FAIRBORN — Wright State University received nearly $780,000 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship funds from the State of Ohio to support students pursuing degrees and certificates in STEM and STEM-focused education fields during the 2025–2026 academic year.
This competitive scholarship program, which provides annual awards from $1,500 to $3,000, aims to increase enrollment, retention and success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. It also supports education students whose programs emphasize STEM content.
For the first time, Wright State will offer Choose Ohio First scholarships to graduate students, expanding the program’s impact and helping develop advanced STEM talent to meet the evolving needs of Ohio’s workforce.
“We are thrilled to expand the Choose Ohio First scholarship program to include Wright State graduate students this year,” said Subhashini Ganapathy, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate Programs and Honor Studies. “This vital support allows us to attract and retain top-tier STEM talent. By investing in these future leaders, we are strengthening Ohio’s innovation pipeline and enabling students to make meaningful contributions to high-demand fields.”
Wright State’s Choose Ohio First Scholarship recipients gain real-world experience through work-based learning opportunities, such as internships, co-ops and research placements. These experiences are designed to help students successfully transition into Ohio’s STEM workforce.
Students benefit from a cohort model that includes wraparound support services like advising and mentoring, co-op and internship placements, cohort-based seminars and events and research and professional development opportunities.
Choose Ohio First scholarships are designed to strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness in STEM disciplines by supporting students in innovative academic programs. The scholarships aim to increase enrollment, retention and competition among students in STEM fields to strengthen Ohio’s talent pipeline for STEM occupations and related industries.
Wright State has participated in the Choose Ohio First program since it launched in 2008. Administered by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the program supports the economic growth of the region by growing a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of employers in key industries, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Wright’s continued participation has helped produce graduates in high-demand fields such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer science, Engineering, Information systems, Mathematics and statistics, Medical laboratory science, Neuroscience, Nursing, Physics, Public health, STEM-focused education, Supply chain management
