Student stories shine at Scholarship Reception 2025

Good evening, my name is Lily Hoeppner. I’m a senior at Ohio State Lima studying early childhood education, I will be completing my campus journey this May when I graduate. 

I absolutely love teaching and have been able to receive many hands-on educational experiences while studying at Lima. Through my enriching education and my experience substituting, I have learned that I love teaching all grade levels and would be blessed to make a difference in any classroom I teach. Especially as I am student-teaching at Benjamin Logan, I definitely have a soft spot for my crazy, goofy, chatty second graders. 

I’ve had so many wonderful experiences at Ohio State Lima, I have many memories of being an active student on campus. My favorite memory is being a representative on the Homecoming Court. I was able to go to the ceremony with friends and my dad, which is something I will never forget. I got to attend the homecoming parade, Skull Session, and stand on the football field. 

This was my first Ohio State football game I have ever gone to! Not to mention, we won too! 

Throughout my college career, I was the secretary of the Student Senate and the president of the Education Club. It was fun to use my organizational and leadership skills to help those clubs become more effective. Oftentimes, clubs have to restart every year when there is new leadership. My goal was to create an organized database to help make transitions easier from year to year. 

During my time as president for the Education Club, I wanted to help incoming education majors find the resources they need to achieve their goals. The Education Club focused on creating lesson plans, preparing for state testing, and answering students needs and concerns. I loved advocating for fellow education majors and seeing them succeed. 

I was also a part of Each One Teaches One, a group to connect incoming freshmen with upperclassmen. I was both a mentee and later a mentor. As a freshman, I found it super helpful to have someone that I could ask questions to and who has already experienced the process first-hand. And I am so thankful for that resource. There was never a moment where I wasn't sure what I was doing or not knowing how something works because I had an E1T1 mentor there to guide me through it. Years later, I was then able to pay it forward and pass my knowledge to new incoming freshmen. 

Another opportunity I had through Ohio State was STEP, which is the Second Year 

Transformational Experience Program. As part of STEP, I attended the Montessori Conference in Orlando last spring. Montessori is one principle in education that emphasizes autonomy,  hands-on learning, and independence for students. At the conference, I visited a Montessori school, explored tools and curriculums that I can apply to my own classroom, and received professional development hours. I was able to come back and use that knowledge to better understand my students and make my lessons more engaging through hands-on learning and play. In my future classroom, I plan on continue using Montessori principles such as having student jobs in the classroom and flexible seating. My goal is to teach students how to be independent and advocate for themselves by getting the supplies they need, sitting where they will learn best, sharpening their own pencils. I am very grateful for the STEP Program providing this amazing learning experience. 

My time at Ohio State Lima has provided me with unique perspectives about education, other people, and even myself. The diversity and culture has helped me grow my perspectives, become an active listener, and a better communicator. 

With all that being said, having financial support has been a major blessing in my life. Having some of the financial burden taken off of my load has allowed me to participate and be active on campus. I have been able to focus on my educational career and studies without worrying about working full time while trying to complete my schooling. Because of my free time, I was able to be a part of my church, participate in extracurricular activities, further my education, and even just do fun things. 

I want the donors of my scholarships to know that I love teaching. I'm passionate about it and sometimes I am up in the middle of the night thinking about my students, my lessons, and my future. For me, these scholarships are helping me to change the world and student's lives by helping me financially through college. This support has helped me get to where I am. I would like my scholar donors to know, I won't waste a single penny, but I will make a change. Whether it's opening my own school someday, becoming a principal, or just a teacher for 50 years, I will change the lives of the next generation through my passion, love, and dedication to teaching and learning. Donors, thank you so much for all that you have done for me and our campus. 

Thank you. 

Good evening, everyone. My name is Riley Ferguson, and I’m a junior majoring in Social Work here at Ohio State Lima.

My path to social work wasn’t exactly straightforward. I started as an engineering major, switched to business, and then—after a conversation with my advisor, Billy Foster, and lecturer Carmen Cupples—I found my way to social work. They helped me understand the difference between social work and psychology, and that conversation was pivotal.

Mental health and well-being have always been important in my family, and I’ve always felt a pull toward helping others. After spending two summers working at a camp in Maine, caring for a group of 10-year-olds for six weeks, I realized how much I love working with kids. Whether it was homesickness or a ping pong paddle dispute, I found myself using real social work skills to help those campers feel seen and supported. That’s when I knew I was on the right path.

I plan to go into school-based therapy and work with youth. I’m a hands-on learner, so I’m excited to begin my field placement next year. My hope is to be placed in a school setting where I can put my learning into action.

Ohio State Lima has given me so much more than I expected. The professors here challenge me to think critically, but they also care personally. I’ve built strong relationships with mentors, especially in the Learning Center. Tim Cheeseman, my supervisor, has supported me every step of the way and even connected me with his wife, a social worker, when I was exploring the field. That kind of encouragement made a huge impact on me.

The scholarships I’ve received have been life-changing. Without that financial support, the decision to change majors—and change direction—would have been a lot scarier. I’m the first in my family to take such a turn during college, and having that safety net gave me the freedom to make the right choice for my future.

Thanks to your generosity, I’ve been able to focus on becoming the kind of professional who will make a difference in the lives of young people. I’ll carry this opportunity forward, using it to create positive change for others.

Sometimes I think our campus doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. But I believe in this place, and I will always be an advocate for Ohio State Lima and the community it builds.

Thank you for believing in me.

Good evening. My name is Avery Shoffner, and I’m a freshman majoring in Early Childhood Education. I’m from Anna, Ohio, and someday soon, I’ll be a second-grade teacher.

