Heidelberg Names 13th President TIFFIN ‹ Dr. F. Dominic Dottavio, currently the dean and director of The Ohio State University-Marion, has been selected as the 13th president of Heidelberg College. After a search of more than a year, Heidelberg College's Board of Trustees selected Dottavio during its Dec. 7 board meeting, according to board chairman Gary L. Bryenton. "We are indeed pleased that our search has produced such a fine candidate whom the board concurs will provide excellent leadership for Heidelberg College," Bryenton said."Dr. Dottavio brings exceptional credentials to this very important position. His extensive track record is a strong indication that he will succeed in moving Heidelberg College forward." The appointment was made after considering recommendations from the search committee, which was comprised of the entire Board of Trustees, two faculty members, one administration member, one student representative and a Tiffin community representative. Upon his appointment, Dottavio said, "Becoming a part of the tradition and future of Heidelberg College is a wonderfully exciting opportunity." He added that he has a "deep and abiding respect" for the important contributions small, liberal arts colleges make to the state's higher education system. Dottavio's tenure as Heidelberg's president officially begins July 1, 2003. At that time, he will succeed Dr. Jim Getz, who has served as the college's interim president since July 1, 2002. "There is a remarkable level of commitment to Heidelberg from the students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders. I am deeply impressed by the enthusiasm and passion all of these groups have for the college and their willingness to help it move forward," Dottavio said. "Heidelberg has a very strong academic reputation and a long history of providing an extraordinarily personal and enriching environment for its students. There are many opportunities to build on these strengths as well as the traditions of the college in the years ahead. I consider it a great privilege to be selected as the 13th president of one of the most highly regarded private colleges in the Midwest." During his nine years at OSU Marion, Dottavio has been instrumental in increasing both enrollment and the amount of financial aid available to students. The campus opened an outreach center in southern Delaware County and added a new library, a childcare center and a maintenance building. Additionally, several buildings have been renovated and the campus is in the process of constructing a student services building and a residence hall, and expanding the student center to include new dining and wellness facilities. He attributes much of the success in enrollment growth and facility expansion to the support of the community and the addition of new degree programs in psychology, English, social work, education, nursing and business. Dottavio has worked to maintain the strong relationship between the university and the Marion community through his active involvement in a wide variety of organizations. "Dr. Dottavio is a highly respected community leader," said Dr. Scott Drew, a member of the OSU at Marion board. Throughout his tenure, Dottavio has been a leader both with The Ohio State University and the surrounding communities. He has been actively involved in a wide range of community organizations, serving in recent years as the president of the United Way, the Marion Rotary Club and Foundation and the Palace Cultural Arts Association. For his contributions, Dottavio received a Distinguished Citizen Award and OSU's Distinguished Citizenship Award. "Dr. Dottavio has been a major player in the development of Marion's community projects. Heidelberg and the Tiffin community will be very well served by their new president," Drew said. New programs were started under Dottavio's leadership that enriched cultural arts programming, improved minority recruitment and retention and enhanced work force development and education. One product of the partnerships Dottavio established with the community was the formation of the first campus-based economic development center in Ohio. Prior to his position at OSU, Dottavio's career included a balance of research administration, graduate and undergraduate teaching, fundraising, field research and strategic planning. He holds a professorship in the School of Natural Resources at OSU. From 1986-93, he was the chief scientist for the southeast region of the National Park Service. For four years prior to that, he was the director of the Clemson University Cooperative Study Unit, managing research, training and outreach programs for the U.S. Department of Interior. He also served as an adjunct professor at Clemson. In the late 1970s and early '80s, he was head of surveying and forecasting for Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service in