WC awarded $150K Choose Ohio First Grant

Wilmington College students entering its STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields of data science, math education, agronomy and health science stand to benefit greatly from a $150,000 Choose Ohio First grant awarded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The grants, for students entering the College in fall 2027, are designed to grow enrollment in these STEM fields over four years. 
 
The development complements a $728,000 Choice Ohio First grant the College received in 2025 that targets students studying animal science, chemistry, and environmental science over a four-year span. 
 
Mike Duffey, Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said that Wilmington College has been “a longtime partner” in Choose Ohio First. “We very much appreciate the Quakers’ efforts to increase Ohio’s STEM workforce.”
 
WC President Corey Cockerill said, “This investment will help strengthen Ohio’s STEM workforce pipeline by expanding opportunities for students pursuing careers in high-demand fields.” She noted that this year the College focused its Choose Ohio First efforts on agronomy, health science, math education, and data science — “fields tied directly to workforce needs in southwest Ohio” and rural communities like Wilmington. “Through experiential learning and strong partnerships, we are preparing students to step into meaningful careers while helping fill critical regional workforce gaps.”
 
Choose Ohio grants also enable the College to recruit and retain underrepresented student populations — including women, minority students and first-generation college students from rural and Appalachian regions — into these academic programs, addressing critical workforce needs while enhancing diversity in these fields.
 
The president cited Dr. Russell Kincaid, professor of mathematics and physics, and the area coordinator for natural sciences, and other College officials for their work that led to the College securing the grant. Adam Lohrey, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said this grant dovetails well with the College’s hallmark for affordability in making higher education accessible to often underrepresented populations. 
 
“Wilmington College has worked hard to provide top-notch facilities and faculty expertise necessary to prepare students for in-demand STEM career fields,” Lohrey said. “With these additional scholarship funds, the College is poised for growth, making it more affordable than ever for students to meet the needs of our local economy.”