For more information contact:
Barbara Klingman - Administrator, Scholarships and College Services

CHARLOTTE R. SCHMIDLAPP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MAKES AWARDS TO NINE OUTSTANDING OHIO WOMEN

September 30, 2004

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) announces that nine Ohio women have been awarded grants through the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee.

The Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Scholarship Program, established in April 2004, provides scholarship assistance to outstanding women who are majoring in math, engineering, or science at an OFIC member college or university. Scholars were selected based on academic performance, financial need, and recommendation by their colleges.

Clermont County resident, Holly Dyer, is a junior biology/pre-med major at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Dyer maintains an excellent academic record, while participating with a national championship soccer team. After graduation she hopes to attend medical school and specialize in neonatology. During the summer she works as a nurses’ aid at Brown County General Hospital.

Amanda Robinson, microbiology major from Arlington who is attending Ohio Wesleyan University, says, “I have worked ever since I have been old enough to drive. This has taught me to appreciate hard work and understand the value of my educational experience. This is why I send my most heartfelt appreciation to the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund.” Robinson feels that Ohio Wesleyan provides a higher quality and more diverse education than many other institutions.

Alesia Salberg, chemistry major and mathematics minor at Notre Dame College writes in her thank-you letter, “The aid I am receiving is very important because without it, I would be unable to afford to attend a college of this quality.” Salberg is an active member of the student body, a member of the Notre Dame College soccer team, and a community volunteer. This Ashtabula resident has spent the past two summers gaining career experience by testing oil samples at Lubrizol in Wickliffe.

Other Charlotte R. Schmidlapp scholars are Andrea Fralick (Columbus/Denison University), Cassandra Knoth (Celina/The University of Findlay), Elizabeth Linder (Norwalk/University of Dayton), Susan Lopata (Mingo Junction/Franciscan University of Steubenville), Megan Shoda (Euclid/University of Dayton), and Jennifer Williams (Springfield/Wittenberg University).

In 1908, Jacob G. Schmidlapp, a noted Cincinnati philanthropist and former Fifth Third Bank president, began a legacy that has grown to become one of the largest private foundations in the United States that solely supports women and girls. Mr. Schmidlapp had already lost his wife, his mother and his daughter Emma in a train wreck when, in 1907, he and his remaining daughter, Charlotte, were touring France to celebrate Charlotte’s graduation. In a freak auto accident, Charlotte was killed. Mr. Schmidlapp channeled his grief by establishing the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund to allow other young women to, unlike his daughters, realize their lives’ dreams. Today, through the sound management of Fifth Third’s investment professionals the Fund has grown to over $25 million in assets. Grants are made to non-profit organizations that support women and girls, including areas that promote access for women in the fields of science, medicine, and technology.

"As Trustee of the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, we are proud to partner
with OFIC to help these promising students get closer to their dreams," said
Heidi Jark, Vice President & Fifth Third Foundation Officer. "I congratulate each of the winners and wish them much luck in the future."

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges was founded in 1950 to conduct annual solicitations of companies and foundations to benefit private colleges in Ohio. OFIC today has 35 member institutions and more than 94,000 students. OFIC raises both unrestricted and restricted gifts including scholarships and endowments.

OFIC’s 35 member colleges and universities: Antioch College, Ashland University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Bluffton University, Capital University, Cedarville University, University of Dayton, Defiance College, Denison University, The University of Findlay, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Franklin University, Heidelberg College, Hiram College, John Carroll University, Kenyon College, Lake Erie College, Lourdes College, Malone College, Marietta College, Mount Union College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Muskingum College, Notre Dame College, Oberlin College, Ohio Dominican University, Ohio Northern University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Otterbein College, Urbana University, Ursuline College, Walsh University, Wilmington College, Wittenberg University and The College of Wooster.