Washington, D.C., and director of the Center for Natural Areas, formerly the ecology program of the Smithsonian Institution. He served on the faculty as a graduate instructor and as the associate director of summer programs at Purdue University from 1975-79. Dottavio graduated from OSU with a bachelor's degree in 1973. He earned his master's degree from Yale University in 1975 and his doctorate from Purdue in 1979. He and his wife, Lisette, a senior accountant with Holbrook and Manter Professional Services in Marion, are the parents of two children, Aaron and Adrea. Heidelberg, founded in 1850, offers 36 courses of study in 19 major fields of concentration, awarding the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of music, master of arts in education, master of arts in counseling and master of business administration degrees. Visit the web site at www.heidelberg.edu. Retention & Campus Diversity Program Coordinator Hired at Ohio State Marion The Ohio State University at Marion is pleased welcome Karen Fasheun to the university's administrative staff. Fasheun was hired to serve as Program Coordinator for Retention and Campus Diversity. The position provides retention programs and services that enhance student learning and personal development. The position also serves to coordinate the Marion campus diversity initiatives. She will be working collaboratively with academic advising, admission, faculty and staff, financial aid, career services, campus activities and organizations, as well as several local organizations. Fasheun was previously employed by Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, where she served as Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Multi-cultural Enrollment since1990. She has over15 years of progressive experience as a higher education administrator and has worked with admissions, new student orientation, retention, and community development. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in public administration and international law from Ohio University, Athens Ohio. Fasheun also has completed post-graduate coursework toward her Masters degree in International Administration from Ohio University. Fasheun is a member of numerous nonprofit professional educational organizations and is deeply involved in the process of community service and learning. In 2001, she founded the charitable organization Soap and Something Special, which provides homeless and transient populations with necessities of daily living. Fasheun hopes to continue the work of Larry Prude, who formerly served as program manager for campus diversity. She has begun working with local community organizations to raise additional funds for the Larry Prude Minority Scholarship Fund. For information on making contributions to The Larry Prude Minority Scholarship Fund, contact Deborah Shade, director of community relations and development at 740-389-6786. Digital Academy Curriculum Added by Ohio State's Alber Enterprise Center The Alber Enterprise Center, Delaware, a business-training center located within The Ohio State University Delaware Center, 7774 Graphics Way, has added a full curriculum of digital/media production courses to assist businesses in enhancing their communications capabilities. The first in a series of digital academy courses is scheduled to begin January 7, 2003 with a one-day academy course offering in PhotoShop for digital imaging and photography. A total of 12 courses, ranging from one to five days, will be offered through early spring 2003. These courses include: Digital Media Overview, Digital Video Production, Digital Video Editing for DV, After Effects, Interactive Media Production, Photoshop for the Web, Web Design & Development I, Web Design & Development II, Animation with Flash, PhotoShop for Digital Imaging & Photography, 3D - Modeling, and 3D - Animation. The goal of the Digital Academy is to help area businesses create engaging and compelling digital communications, hone design skills, learn innovative techniques, refine concepts as they apply to new media, deliver on-time high quality products while reducing delivery times and costs, and develop a professional portfolio. Assisting business communications professionals in attaining the aforementioned goals is Williams F. Sattelmeyer. Sattelmeyer will serve as the full-time instructor for the Digital Academy. He is well known locally and nationally within the digital media profession. He is president of Interactive Engineers, focusing on interactive development of web sites, kiosks, CD-ROM's and digital video, and development of new media. His past experience includes, Director of Special Projects and New Media at Mills/James Productions, Director of Production at Panorama Productions, Santa Clara, California and Director of PC Graphics Systems at Artonics/Genographics Corporation in New York.  