Shawnee State University receives Choose Ohio First funding

Shawnee State University has received $539,910 from the Ohio Department of Higher Education via the Choose Ohio First program. The funding will be used to award scholarships to students in various STEM programs at the university in order to bolster Ohio’s workforce of qualified employees with skill sets in nursing, engineering, math, and more.

According to an article on Shawnee State University’s website, Sheena Shifko, who is the university’s Choose Ohio First coordinator, was quoted as saying, “The Choose Ohio First program is a vital investment in the future of Ohio’s workforce, supporting talented students in high-demand fields and helping them achieve their educational and career goals. This program strengthens our communities and drives economic growth by fostering innovation and retaining talent within the state. Students at SSU continue to thrive in the program, making a tremendous impact on their education and careers.”

Choose Ohio First scholarships at Shawnee State University range from $1,500 to the full amount of tuition. In order to be eligible, students must be interested in or partaking in one of the following programs: Computer Science, Plastics Engineering Technology, Electromechanical Engineering Technology, CAD & Manufacturing Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, Digital Simulation & Gaming, Game & Simulation Development, Information Security (Cybersecurity), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Certificate), Computed Tomography (CT Certificate), Respiratory Therapy, Medical Laboratory Technology, Chemistry, Mathematics (Actuarial Science), Natural Science-Biology, Organismal Biology, or Biomedical Sciences. Students must come from an area in Ohio that is considered disadvantaged or from an underserved population and must meet certain academic and testing requirements.

The funding is available to new students to Shawnee State University who select one of the eligible programs; it is also available to current students who are switching majors to one of the eligible programs.

Eric Andrew Braun, the president of Shawnee State University, was quoted as saying, “The Choose Ohio First program is making college possible for more academically outstanding students. We want to attract more students to the in-demand careers that our Choose Ohio First scholarships support, like nursing, engineering, health professions, science, and math, and keep those graduates here making a difference in our region.”

For more information about Shawnee State University, visit the school’s website.