Recipients of the 2015-16 Educational Excellence Grants are, front row, from left: Emily Bauman, Adams County; Courtnee Clark, Adams County; Mackenzie Harover, Adams County; Megan Mustard, Highland County; Victoria Walker, Highland County; Charlie Miller, Fayette County; Alec Herrell, Lawrence County; Jeremy Trester, Clermont County; Taylor Brown, Adams County; Holly O’Hara, Brown County; back row: Don Branson, SOACDF executive director, Jared Cluxton, Brown County; Tara Karnes, Highland County; Paul Snyder, Highland County; Joshua Goodall, Gallia County; Kore Newman, Adams County; Caleb McDowell, Adams; Robert McCormick, Adams County; Baylee Tolle, Adams County; Eric Wolfer, SOACDF board chair. Recipient not pictured is Crystal Pennewitt, Clinton County.

The Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation Board of Trustees met recently at the Endeavour Center at OSU South Centers, in Piketon, to recognize the recipients of the 2015-16 Educational Excellence Competitive Grant.

The grant is a one-time grant of up to $7,500 which goes toward tuition, on-campus housing, lab fees and books to be used at an accredited institution. Applicants were scored by a committee on a combination of written essays and personal interviews.

Applications for the 2016-17 Educational Excellence Competitive Grant will be available at the SOACDF office or Farm Service Agencies in southern Ohio in late October.

For more details, visit www.soacdf.net.