STUDENT UNITED WAY WRAPS UP YEAR BY AWARDING A DOZEN YOUTH ALLOCATIONS GRANTS
With self-determined goals to improve the mental health of Logan County youth and address issues of substance misuse, hunger, and personal hygiene, the Student United Way committee recently awarded $25,000 in Youth Allocations grants to 6 local applicants. The money, raised during last fall's United Way Campaign, will directly impact students in their schools over the summer or next school year. You can see the breakdown of grant recipients below.
Student United Way is our six-month leadership develop program, comprising two juniors and two seniors from every Logan County high school. After learning about the human service needs of the community, the 27-member panel develops its own criteria for funding. They then review grant requests like their adult counterparts on United Way’s Allocations Committee and hear live presentations from many of the applicants.
Students then decide how to split their money. This year, they had to figure out how to distribute $25,000 with over $35,000 in requests.
The students collectively arrived at their conclusions after a series of experiences and discussions during United Way's year-long leadership development program. The year started with a poverty simulation. A tour of the Logan County History Center pointed to the students to our past, and participated in a Community Conversation to discuss what they would like to see in their communities. In November, the students were able to serve by volunteering at one of the food distribution sites. They started the year at Richwood Bank where they heard from presenters from Honda, WPKO, Marker, Richwood Bank, and Logan County Chamber on Corporate Giving.
2025 Grant recipients include:
- Bellefontaine High School – Chieftain Pride Lab Program – $3,500 for food for an after-school program for at-risk students.
- Greater Riverside Area Community Encouragers – $2,000 for a weekly summer food program in DeGraff.
- Indian Lake High School SADD – $1,000 for a speaker at an all-school assembly to kick off their annual Red Ribbon (anti-drugs) week.
- Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities – $6,500 for a program that focuses on healthy relationships, community engagement, employment skills, and overall life skills youth will need in adulthood.
- Midwest Regional ESC – $9,000 to conduct the Summer Autism Academy.
- West Liberty-Salem Elementary – $3,000 for their all-school Literacy Night/Week.
Students participating in Student United Way this year include:
Bellefontaine:-
Ava Campbell, Senior -
Nolan Core, Senior -
Maci Flesher, Junior -
Jaslene Maier, Junior
Benjamin Logan:
- Carter Lyden, Senior
- Kate Gulick, Senior
- Ashton Whitt, Junior
- Hadley Boysel, Junior
Calvary Christian School:
- Allena Miller, Junior
- Lincoln Roell, Junior
- Nora Thornton, Senior
- Ezekiel Wylie, Senior
Indian Lake:
- Ava Faler, Senior
- Daniel Wahl, Senior
- Cooper Hall, Junior
- Lilly Wickline, Junior
Ohio Hi-Point:
- Laila Lynch, Senior
- Paige McComas, Junior
- Lilian Weese, Junior
Riverside:
- Brice Kauffman, Senior
- Avery Perk, Senior
- Grady Jenkins, Junior
- Zoey Ransbottom, Junior
West Liberty-Salem:
- Kaylee Blair, Junior
- Dylan King, Junior
- Craig Stanford, Senior
- Akira Whitman, Senior
Student Reflections on the Program:
“It was amazing and interesting to see how a small community like ours rallies around each other for different things.”- Ava Campbell, Bellefontaine High School
“It was amazing to be in the background and make a difference—to see the individuals in our community who put in the work every day to improve the lives of so many.”- Nora Thornton, Calvary Christian School
“The most eye-opening experience for me was helping with the Thanksgiving Second Harvest Food Bank distribution at the Logan County Fairgrounds. I will never forget seeing the need for food right around us and realizing that food insecurity is such a big issue in Logan County.” - Craig Stanford, West Liberty-Salem
We thank Derek Robb and volunteers Chad Wilkinson, Ben Stahler, Bethany Watts, and Lexi Roby for their help as advisors with Student United Way this year.
Student United Way will resume in the fall.
CAPTION BELOW: Student United Way members hear from applicants seeking grant money for their program during the Allocations process.
