Generosity abounds at McClain; scholarship awards for class of ‘26 tops $400k

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

Moving on after high school, while exciting, can be scary, too. But as students move on from McClain and into their adult lives beyond high school, many of them are going with a financial boost as they seek various avenues of higher education.

The Greenfield community, families, businesses, organizations, and those who have hailed from it as well as those who call the hallowed halls of McClain alma mater, have long extended much generosity to the graduating classes. 

For decades this has been one big way the whole community has supported the graduating students of McClain High School as they embark on their various pathways of adulthood.

Greenfield’s district treasurer Brad Barber has in his possession a binder full of years-old documents, things like wills typed on thin typing paper that spell out the wishes of the grantor the gifts to the beneficiaries. 

One of the oldest in that binder is the James and Ruth Watt Scholarship, the resolution by board members at the time accepting the scholarship is 1962. It began as common stock in the Union Pacific Railroad Company, but has since transitioned due to changing times and legally-mandated modes of investment. 

Every year since, the James and Ruth Watt scholarship has been bestowed upon deserving students. In 2026, 19 students were awarded $114,000 from this scholarship alone. 

And there are so many others that each year help graduating seniors along their path after high school. So very many, and so much support.

“It just shows the kindness of the community we have and how it values education,” scholarship committee and school board member Sandy Free said.

Of these awards, a certain set are awarded by the school board, while others are awarded by those bestowing the scholarship, or family members of those they were created in memory of, or by representatives of the organizations.

Funds for all of these are handled in various ways, but the district is the steward of many of them. It’s complicated, but it works. In total, $166,000 was awarded to graduating students through the board-awarded scholarships alone. Further financial awards from alumni, families, local organizations, and beyond, including educational institutions students will be attending, came to $303,225.

In the first group of students and awards listed, there is a mix of scholarships both from the local community and beyond. The board-awarded scholarships and their recipients follow in a separate paragraph. 