He has written, directed, filmed and edited regional and national commercials, documentaries, and educational films.  Sattelmeyer received his B.Sc. in Telecommunications from Kent State University. He has received numerous awards for his work including CINE Gold Eagle, regional Emmies, and recognition at international film festivals. Those wishing to learn more about dates, times, and costs for individual Digital Academy courses should contact Marcella B. May at may.8@osu.edu, or call 740-549-4426, in the Columbus area 614-292-9133, extension 6002.  All classes will be conducted at The OSU Alber Enterprise Center at Delaware, which is centrally located 4 miles north of the I-270 outer-belt.    Annual Holiday Concert at Ohio State Marion Captures the Season The Ohio State University at Marion is pleased to welcome The Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra (COSO), and special guest performers the Marion Civic Chorus and the Heart of Ohio Men's Holiday Chorus to the Alber Student Center on the Marion campus, Thursday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. for the second performance in the university's year long Five Nights on Campus cultural arts series. The groups will perform a concert of traditional seasonal numbers, carols from around the world, popular sing-a-longs, and a number for the children in the audience. Tickets for the holiday concert are $8 general admission, $3 students, and are available at the door. COSO will perform several numbers independently, ranging from Selections for The Nutcracker, composed by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky, to a joint number of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah with the Marion Civic Chorus, under the direction of C. Gary Iams. The Marion Civic Chorus, which was formed in 1941 by a small group of dedicated amateur musicians, proudly participates in the 61st consecutive annual public performance of The Messiah. In addition to its annual performance of the grand oratorio, the chorus makes other appearances throughout the year. The Heart of Ohio Men's Holiday Chorus will perform several holiday favorites with the orchestra during the evening's performance. The group is under the co-direction of Duane Kline, and C. Gary Iams. The Heart of Ohio Men's Holiday Chorus is made up of a corp group of the all men's singing group the Marionnaires and other talented central Ohio male voices. COSO, currently under the direction of Jaime Morales-Matos, began in 1978 when a group of Delaware musicians and Ohio Wesleyan music faculty came together to found the symphony orchestra. Along with COSO's reputation, audiences have also increased from a few hundred in 1979 to large crowds for family concerts. Currently, the orchestra attracts approximately 8,000 to its July 4th concert in Delaware, Ohio. The orchestra's home over the years has been the acoustically remarkable Gray Chapel on the Ohio Wesleyan University Campus. COSO has previously performed on the Marion campus of The Ohio State University, as well as the Palace Theatre in Marion, the Josephinum College in Worthington, the Polaris Fashion Place and at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Ohio State Marion received positive response from the community on the combined holiday concert of The Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, Heart of Ohio Men's Holiday Chorus, and Marion Civic Chorusı performances on campus in years past and is pleased to invite them for a holiday encore. Other Five Nights performances slated for the upcoming academic year are: Gospelfest 2003, February 20, 2003 - Presented by Raise Productions, this highly acclaimed concert is held in partnership with the Black Heritage Council in celebration of Black History Month. Enjoy an encore performance of choral, spiritual, traditional, and contemporary gospel music by the Raise Mass Choir of Columbus. A soul food dinner, presented by the Black Heritage Council, will be held prior to the performance. Andrew Manfred Brown, March 20, 2003 - A classical pianist and former college professor, this Kentucky artist will combine educational and entertaining dialogue with pieces by Mozart, Schubert, and Brahms. The Muleskinner Band, May 15, 2003 - Muleskinner provides quality bluegrass, gospel, and traditional acoustic music, featuring banjo, mandolin, and guitar. The band will perform an open-air concert, weather permitting. Five Nights on Campus is a cultural and musical arts outreach to the residents of the seven-county regional service area of Ohio State Marion. The series features a variety of entertainment styles, from classical music to bluegrass. The mission of the series is to provide unique cultural and educational opportunities about diverse cultures and backgrounds to the community, while encouraging area residents to take part in university life. The Five Nights series offers