Partnership created by Governor Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly to strengthen and reconstruct Ohio's economy. It funds collaborations between colleges, universities, and their Ohio business industry partners that will have the most impact in advancing Ohio's position in fields such as aerospace, medicine, computer technology, and alternative energy.

"I am pleased to honor and applaud the efforts of this year's Choose Ohio First Scholarship recipients as well as the hard work of their faculty mentors. Supporting the future success of this important program will be a vital component of our work to move Ohio forward," said State Senator Jon Husted, who championed the establishment of the Choose Ohio First effort when he was Speaker of the House. "By providing our students the resources they need to pursue higher education in the STEM disciplines right here in Ohio, we are creating leaders in those fields guiding the economy of tomorrow."

Choose Ohio First Scholars at Ohio Public and Private Colleges and Universities

Contact: Michael Chaney, Chief Communications Officer, Ohio Board of Regents
Office: (614) 752-9480 Cell: (614) 633-5909
E-mail: mchaney@regents.state.oh.us

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