This year’s recipients and the scholarships they received are: Viktoria Adams - TYBO; Jillian Arthurs - Ohio State Land Grant, Governor’s Merit, Eagles, Hannah Losey Memorial, and VFW; Easton Ary - Daryle Unger/Landon Crabtree Memorial, McClain Athletic Boosters; Governor’s Merit, Cassner Foundation, Cody Scott Memorial, Daryle Unger, David Pheanis STEM, Eagles, J&H Hull Ag/Engineering/Robotics, VFW, Wright State Green & Gold, Choose Ohio First STEM, Oma K. Sells; Landon Beatty - Howard and Alice Cowman, Dr. Lawrence and Gale Dukes, SSCC Super Start, Highland County Fund, Book Store; Lydia Beatty - Daryle Unger, Eagles, VFW; Temperance Beavers - Eagles, Howard and Alice Cowman, VFW, Chillicothe Promise, OHIO Regional Action, OHIO Regional Advantage, Spencer; Jordan Bell - TYBO; Becca Bergstrom - Ohio State Provost, Governor’s Merit, Cassner Foundation, Daryle Unger, David Pheanis STEM, Eagles, George W. Foltz, South Central Power Foundation, Tom Hixson Memorial, TYBO, VFW; Delaney Bland - McClain FFA; Abigail Carter - Eagles; Carson Chandler - Daryle Unger, Eagles, Patricia Duff, TYBO, VFW, Wilmington Admittance; Lathan Cockerill - CC Land Solutions Entrepeneurial; Madalynn Comadoll - Wright State Take Flight, Green & Gold, Wright Start, Eagles; Brieann Cummins - Daryle Unger, Eagles, Adena Hope for Our Future-Jack Berno, TYBO, VFW; Creed Davis - Wittenberg Presidential, AMVC Employee, VFW; Ethan Eakins - Wilmington Academic, Cody Scott Memorial, Tom Hixson Memorial; Zoie Everhart - Howard and Alice Cowman, VFW, OHIO Regional Advantage, OHIO Regional Action; Jaylie Fath - Alumni Association, Greenfield Police Academy; Kathryn Foster - Merit Scholarship; Kaleb Fryer - VFW; Addison Goddard - OU Chillicothe Alumni, OHIO Regional Action, OHIO Regional Advantage, SSCC Super Start, David Michael Educators, Eagles, Paul and Evelyn Orr, VFW, McClain FFA, Adam Irvine Sharp Memorial, Mackenzie Corbin Memorial; Dalainey Goddard - Daryle Unger, Eagles, Good Hope Lions, Melinda Pheanis Preston, Patricia Duff, Pauline Inskeep Chapman Memorial, Adena Hope for Our Future-Beth Elliott, Jack Berno, and Catherine Evanoff; Desnic Hamler - Eagles, Adena Volunteer Scholarship Fund; Avarey Hammond - Eagles; Jayden Harris - AAARC Scholarship Fund; Ava Hawkins - Patricia Zint Pharmacy/Nursing, Peg Gessner Memorial; Morgan Johnson - Eagles, HCSPC, McClain Class of 1963, Merrill Ravenscraft Industrial Trade; Sarah Kegley - Eagles, Adena Hope for Our Future-Jack Berno; TYBO, VFW; Colten Kinsey - Sharon and Dale Knauer Performing Arts, Peg Gassner Memorial; Alexis Knisely - Hannah Losey Memorial, McClain Athletic Boosters, Ross County 4-H, Barn Superintendent; Madison Knowles - Eagles, VFW, Wilmington Dean’s, McClain FFA; Samantha Lancaster - Governor’s Merit, Appalachian Artisans Guild, NAHS, Eagles, GEVEA/Travis Turvey, VFW, McClain FFA, Ball State Provost, Teacher’s College; Mylie Lovett - Daryle Unger, Eagles, VFW, McClain FFA, David Mustard Memorial; Abigail Marsh - Ann M. Flynn-Corwin/Fox Family, Daryle Unger/Jerry Jones Memorial, Eagles, Good Hope Lions, Hannah Losey Memorial, McClain Athletic Boosters, Mothers’ Club Senior, VFW, McClain FFA, Lisa Kissling Memorial; Emma Marsh - Eagles, JSD Newman Family, Patricia Duff, VFW, Redhawk, Redhawk Excellence; Alexandra McKinley - Eagles; Colton McNeal - VFW; Rhyan Mullins - Belmont Scholarships; Avery Murphy - Eagles, VFW, Mackenzie Corbin Memorial, Adam Irvine Sharp Memorial, McClain FFA, OHIO Regional Advantage; Braylon Murray - VFW, McClain FFA; Addison Olaker - Eagles, John Martin Newland Memorial, Merrill Ravenscraft Industrial Trade, VFW; Bailey Parson - Governor’s Merit; Eagles; Hannah Losey Memorial; HDH Medical Staff; Hope for Our Future–James R. Manchester; McClain Athletic Boosters; NCB Ernie B. Blankenship; Patricia Duff; Paul Gessner Memorial; VFW; Shawnee Empowerment; Rylee Perkins - Wright State Green & Gold; Reese Roble - Good Hope Lions; Daryle Unger; Eagles; Hannah Losey Memorial; Joe Allen Chapman; Paul Gessner Memorial; VFW; Syngenta National FFA; Mackenzie Corbin Memorial; Adam Irvine Sharp Memorial; McClain FFA; Wright State Dean’s Scholar; Raider Event; Wright Start; Andrew Roeder - Eagles; John Martin Newland Memorial; Merrill Ravenscraft Industrial Trade; McClain FFA; Adam Irvine Sharp Memorial; Tom Cook Family; Maguire Ross - Governor’s Merit; Ayres/Van Frank Republican Women; David Pheanis STEM; Eagles; Good Hope Lions; Hannah Losey Memorial; HDH Medical Staff; JSD Newman Family; Kolton Hamilton Memorial; South Central Power Foundation; TYBO; VFW; Choose Ohio First; Burger Foundation; Mackenzie Corbin Memorial; Baldwin Farms; Jerry Faulconer Family; Tom Cook Family; McClain FFA; Adam Irvine Sharp Memorial; Ohio Northern Presidential; Klondike Award; Lillian Saunders - TYBO; Addison Stark - McClain Athletic Boosters; VFW; Olivia Stegbauer - Wilfred R. Konneker Cutler Scholar; Governor’s Merit; Beck’s Hybrids Collegiate; South Central Power Foundation: The Farm Credit Mid America; Kaylin Sterling - Eagles; Robert E. Evans Education; Toree Wareikis - Wright State Green & Gold; Eagles; Good Hope Lions; Melinda Pheanis Preston; TYBO; McClain FFA; Baldwin Family Farms; Class of 2014 FFA; Ava Wilson - American Red Cross; VFW.