residents of north central Ohio an affordable entertainment venue close to home. This year's sponsors for the Five Nights series include: Clear Channel Radio, Marion; Herald Printing; Marion Steel; Medical Mutual; Warren Brown Family Foundation; Verizon; Whirlpool Corporation, Marion Division; and Wyandot Inc. Five Nights is also made possible through a grant from The Ohio Arts Council, which helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Back to Top Ohio State Professor Receives Prestigious Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers The Southern Ohio Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) recently recognized Dr. Gordon J. Aubrecht, II, physics professor at The Ohio State University at Marion, with its prestigious John B. Hart Award for Distinguished Service. According to AAPT member James F. Sullivan, "When a job has had to be done, Aubrecht has been there. This award is long overdue and it is indeed a pleasure to award the Southern Ohio Section of the AAPT John B. Hart Award for Distinguished Service to Professor Gordon J. Aubrecht, II of the Ohio State University at Marion." Prof. Sullivan began to organize the section in 1982 and 1983, and served as its first president. He himself is a recipient of the Hart Award, along with Hart of Xavier University and John Spille of the University of Cincinnati. Sullivan involved Aubrecht in organizing the original meeting and worked together to oversee official recognition of the AAPT section. Dr. Aubrecht was chosen as the section's initial Vice President for Colleges and Universities. He was elected as the second President of the Section during 1984­85. As President of the Southern Ohio Section of AAPT, he initiated many things including a corporate giving program, the Physics Prize Contest, and the Physics Awards at Ohio State Science Day. He guided the group through the second-year growing pains that every new organization experiences. Since that time, Aubrecht has continued to serve the section in numerous offices and jobs. He has been a member of the SOS/AAPT Executive Board since the Section's formation. He is currently Vice President for Two-Year Colleges. For many years, he has been the coordinator for the joint Southern Ohio Section, AAPT-Ohio Section, American Physical Society State Science Day Physics Awards Program. This program provides awards for the three best physics projects at grade levels 7, 8, and 9 and at grade levels 10,11, and 12. The Award program has over 100 entrants every year, making it one of the biggest judging groups for special awards at State Science Day. Aubrecht has also been active in the Ohio Section of the American Physical Society, having recently served as vice chair, chair, and past chair. He is currently chair of the Contemporary Physics Education Project, which produces charts and ancillary materials for physics teaching. He is secretary of the Inter-American Council on Physics Education, which has members from every country in North and South America, and serves as AAPT liaison to the Council. He is American liaison for GIREP, an international society for physics education research based in Europe. He is an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow. He is secretary of Standards Coordinating Committee 14 of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and a member of Technical Advisory Group 12 of the International Organization for Standardization. He is the editor, author, or coauthor of about a dozen books in physics, and has published some 50 articles in refereed journals. He has chaired or been on the Steering Committees for many regional, national, and international scientific meetings. Aubrecht received the (national) AAPT Distinguished Service Award in 1996, and was recently named a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Back to Top Ohio State Marion Scarlet Wave Notch Win in First Home Contest Written by OSUM student, Tim West Wednesday, November 13, marked the first home game of a lengthy 29 game season for The Ohio State University at Marion Men's Basketball Team. The team, recently anointed the "Scarlet Wave" by the OSUM student body, inaugurated the first game of its home schedule in style with an 87-69 victory over the Cougars of Kent State University-Salem. Things started off slowly for the Ohio State Marion as the Kent-Salem club jumped out 16-2 early in the game. The Scarlet Wave kept their composure, and with help from the defense of senior Tracy Lanum and several key drives to the hoop were able to knot the score at 24 with 4:05 to play in the first half. Team Captain, Jason Edwards calmly knocked down both ends of a one and one to put OSUM up 26-24. The Scarlet Wave kept the lead for the remainder of the game. First year head coach Matt Fisher commented, "We played well when we toned it down and worked the ball like we're supposed to. We