Julia Decker of Nelsonville, Jenna Ferguson of Nelsonville, Kayla Gates of Amesville, Emily Main of Nelsonville, Timothy J. McMillen of Nelsonville, Marissa Moliviatis of The Plains, Caitlin Queitzsch of Nelsonville, Danielle Wagasky of Nelsonville, David A. Wright of Athens and Dustin Young of Nelsonville have each been awarded the James E. and Betty J. Blower Memorial Scholarship for the Hocking College 2013-14 academic year.
Decker is a Hotel and Restaurant Management student and plans to run a dinner theatre. Ferguson plans to open her own restaurant and bar with chains all across Ohio. Gates has dreamt of becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant since she was in eighth grade. She wants to help people move and be independent again. Main is in the Landscape Management program and plans to combine this with her Bachelor's Degree in New Media for Landscape Designing. McMillen's professional goal is to become a game warden in Ohio, where he can protect the animals and natural resources.
Moliviatis has always had a strong passion for animals. She is enrolled in the Transfer Module program and plans to transfer her general credits from Hocking toward a four-year degree in veterinary technology. Queitzsch has always wanted to run her own farm, which is why the Equine programs are a perfect fit for her. Wagasky is pursuing the EMT/Paramedic program and plans to help make her community a safer place to live. Wright is in the Addiction Counseling program and wants to do his part in helping out the counties in southeast Ohio who are struggling with serious drug problems. Young plans to become a U.S. Air Marshal or U.S. Border Patrol Agent.
James Blower was a native of Trimble Township in Athens County, Ohio. Upon his death, his wife, Betty, established the scholarship at Hocking College to memorialize her husband and to assist others in the area where he was from.
Residents of Trimble Township are given first consideration for this scholarship. Residents outside of Trimble Township, but within Athens County, receive secondary consideration. Recipients must maintain an appropriate grade point average.