Following are the board-awarded scholarships and the recipients: Lucile R. Donohoe Scholarship - Landon Beatty, Temperance Beavers, Abigail Carter, and Creed Davis; Alumni Scholarship - Easton Ary, Becca Bergstrom, and Alexis Knisley; Board of Education Scholarship - Easton Ary; Ron Wood Memorial Scholarship - Jordan Bell and Leah Lovett; Fred B. and Florence Fox Scholarship - Laura Barber and Reese Roble; Oscar Heidingsfeld Memorial Scholarship - Olivia Stegbauer; Corbin Family Scholarship - Braylon Murray and Addison Goddard; Bernice Strueve Mossbarger and Virgil C. Mossbarger Scholarship Fund - Alexis Knisley, Emma Marsh, Sarah Kegley, Avery Murphy, and Andrew Roeder; The Townsend Scholarships - Maguire Ross, Brieanne Cummins, and Temperance Beavers; Margaret Reno Scholarship - Avarey Hammond, Madison Knowles, Emma Marsh, Avery Murphy, Braylon Murray, Andrew Roeder, Maguire Ross, Addison Stark, Kaylin Sterling, Toree Wareikis, Dalainey Goddard, Creed Davis, Sarah Kegley, Brieanne Cummins, Temperance Beavers, Abigail Carter, and Addison Goddard; Montavon Farms Scholarship - Jordan Bell, Landon Beatty, and Avarey Hammond; Sara L. Beauman Scholarship - Becca Bergstrom, Maguire Ross, Dalainey Goddard, Breianne Cummins, Addison Stark, Landon Beatty, and Toree Wareikis; Robert and Eleanor Adams Scholarship - Leah Lovett, Toree Wareikis, Sarah Kegley, and Creed Davis; The Darlene McCain Education Scholarship - Kaylin Sterling, Madison Knowles, and Becca Bergstrom; Shirley Birkhimer Scholarship - Avery Murphy, Kaylin Sterling, and Dalainey Goddard; Floyd and Eva Jett Scholarship - Emma Marsh and Jordan Bell; James and Ruth Watt Scholarship - Jillian Arthurs, Brynnen Babbs, Mackenzie Baker, Carson Chandler, Maddi Comadoll, Ethan Eakins, Jaylie Fath, Abigail Fent, Kaleb Fryer, Desnic Hamler, Morgan Johnson, Colton Kinsey, Samantha Lancaster, Mylie Lovett, Abigail Marsh, Alexandra McKinley, Addison Olaker, Bailey Parson, and Payton Wilson; and the Rhonda Sponcil Memorial Scholarship - Addison Goddard.

With most of these scholarships, students have applied for them following the various requirements of each. Some have included written essays, others face-to-face interviews. Students were able to apply through their academic counselors, and in the case of the board-awarded scholarships, the board invites the input of those counselors prior to making their decisions on awards. Most all of the scholarships are awarded during the end-of-the-year honors convocation and during the graduation ceremony. 

“It’s amazing to see our community continue to invest in students year after year,” said scholarship committee and school board member Rachel Fraley. “As a board, being able to help select recipients and see firsthand the support behind these students is really special.”

If anyone has any questions regarding scholarships, whether how to apply or how to set up a scholarship through the school, you can contact Barber by calling the central office at 937-981-2152 or by emailing him at brad.barber@greenfieldmcclain.org.

There are always good things happening in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District. To stay informed, you can go to the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us or go to the district’s social media pages. The individual buildings also have Facebook pages.