can't play one pass and shoot like we're trying to break 100 on the first play." In the second half, the game was all Ohio State Marion as the team came from the locker room on a mission. The only trouble spot came when 6'9" center Joe Miller fouled out with a little over seven minutes to go in the game. The slack inside was picked up by Lanum, Edwards, David Smith, Jon Horning, and Chris Webster while guards Dusty Kitts, Tyler Teynor, and Pat Bier continued to run the offense and provide timely drives to the hoop, as well as numerous defensive stops. Coach Fisher was pleased with the game's result saying, "We played hard. We played like we knew what we were doing and we had a lot of heart. We crashed the boards like we worked on all week and I think we'll be ready for the tournament (World Harvest Bible College Warrior Classic Tournament) this weekend." One thing that the coach noted however is, "We're still waiting for the floor leadership to pop up. We started to see a little bit of it tonight so hopefully that'll carry over. We just need someone or a group of people to step-up at the beginning of a game and make us play. The team just needs to want to do it." Statistical leaders for the Scarlet Wave included, Jason Edwards with 21 points, Tracy Lanum with 14, and Tyler Teynor with 14. Edwards also pulled down 14 boards while Joe Miller snagged 13 caroms and Dusty Kitts dished off 6 assists. Ohio State Marion moves to (1-3) on the season and will play their next three games this weekend, November 14-16, at the World Harvest Bible College Warrior Classic Tournament. The Scarlet Wave returns home to the Alber Student Center on the Marion Campus Wednesday, November 20, 7 p.m. against Wright State-Lake. Tickets for all Scarlet Wave home games are $3 at the door. Back to Top A Tale of Two Halves: Ohio State Marion Falls to Wright State-Lake By: Brian McGlothlin After a tough road trip that included 3 games in 3 days, the Ohio State University at Marion Menıs Basketball team returned home to face a strong Wright State University-Lake team on Wednesday, November 20, falling to the visiting Lakers 105-70. . The Ohio State Marion Scarlet Wave played well last week in their home debut, defeating Kent State University-Salem. The long road trip seemed to wear on the Scarlet Wave as they played a strong first half, but struggled to get in sync in the second half. The game opened with the Wright State University-Lake "Lakers" controlling the opening tip. OSUM struck first, after Jon Horning hit a three pointer to get things going in favor of the Scarlet Wave. The teams battled constant lead changes but the Lakers, after a couple of steals, where able to take a lead. Scarlet Wave head coach Matt Fisher called a time out and rallied his troops. Ohio State Marion came out and battled back. The Scarlet Wave took a 4-point lead off a 2-point basket and a bonus free throw by senior Tracy Lanum. Wright State-Lake went on a 7-0 run to take a 3-point lead over the next 2 minutes. The lead would soon vanish when freshman Tyler Teynor hit a 3-pointer to tie the game up with 5:50 left in the first half. In a span of 4 minutes, Teynor made 4 strait 3-pointers as the Lakers and the Scarlet Wave battled for the lead up until the half. After a hard fought first half, the Wave went into the locker room trailing Wright State-Lake 43-39. After the break, both teams came out to applause from the crowd and looked energized and ready to go for the second half. Wright State-Lake began the half on an 8-0 run, and Ohio State Marion soon trailed by double digits. The Wave finally got on the board in the second half, 3 minutes in, with a pair of made free throws by Tracy Lanum. The Lakers continued to build on their lead, stretching their run to 14-4 in the first 7 minutes of the second half. After a strong physical start to the game, OSU Marion struggled to overcome the deficit that the Lakers built in their run. The Scarlet Wave never quite got back to that aggressive play that helped them play close in the first half. The Lakers from Wright State-Lake controlled the boards and scoreboard for the rest of the game. According Coach Fisher, the team seemed to struggle to find any kind of set rhythm, especially in the second half. "We just couldn't get all 5 going at the same time," said Fisher. "Weıd get 2 or 3 going, but we couldn't get all 5 going at once. I think itıs something that will be fixed as we play together more." Freshman Dusty Kitts lead the way in scoring for the Scarlet Wave, putting up 18 points, while Tyler Teynor added 12. "The team just doesn't have the heart. We get down and we can't seem to get it back together," said Senior Tracy Lanum, who put up 11 points in the losing effort. Coach Fisher somewhat agreed with Lanum. "They need to find themselves as a team," said Fisher, "They need to find out what kind of team they are." According to Fisher, he feels it will happen soon. Dominic Dottavio, Dean and Director of The Ohio State University at Marion, was on hand for the game. He explained, he was glad to see the team play so hard and to see the basketball program taking off at Ohio State Marion. "The played really hard, but they just seemed to run out of steam in the end," commented Dottavio. Bruce Creasap, Athletic Coordinator at Ohio State Marion agreed, "They played hard out there, but they just missed a lot of shots. They [The Scarlet Wave] got off to a good start, but they were just too slow to start the second half.