On December 12, 2022, the Ohio Department of Higher Education awarded an additional $896,000 to Youngstown State University’s Choose Ohio First (YSU-COF) scholarship program. The YSU-COFSP 2023 award, YSU Undergraduate and Graduate Education and Training Choose Ohio First (YSU-GrEaT COF), promotes workforce development opportunities for YSU students through partnerships with regional employers, relevant training, and professional development. The award will support an estimated 80 new YSU students over five years in selected STEM majors and graduate programs. The program targets graduate students in the STEM disciplines. These majors and programs include economics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and health sciences.

YSU-GrEaT COF program includes the following:

• Facilitation of co-ops, internships, REUs, and other transcribed academic/professional work experience pathways to high demand STEM careers: YSU staff and academic/professional leaders promote experiential learning opportunities at mandatory monthly cohort meetings.  COF awardees are required to seek out and participate in such experiences.
• Recruitment of STEM talented students, especially from STEM underrepresented populations  
• Academic support and advising as needed  

“The success and ongoing support of the Choose Ohio First program translates to success for Ohio’s STEM students,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner said. “This new award exemplifies Youngstown State’s continued commitment to these critical fields of study and, more importantly, its talented STEM students, including those from underrepresented populations.” 

Applications, contacts, and program information for the YSU-COF Summer Bridge and on-campus scholarship programs are available on the YSU-COF website.  

Support from across YSU made this award possible. Special acknowledgement goes to support provided by several offices and individuals, including President Tressel, Provost Smith, Dean Steelant, Associate Provost and Dean Cossentino, Assistant Provost Bennett, Associate Provost Berardini,  Ms. Emilie Brown, Ms. Sherri Hrusovski, Ms. Elaine Ruse, Mr. Patrick Hoffman, Ms. Becky Varian, and Ms. Jessie Jones. Dr. Tom Wakefield, Chair of Mathematics and Statistics, serves as the YSU COFSP Grant Administrator.