The two separate grants come from KeyBank and the John Huntington Fund for Education, which will each benefit students through the establishment of a student success fund and the continuation of scholarship funding.
Baldwin Wallace University has recently received two separate grants that together total $900,000. The first grant comes from KeyBank and will establish the Unlock Bright Futures Fund, which will support first-generation college students and low- or moderate-income students. The second grant comes from the John Huntington Fund for Education and will continue to fund the John Huntington Fund for Education Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to students pursuing STEM or health science majors.
According to an article on Baldwin Wallace University’s website that covers the KeyBank grant, Mattie Jones Hollowell, who serves as the Corporate Responsibility Officer at KeyBank, was quoted as saying of the organization’s contribution, "At KeyBank, we are proud to partner with Baldwin Wallace University to expand opportunities for students through the Unlock Bright Futures Fund. We are committed to helping students overcome financial barriers and access the resources, support and professional connections they need to succeed. This investment reflects our belief that education creates stronger individuals, stronger communities and a stronger future for Northeast Ohio."
KeyBank gave $500,000 to the university to establish the Unlock Bright Futures Fund, which aims to remove barriers to education for first-generation college students or those who come from low- or moderate-income backgrounds. The fund will target these students through their FAFSA applications and through pathways from local high schools and partner institutions like Cuyahoga Community College.
Beyond providing these students with scholarships to help them continue their education, the initiative will also connect students with resources and a support network that includes peers, alumni, and employers.
Carrie Short, the university’s director of financial aid, said of the fund, "We are deeply grateful to KeyBank for their partnership and commitment to student success. Many of our students are balancing academic responsibilities with financial and personal challenges. This grant will help us provide meaningful support that empowers students to persist, graduate, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families."
In a separate article on Baldwin Wallace University’s website that covers the $400,00 grant from the John Huntington Fund for Education, Huntington Scholar Mikayla Trill '26, a biology major who is now a post-baccalaureate researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, was quoted as saying of the immense benefit of being a recipient of the John Huntington Fund for Education Scholarship, "Grants, such as the John Huntington Fund, helped me stay in college through financial hardships. My parents aren't in a place to help me pay for my education, so every award I received was of tremendous help. I have also made friends and built connections as part of the Huntington program. I also believe it helped me gain acceptance into my current research role, as I included all BW opportunities in my CV (curriculum vitae). My current research position in the cancer biology and the biochemistry, biophysics, and chemical biology departments will help build a strong profile, so that I will be ready for obtaining my Ph.D. because my biggest dream in life is to find a treatment for cancer.”
Another student who received the funding is Jalen Kelso '26, a chemistry major, who is attending The Ohio State University this fall to begin the Pharm.D. program in pursuit of a career as a pharmacist. He said, "The Huntington grant made a significant difference in helping me pursue my goal of becoming a pharmacist. As a college student from a single-parent household, I did not have financial support for my education. To afford school, I worked two jobs while balancing the responsibilities of being a full-time student and a collegiate athlete. Managing all of these commitments was extremely challenging, and there were times when I seriously considered dropping out because of financial difficulties. Receiving the grant allowed me to reduce my work hours and devote more time to my academics, which strengthened my application for graduate pharmacy programs. My time at BW has given me opportunities I never imagined. I've met incredible people — one of the most influential has been my advisor, Dr. Lisa Ponton. She taught me many things, but, most importantly, she helped me believe in myself so I could move forward with my goals.”
The fund has existed for more than 40 years, with Cuyahoga County students receiving funding to pursue scientific, vocational, or technical education. In 2025, 106 students were Huntington Scholars, with many of them being students of color, first-generation college students, or first-generation Americans who come from the eastern and western suburbs and the city of Cleveland.
For more information about Baldwin Wallace University, visit the school’s website.