² Both Creasap and the Dean are glad to see such a promising program developing on the Marion Campus and are hopeful for the future of basketball at Ohio State Marion. The Scarlet Wave falls to (1-7) for the year, but still have quite a busy schedule left with a 29-game season. The team plays on the road November 26 at Georgetown College and return to the Marion Campus for a 2 game series at home against Cumberland College at 7 p.m. on November 29th and Kent State University-Tuscarawas at 1 p.m. on November 30. Back to Top Alber's Leaves Lasting Impression of People of Marion By Brian McGlothlin George H. Alber, Marion businessman and entrepreneur, left a large gift and a large legacy for the city of Marion. Having no children to inherit his quiet fortune, Alber left most of his estate to one of his greatest loves, the people of Marion. His fortune was left to The Columbus Foundation in the amount of $32 million dollars. The money was left in the form of a trust, which generates $1.4 million annually to be shared with 10 local agencies that benefit from the Alber trust fund. The Ohio State University at Marion is the largest benefactor of this trust. "This is a remarkable gift created by a remarkable man that will touch the lives of many students," said F. Dominic Dottavio, Dean and Director of The Ohio State University at Marion. "George had a passion for education and Ohio State; we are extremely grateful for his generosity," said Dottavio. The money left to OSU Marion will primarily be used for financial aid for students. Other beneficiaries include: The United Way of Marion County, American Red Cross of Marion, American Cancer Society of Marion, American Heart Association of Marion County, Emanuel Lutheran Church, The Salvation Army of Marion, the YMCA Endowment, and both local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. George H. Alber died on Thanksgiving morning in 1997, but the people of Marion will forever remember his name and legacy. His gift, through the United Way of Marion County, has helped support projects in Marion including, improvements to the Palace Theater, The Marion Senior Center and The Marion Historical Society. Alber grants have helped build the Marion World War II Memorial, improve day care facilities at Epworthıs Pre-School, and create youth activities through the Marion Recreation Department. The money left by Alber will continue to work in the Marion community in perpetuity and the giving and caring spirit of George H. Alber will continue to live forever. According to friends and acquaintances of Alber he was a simple man. He did not live in excess or show off his wealth by having the best of everything. Mr.Alber was dedicated to his work as much as he was dedicated to the ones he loved. He was one to put others first and was always sure to help those who had helped him. A wise and frugal man, Alber learned through the trials of the Great Depression the true value of a dollar. He became a prosperous entrepreneur during a time of struggle in Americaıs economy and created what became the largest privately owned fertilizer company, Marion Plant Life Services, in 1937. Alber was a man who lived sparingly but was truly a generous and kind-hearted man. Barbara Rice, a bookkeeper for Alber said, "[George] did not live flamboyantly. He came to work everyday, and one of his routines was to go out and have lunch with 'the guys.'" He ran his business much in the same way he lived most of his everyday life: with dedication, simplicity, and generosity. He put others first and helped others without expecting anything in return. Lisette Dottavio, wife of the Dean of Ohio State Marion, recalled a story of a trip to the Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio. Mr. Alber invited some friends, including the Dottavios, to join him at the races, she explained. Alber brought along some food for a small picnic and some seating, actually just one seat. George was a man who was raised with old-fashioned values and an undying respect for women. "He had one little seat," recalled Lisette Dottavio, "He wouldn't let anyone else use that seat, only me." After the passing of his wife Dorothy, Alber made a contribution to The Ohio State University at Marion to have a bell tower placed in her