51ĀŅĀ×

51ĀŅĀ× has been selected by the State of Ohio to receive a Choose Ohio First grant to support scholarships in computer science and related fields.

The Governorā€™s Office of Workforce Transformation and the Ohio Department of Higher Education created the grant to help improve Ohioā€™s workforce development capacity to innovate and grow its economy. The five-year Choose Ohio First grant to 51ĀŅĀ× is for $462,000 to be used for computer science scholarships. It will also support student recruitment and continuation for studentsā€™ first two academic years.

ā€œWe want to thank the State of Ohio for its leadership and support in providing this grant, which will help students achieve their goals of obtaining degrees in these important fields,ā€ 51ĀŅĀ× President M. Duane Nellis said.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner unveiled the Choose Ohio First program at a press conference on Dec. 12 in Dayton. The scholarship will support students in computer science and related areas at 35 colleges and universities across the state. A total of $20,580,770 will be awarded over the next five years after ODHEā€™s request was approved by the State Controlling Board.

ā€œThe Choose Ohio First program is one of our stateā€™s best tools to increase the number of students preparing to work in STEM-related fields,ā€ Husted said. ā€œIn todayā€™s technology-infused economy, every industry and business has important tech-focused jobs and training Ohioans for careers in those positions is key to growing our economy.ā€

The Choose Ohio First scholarship program began in 2008 as a way to increase the number of Ohio students enrolling in and successfully completing science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) programs at Ohioā€™s public and independent colleges and universities.