McClain grads receive full-ride scholarships from OSU

By Angela Shepherd
GEVS

Two 2025 McClain graduates have received full-ride scholarships from The Ohio State University, something the university tries to award to two students per county each year. 

This year’s Highland County recipients of the merit-based Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship from The Ohio State University are McClain graduates Nicolas Alvarez and Dawson McMurry.

Each year, The Ohio State University awards 176 Land Grant Opportunity scholarships — essentially two for each of Ohio’s 88 counties. It is awarded to incoming freshmen and based on academic merit, but there is also consideration for financial need. It is not only a tremendous accomplishment for the recipients, but a massive financial relief as the scholarship covers the full cost of attendance to OSU.

Both Alvarez and McMurry have continually demonstrated their academic ability as well as being engaged in various activities throughout their education. 

For McMurry, who played football, was a member of the bowling team for three years, and is a two-year member of the National Honor Society, OSU has always been a top choice.

He said he remembers always watching the football games with his family growing up and always having the desire to go to OSU. He plans to study computer science or computer engineering at the university, both fields of study he feels will provide for an enjoyable life and the means to support himself and his family well.

Throughout high school, McMurry hopes to have been an inspiration to other students, and said there were a lot of opportunities to share with younger students. He has also found plenty of inspiration right here at home.

“I feel as if our entire community and senior class helps inspire the younger children in our environment because our community truly is rewarding and giving, despite it being a smaller area,” said McMurry. “Many people come to watch and help us succeed as we enter the next stages of our life whether it’s scholarship providers or previous alumni, they all are there to watch our high school succeed as a whole.”

For Alvarez, who has been involved in many activities throughout his education from crochet club to National Honors Society to being the school mascot, he feels his opportunities to inspire younger students has been vast and that through his various activities he has had “the chance to view every sort of task” he may face. He said he feels his actions have demonstrated that hard work, being involved, but also remembering to have a good time, are good stepping stones to success, which “comes from persistence, time management, and believing in yourself even when things get tough.”

He said OSU has always been one of his top choices, but that a college choice would come down to affordability, so when he learned he was a recipient for the scholarship, Alvarez said he was "ecstatic.”

Alvarez plans to study biochemistry as part of his path to a medical degree and becoming a surgeon, he said.

The potential future surgeon said he has been inspired through his faith and by his family, friends, and teachers. “I couldn't have accomplished anything in life without all these people helping me on my path to success.” 

While they were made aware beforehand, Alvarez and McMurry were announced as the recipients of the Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship during the honors convocation held at McClain High School on May 8. Making that announcement was OSU representative Ariana Davis.

“Our district appreciates the incredible opportunity provided to Nicolas and Dawson from Ohio State University,” district superintendent Quincey Gray said. “Both students worked hard and experienced great success in high school, and I am sure that they will continue to achieve at the collegiate level. Nicolas and Dawson are both very deserving recipients.”

To keep up with everything going on in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District, check out the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us or go to the district’s social media pages. The individual buildings also have Facebook pages. The district’s central office may be reached by calling 937-981-2152.