name. The bell tower is now one of the most central and recognized pieces defining the Marion Campus. Mr. Alber had an undying dedication to The Ohio State University. A 1929 Ohio State graduate, Alber was very involved in everything that Ohio State had to offer. He was a 3-year varsity letterman on the Ohio State Football team and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Throughout his life, George treated all people he met with respect. He loved life and enjoyed everything he did. "He was always in a good mood, and had a smile on his face," said April Witten. Witten was a hostess at The Marion Country Club and waited on Mr. Alber many times. "He didn't treat a waitress any different than he would the King of France. He was a very nice man, and we waitresses would argue over who got to wait on him, as we all wanted to." Witten also recalls some other characteristics of Mr. Alber. "Another thing was, he was frugal. He could bet $200.00 on one swing of the golf club, but had to borrow $3.00 to buy a sandwich!" Mr. Alber was indeed frugal with his money in life, but showed another side of himself after his death. His dedication to Ohio State did not stop after graduation. As Mr. Alber became more and more successful in his life, he donated money and time to the university whenever possible. While alive, Alber set up the George H. and Dorothy Alber Endowed Scholarship Fund to help students at the Marion Branch of The Ohio State University. The scholarship provides tuition assistance for many students at OSU Marion. Alber believed in education and was a strong supporter of all young people. He believed everyone should have a chance for a college education and did his part to help provide opportunities for this. According to those who knew him, he also believed in Marion and his 32 million dollar gift to the people of Marion proves the love this native son had for his community. Back to Top Thankful Students and Community-wide Impact on Education, Alber's Legacy When Marion businessman and philanthropist, George H. Alber died on Thanksgiving in 1997 he left more to higher education in Marion County than the echoes of bells from the clock tower he funded on Ohio State Marion's campus and his name on the façade of the campus student center. Alber's legacy lives today through the thankful hearts and minds of students, who since 1999 have received scholarships from funds earmarked for Marion County students to pursue the dream of attaining a higher education. Alber's gift came in the way of a 32 million dollar trust currently held by the Columbus Foundation. One-third of the investment income from his 32 million dollar estate gift has helped fund the educational goals of nearly one thousand Marion County residents since its inception in 1999. During the 1999-2000 academic year over $200,000 in Alber Scholarships were awarded to Marion County residents choosing to attend The Ohio State University at Marion. Four years since the first Alber Scholarship was awarded the number of students and dollars given has nearly tripled. During the course of the 2002-2003 academic year 284 students will receive of a combined scholarship gift of $635,013. An applicant's eligibility for the Alber Scholarship is determined through three criteria: meeting Marion County residence requirements, attending the Ohio State University at Marion, and academic achievement. Students who graduated from high school in the past year are eligible for scholarships based on class rank or ACT scores. For example, a student who enters their freshmen year in college ranked in the top 3% of their class or with an ACT of 30 to 36 is eligible for a $3927 (figures based on tuition Autumn Quarter 2002). Students who have completed 12 or more college hours have their eligibility determined by their grade point average (GPA) at the end of autumn quarter. Based on these eligibility requirements student awards range from $3927 per academic year for a 4.0 GPA to $750 for a 2.5 ­ 2.6 GPA. According to OSUM admissions coordinator, Matt Moreau, when factoring in the funds Alber left for educating Marion County's youth, The Ohio State University at Marion is the most affordable four year education available in the state of Ohio. For students who have received the funds there is a more personal connection to the tremendous impact of Mr. Alber's vision. Alber believed the single best investment he could make in the future of Marion County was to provide area residents the opportunity to attend The Ohio State University. Anita Freyman is a non-traditional student receiving the Alber Scholarship. She is non-traditional in the sense that she is coming back to school after a 25-year educational hiatus. Also in that she has the added financial responsibility of a mortgage, life insurance, braces for children. Freyman knows these are not the standard financial concerns