Post-secondary education can open doors to new opportunities, create pathways to upward mobility, and inspire self-discovery and personal growth. Whether enrolled in an apprenticeship program or at a technical school, community college, or university, students develop important skills and knowledge that help prepare them for life and their future careers.
For more than 50 years, The Columbus Foundation has supported students’ educational dreams through Scholarship Funds. These unique funds, made possible by the generosity of donors, provide students with crucial financial support to help ensure that the cost of attending school doesn’t stand in the way of achieving their educational goals.
Today, The Columbus Foundation is home to hundreds of Scholarship Funds, each varied in their purpose, eligibility criteria, and the amount awarded to students. Many of these Scholarship Funds are part of The Columbus Foundation’s Universal Scholarship Application, an online application where students can apply to gain access to more than 100 scholarship opportunities. Based on the information students provide in their application, the Universal Scholarship Application matches students to the scholarships they are eligible for. The Universal Scholarship Application is currently open to students, and applications are due Saturday, March 1, 2025
“Scholarship Funds provide life-changing opportunities to students, paving the way for a brighter future,” explained Alicia Szempruch, MPA, CAP®, Associate Director for Scholarships at The Columbus Foundation. “The Universal Scholarship Application offers students a convenient way to apply for numerous scholarship opportunities, helping students to identify scholarships that best align with their educational and career aspirations.”
In addition to the Universal Scholarship Application, The Columbus Foundation offers hundreds of other scholarship opportunities that provide financial support to students throughout the year. In 2024, The Columbus Foundation awarded more than $6.4 million in scholarships, including more than $1.38 million from scholarships that are part of the Universal Scholarship Application. Students can learn more about the Universal Scholarship Application, as well as other scholarship opportunities at The Columbus Foundation, by visiting the Foundation’s website.
One scholarship included in this year’s Universal Scholarship Application is The Mary E. Rueb Fund, made possible by the incredible generosity of the late Mary “E.” Betsy Rueb. Betsy, who passed away in 2023, was deeply passionate about children and education. More than 30 years ago, she approached The Columbus Foundation with a planned gift commitment to the Foundation’s scholarship program. Her wish was to support promising students throughout central Ohio who may lack financial resources to continue their education.
After her passing, Betsy left The Columbus Foundation a remarkable $55 million gift to establish an endowed scholarship fund that will support central Ohio students in perpetuity. Betsy’s gift represents the largest endowed gift in The Columbus Foundation’s history, and will undoubtably have a transformational impact on scholarship recipients and their families.
Through the inspiring kindness and philanthropic spirit of donors like Betsy Rueb, The Columbus Foundation has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to students throughout central Ohio and beyond. While each scholarship fund reflects the unique values of goals of individual donors, the funds are all designed in pursuit of the same goal: to empower students with the financial resources necessary to unlock opportunities through education.
