Eleven Eastland-Fairfield students have been named ASCENT scholarship recipients

GROVEPORT – Eleven students from Eastland-Fairfield Vocational and Technical Schools have won prestigious ASCENT STEM scholarships. This achievement represents a significant milestone for these recent graduates as they prepare to pursue higher education and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Gathered with friends, family and Eastland-Fairfield staff members, 11 students from various EFCTS programs were recognized for being named to the prestigious list of ASCENT scholarship recipients during the May meeting of the Eastland-Fairfield Board of Education. Each scholarship totaled $2,500 per student.

The following students, who recently completed their final year of study, have been selected to receive an ASCENT scholarship.

• Pranil Khatiwoda (Pickerington Central, Programming & Software Development) – Cedarville University, Molecular Biology

• Ben Bilenko (New Albany, Cybersecurity) – Ohio State University-Newark, Computer Science

• Jesse Johnson (Gahanna, Biology) – Rochester Institute of Technology, Biology

• Santosh Chuwan (Reynoldsburg, Software Programming & Development) – Columbus State University, Computer Programming

• Sabrina Coleman (Bloom Carroll, Nursing) – Cedarville University, Molecular Biology

• Lilyanne Canini (Pickerington North, Bioscience) – Ohio State University, molecular genetics

• Eliyah Mason (Canal Winchester, Preliminary Engineering) – Otterbein University, Mechanical Engineering

• Samantha Jones (Liberty Union, Aviation) – Columbus State University, Aviation Mechanic

• Chiara Hill (Hamilton Twp., Bioscience) – undecided, medical laboratory

• Samantha York (Gahanna, Biology) – Denison University, Biology

• Gunner Langham (Groveport Madison, Aviation) – Columbus State University, Computer Science and Engineering

The scholarships are part of a $3 million grant from Intel Corporation to ASCENT, a program that aims to create an inclusive career training program to educate the next generation of skilled technical and STEM professionals in Ohio.

ASCENT is comprised of a broad coalition of institutions, universities, and technical centers in the southeastern Appalachian region of Ohio. Each will play a key role in visualizing, delivering, and programming the entire ASCENT ecosystem.

The Intel Semiconductor Education and Research Program for Ohio was announced in March 2022 as part of the company’s commitment to invest $100 million in education and research collaborations with universities, colleges and technical educators in Ohio and across the U.S. The program is designed to help build talent capacity and strengthen research programs. Of the $100 million investment, Intel has earmarked $50 million specifically for Ohio colleges and universities.

This article originally appeared in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: 11 Eastland-Fairfield High School seniors received scholarships through the ASCENT program.