University Development
Remembering Jessica
Scholarship Honors Graphic Design Student Jacqueline DeChant of Girard is the first recipient of the Seminary High School in 2007. Weaver originally established a Jessica C. Porcase Memorial Scholarship in Graphic Design, memorial scholarship at her daughter’s high school. established to honor the memory of a YSU graphic design About a year later, faculty members in YSU’s Department student who died suddenly at the age of 20. of Art assembled and wrapped some art projects that Porcase Christa Weaver, a postmaster had completed in her university with the U.S. Postal Service, said classes, attached a note, and mailed she created the scholarship to honor the artwork to her mother. Touched her daughter, Jessica C. Porcase. by the gesture, and knowing that YSU A talented artist and competitive had been important to her daughter, athlete who was pursuing a degree Weaver contacted YSU and began the in graphic design at YSU, she colprocess of establishing the scholarship lapsed unexpectedly in November at the university in 2010. 2008 and died just two hours later, Weaver’s colleagues in the Nathe victim of a rare autoimmune tional Association of Postal Supervidisease called Takayasu’s sors, a professional organization for Arteritis Vasculitis. Post Office managers, have been “Jess was so full of life, she sponsoring a yearly scholarship golf loved graphic design, and being outing to add to the Porcase Memorial here at YSU was her dream,” Weavendowment. This year’s event is set er said. “We decided that a scholfor Saturday, Sept. 8 at Bedford Trails arship to help other YSU graphic Golf Course in Coitsville, Ohio. design students would be the best To apply for the annual scholway to keep her light shining.” arship, students must be female, DeChant, a senior majoring enrolled full time in the graphic design in graphic design, was selected to program at YSU, with a minimum receive the first $1,000 award. Set 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to to graduate in spring 2013 with a students who played a sport in high Bachelor’s in Fine Arts degree, she school, and who have demonstrated Christa Weaver, right, who founded a scholarship in her said she’s had creative opportunithe ability to balance college classes daughter’s memory, meets with Jacqueline DeChant, the ties and gained experience working first recipient. with part-time employment. with clients as a student employee For more information on the at Graphic Services in Kilcawley Center. Porcase Memorial Scholarship or how to establish a Porcase was a varsity athlete as well as an artist, lettering scholarship endowment, contact the Department of in both track and basketball before graduating from Poland University Development, 330-941-3119.
to Benefit African-American Women also mothers and students at YSU. The group contributed $25,000 toward the new scholarship and the YSU Foundation matched the amount to create a $50,000 endowment. Founded by Doris Perry in 1986, Women Hand in Hand’s primary function has been to provide educational opportunities for mothers who want to attend college but lack the financial resources to do so. Dr. Ruth Quarles, president, said the greater part of Women Hand in Hand’s contribution toward the new scholarship endowment came from gifts made in memory of Doris Perry’s late husband, Dr. Earnest Perry, who was a prominent local surgeon, community leader and former member of the YSU Board of Trustees. Since its inception, said Quarles, Women Hand in Hand has raised more than $225,000 to fund scholarships for
women in the Youngstown, Warren and Campbell areas. Its main fundraiser is a spring luncheon, usually held in May. “Women Hand in Hand is the vehicle by which intelligent mothers have been able to transform their lives and the lives of their children through education,” Quarles said. “We help change our community, and the world, one mother at a time, because one woman saw a need and extended her hand to make a difference.” Applicants for the Women Hand in Hand Scholarship must be full- or part-time students with GPAs of at least 2.2. Sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible. The scholarships will be renewable for up to four years. Recipients will be selected by the group’s executive committee. For more information about the new scholarship, call 330-716-4020.
SPRING 2012
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