Twenty-five Columbus-area high school students will attend Ohio Wesleyan University tuition-free thanks to a new partnership with the Columbus-based college-access organization I Know I Can.
Ohio Wesleyan and I Know I Can announced its new scholarship at an event on the university’s Delaware campus Monday morning. The collaboration will provide up to 25 high school seniors annually with total financial aid for at least full tuition for four years while they pursue bachelor’s degrees at OWU. Funds will come from a combination of federal, state and institutional dollars.
The scholarship agreement makes Ohio Wesleyan the largest scholarship provider in I Know I Can’s network.
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To make the scholarship a reality, OWU reworked one of its current scholarships to make it available exclusively to I Know I Can students. That scholarship — the Dr. Charles Thomas Scholarship — was created in 2020 to celebrate the legacy of Thomas, one of the first Black collegiate baseball players in the early 1900s.
“Ohio Wesleyan University is laser-focused on reducing and eliminating economic and other barriers to an elite liberal arts education,” OWU President Matt vandenBerg said. “I Know I Can provides young people from Central Ohio with support, encouragement and resources, and OWU is immensely proud to partner with them to propel students toward their dreams.”
I Know I Can serves high school students enrolled in Columbus City Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools, South-Western City School District and Whitehall City Schools, with college access, grants and career readiness. The organization says it is the only college-access organization in Columbus and one of the largest in the country.
Eligible students must attend one of I Know I Can’s school districts, be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant program, and have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher to apply for the scholarship.
Students also must complete Ohio Wesleyan’s Summer Bridge program — a three-week residential program to equip incoming first-year students for college, with a focus on first-generation students, students of color, LGBTQ students and other historically underserved populations — prior to their fall semester enrollment.
Students are eligible to renew the Thomas Scholarship for up to eight semesters at Ohio Wesleyan, so long as they continue to show financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and remain in good academic standing.
“This initiative celebrates the hard work and determination of our students, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to succeed. Together, we will help these inspiring students build brighter futures for themselves and our community,” said Katina Fullen, I Know I Can’s chief executive officer.
Dez Dorelien, a current Ohio Wesleyan freshman and Beechcroft High School graduate, encouraged eligible I Know I Can students to visit and apply to Ohio Wesleyan.
“After visiting, I felt like I belonged there, where I could leave my imprint and not be overlooked,” Dorelien said.
Affordability was a main factor in Dorelien’s college search. When Ohio Wesleyan assured her that money wouldn’t be an issue, Dorelien said she could breathe easy.
“I could enjoy my time in college without worrying about such kinds of obstacles,” Dorelien said. “Despite the small size of the school, the heart of the OWU community is large.”
More:Ohio Wesleyan to become tuition-free for lower-income Delaware County students
The partnership with I Know I Can is the latest affordability program Ohio Wesleyan launched this year.
In April, OWU announced the Delaware County Promise, which provides free tuition to any Delaware County high school graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA and whose family earns $100,000 or less per year.
The university also announced three new or expanded collaborations with Columbus State Community College, including Tuition Match, which guarantees up to 25 qualified Columbus State graduates to enroll at Ohio Wesleyan annually to complete their bachelor’s degree while paying the same tuition they paid during their final semester at the college.
“Ohio Wesleyan is a higher education innovator and change-maker,” vandenBerg said. “We aspire to model how colleges and universities can open the door of opportunity for all students.”
Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.
shendrix@dispatch.com
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