Give to Ohio University
Give Now, Forever Change a Life
Countless high school students dream of going to college but face financial challenges that can be insurmountable. Your donation to an Ohio University scholarship fund puts that dream and the OHIO experience within reach for these talented and deserving students, making a real difference in their lives, forever.
Meet Kylie
Make Their Dream a Reality
Meet the OHIO students whose lives were changed forever by donor-funded scholarships.
Meet Kylie
Kylie Duncan
Major: Social Work
Kylie Duncan will graduate this spring with a degree in Social Work and plans to use her experience to help others. Like many students, Kylie received a scholarship that made this path possible.
She’s not a typical college student, though. The Jackson, Ohio, native and her family, like others in Appalachia, faced the challenges of poverty and drug addiction. When she was a teenager, she became a mom. By her senior year of high school, she was living on her own, finishing school and supporting her son. College was a dream but far from a reality.
Kylie applied to OHIO’s Appalachian Scholars Program, which includes a scholarship for students from the 32 Appalachian counties in Ohio. She not only received the financial support she needed, but also found a network of faculty, staff, and fellow students ready to help her succeed at OHIO.
Meet Alejandro
Alejandro Orta
Major: Piano, Honors Tutorial College
Alejandro Orta began playing piano at the age of 7 as a young child in his hometown of Caracas, Venezuela. His interest in the instrument soon turned into a passion, and it became clear that Alejandro was a piano prodigy. After studying music in Caracas, he set his sights on college, exploring options in Germany, Spain, and yes, Athens, Ohio.
Ohio University stood out to Alejandro because of its academic reputation, the classic collegiate environment, and the opportunity to study under Dr. Chris Fisher, the director of OHIO’s School of Music. But the journey from Venezuela to Athens would be long and arduous, taking years to make the necessary arrangements – and secure the necessary financial support.
With the help of Dr. Fisher and others, Alejandro applied for and received seven scholarships that together put the dream of studying at OHIO within reach. Here, he’s expanded his academic and cultural horizons while enriching the OHIO community he is now forever part of with his international perspective and outstanding musicianship.
Meet Te'Aylis
Te'Aylis Jackson
Major: Business and Entrepreneurship
For Te’Aylis Jackson and OHIO, it was love at first sight – even if that first sight was midway through her freshman year. Unable to visit campus due to the covid pandemic (or even live on campus until spring semester), Te’Aylis took a leap of faith in committing to OHIO, a leap that was at first nearly impossible.
The oldest of five children, Te’Aylis says her family faced hard decisions related to paying for her college education. Luckily, the opportunity to apply for the Ebony Bobcat Network’s first Urban Scholar Award gave her the chance of a lifetime.
Today, the Englewood, Ohio, native has found her home in Athens. She fell in love with the natural beauty of campus and the comfortable community of faculty and students that has helped orient her career path toward an Entrepreneurship and Business Pre-Law degree with a certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Meet Kasey
Kasey Roush
Major: Osteopathic Medicine
Kasey Roush has taken the nontraditional path to medical school in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Staying close to family was critical for Kasey, who is from Pomeroy, Ohio, and this was forefront in her mind when she first applied. But after her interviews at HCOM, as she weighed acceptance offers from multiple medical schools, she couldn’t let go of the feeling that she belonged at OHIO.
Kasey finished her bachelor’s degree at Ohio State University five years prior to deciding to become a doctor.
Kasey’s plans are to return to her home community in Meigs County, Ohio, and open an independent practice as a family medicine provider. She hopes to spend part of her practice providing care to those who struggle with substance abuse.
What Matters Most to You?
When you give to Ohio University, you can choose the destination for your gift based on your interest. Choose a cause or donate to an academic college, university area, or regional campus in need of support.