I’ve wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I was that kid who played “school” in the basement and made everyone join in. Teaching runs in my family. My aunts, uncle, cousins, and even a cousin currently in college are all educators. I also had wonderful teachers in high school who really shaped me, and I saw firsthand the difference they made in my life. That’s the kind of impact I want to have.

I knew early on that high school or middle school teaching wasn’t for me. Those years come with big emotions and tough choices, and while I’m always happy to help others through challenges, I’ve always been drawn to younger children. I babysit often, work with kids during the summer, lifeguard, and even substitute teach. Right now, I’m completing my first field placement in a kindergarten classroom, which is full of fun, a few snotty noses, and a lot of learning—mostly for me.

One student in particular has changed the way I see the world. He lives in a camper and wears the same clothes every day. He’s quiet and often alone, and I’ve made it my mission to make sure he knows he’s loved and supported. I greet him with hugs, tell him he’s doing great, and remind him that someone cares. This experience has opened my eyes to the reality of poverty and the achievement gap, things I didn’t see as clearly growing up in Anna. I’ve learned to never judge a book by its cover and to always lead with kindness.

Outside of school, I’m proud to be part of a multigenerational 4-H family. My mom is a longtime advisor, and I hope to be one someday too. I showed lambs and now serve as the Ohio Lamb and Wool Queen, which means I travel to promote the industry and advocate for youth in agriculture. I’ve always loved meeting new people and serving others. That’s who I am at my core.

Ohio State Lima was the perfect choice for me. I’m a homebody and value being close to family, but affordability was also key. Because of the scholarships I’ve received, I can focus on my studies without needing to work multiple jobs. That support has given me the space to grow and succeed in ways I never imagined. I love it here. I didn’t think I’d enjoy college this much, but I do, and I know that has everything to do with the support system around me.

Thank you to those of you who choose to give back. Your generosity allows students like me to become the kind of teachers this world needs.

Good evening, everyone,

My name is Agapé Anderson, and I am a senior pursuing biology on the pre-med track.

Tonight, we come together to celebrate the students who have excelled on this campus and have been recognized with scholarships—and, just as importantly, to acknowledge and thank generous sponsors and donors who continue to invest in us. Your support is more significant than the financial aspect; it's a statement that you believe in the potential of students like me, and for that, I am truly grateful.

In about a month and a half, I'll be taking the MCAT—the next big step toward my goal of becoming a physician. I hope to become an emergency medicine physician and plan to apply to the community medicine track, which could eventually bring me back to Lima. Being able to return and invest in a place that has already invested in me would mean so much.

When I first started at Ohio State Lima, I didn't realize what it meant to be on a regional campus. I didn't know that the faculty, staff, and students here would become like family or that my experiences would shape me so deeply. But now, I look back and see how every moment here has helped build my confidence—not just in pursuing medicine but also in leading, serving, and growing into the best version of myself. That's the beauty of coming to a campus like this. 

From my experience, school can be tough and difficult to navigate. However, attending a smaller campus, where you see familiar faces every day—faces that become like family, sisters and big brothers—has made the experience more meaningful and has truly made me happy.

I've had professors I know I can rely on and consult with, like Dr. Norris. I've had professors who pushed and stretched me more than I could've imagined, like Dr. Mohan. And I've had professors who grew right alongside me—like Dr. Meggie Young, who's now our dean. The discipline and support I've received on this campus have been key to helping me succeed.

This is an event that celebrates scholarships, so let me tell you what having those scholarships has done for me. The biggest impact is that I haven't had to place a financial burden on my family. As the oldest of eight siblings, that means everything. Not having to worry about paying for school has allowed me to participate on so many different fronts and lets me represent my school.

Because of my scholarships, I could be a leader on campus with the Pre-Health Club, the Black Student Union, the Latin-X Club, and more. I've also worked with students from middle school to college—helping them discover their paths, sharing my journey, and showing them how much this campus has to offer.

I heard how competitive it could be as a STEM student, but I found that by networking with professors, faculty, staff, and other students;  we have created a very healthy environment. I've formed relationships that began freshman year and have grown stronger ever since—something that's hard to do if you're not on campus or pulled in too many directions.

 It's been important that others are able to grow with me—whether that be leadership, volunteerism, research, or anything else. It's always been my ideology that if you're with me, I want you to win and succeed. And I think that's what leadership is about—bringing people along with you. It makes the experience so much richer for everyone.

As much as I like academics, I find myself even more passionate about getting out there to serve the community. As I grew up, I was able to see my parents do it and now it's intrinsic. This is something that is so natural for me to do. The fact that through my college experience, I have had the ability to pursue my passion for medicine and community service has been a perfect fit. I've mentored through programs on campus and in high schools, worked as a medical scribe in hospitals, participated in a mobile lab, and led outreach efforts in Lima around discussing the awareness of hypertension in both rural and urban settings.

This campus gave me the space and support to do all of that—and I'm truly thankful.

I've had the chance to connect with people one-on-one, to really listen, and to communicate with them on a personal level, because sometimes there's a disconnect.

I believe encounters such as this will greatly help me relate to my future patients, collaborate with physicians, and build meaningful relationships. That's what sets someone apart—and I believe this campus and its people have prepared me well for it.

 I'm forever grateful to the faculty, staff, and especially the donors who helped me be here. You didn't have to do this, but you did. I hope I will continue to have your support as I continue to further my education in the field of medicine. As you have invested in me, you best believe that I'll be doing the same for others.