of an eighteen-year old freshman student and by her own admission Alber's gift means the world to her because of that. "It means everything to me. I wouldn't have the ability to go to college without the Alber Scholarship. I'm grateful to the Alber Scholarship Committee." Freyman, who has worked in management in the private sector for years, explained that when she graduated high school the thing was to get married and raise a family. Now with the economy and challenges of making a decent living she feels this is the time to better herself. "I'd have to go out and get a mediocre job making mediocre pay," exclaimed Freyman. "Thatıs whatıs out there for me without a college education." "I was looking at how much Iım making without a degree and the disparity is so great," she said. Freyman feels, she is worth the investment in time and money to return to school and is also grateful Alber felt the investment was worth it. Freyman wishes she could thank Alber for his gift to her and her hundreds of fellow OSUM students who couldn't attend college without the Marion entrepreneurıs gift. "I'd hug him if that wouldn't be too forward," said Freyman with a grin. "I would thank him for being so unselfish because he chose to help someone better themselves." When asked what she would have done if the Alber Scholarship funds were not available, Freyman replied,"I'd quit college and have to get a job." In terms of financing school she felt, the only alternative would be using credit cards, "or holding garage sales for books." The ambitious college freshman feels Alber's generosity goes beyond individuals, it is important for the entire community. "For any community, education is important. When you educate the people you are contributing to the betterment of society as a whole," she explained. "How do I know my getting a job (as a lawyer) isn't going to help someone down the line." Another freshmen who has taken advantage of Alber's gift to education in Marion County is Anthony Iacubucci. Eighteen-year old Iacubucci, who graduated from Marion Catholic High School in the spring of 2002, explained working hard in high school and investigating numerous college funding options has helped earn him the Dean's Scholarship at Ohio State Marion, which is also funded through Alber dollars. Iacubucci and fellow student Morgan Pugh were awarded the Dean's Scholarship at the outset of autumn quarter 2002. Not only have does the scholarship pay tuition, it affords the two students $600 a year for books and incidental costs. Iacubucci feels without his scholarship things would be much different for him. "I'd say if I didn't have it (the Dean's Scholarship funded through Alber dollars) I'd have to work full-time and I wouldn't be able to focus on my studies as much and save money, which I'm doing right now," said Iacubucci. "I'm saving for future education, for a time when I won't have a full ride, like after my four years of undergrad are up at Ohio State Marion." After contemplating the impact of George H. Alber on the Marion community Iacubucci said, "I can't imagine how much (his) generosity has affected all of us and the opportunity he's given us." As one of the first incoming classes eligible for the Alber Scholarship, Marion Harding graduate, Sandy Canterbury didn't receive a full ride throughout her college career, but it has made all the difference as she approaches graduation. "Being in my situation now I couldn't have paid for it," Canterbury explained. "Education courses in the final year are demanding time wise. I only get in 10 hours (work) a week if that." Canterbury works in the Dean's office part time. "I don't know what I would have done. I can't afford to get a second job and no other job," referring to her work at Ohio State Marion, "would be as flexible." Senior elementary education major, Tammie Frank graduates in December 2002. She started Ohio State Marion before Alber funds had made their impact, but is thankful they were in place for her final quarter. "There's no way I would have graduated this quarter without a full-ride." Which according to Frank was possible due to her good academic standing and the availability of the Alber Scholarship. Frank realizes there are future students who will look at the same challenges of financing a college education. Whether they are just out of high school or coming back to continue a dream she has some advise. "Keep your grades up. Without your grades there is no Alber Scholarship, and fill out all the (financial aid) forms you can." Over thirty-different scholarships are available to OSUM students, but none has had such a universal impact on so many students as the Alber Scholarship. Two words rang true through each student's sentiments when reflecting on the man, George H. Alber, and his gift, "thank you." Back to Top

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