THE RICHARD COUNTY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP -

A group of seven local leaders established the Richland County Foundation in 1945. These organization’s early founders were motivated by local philanthropist Anna Scattergood, who had established a fund for Mansfield’s elderly and terminally sick citizens who were living in poverty. The Foundation was started under the direction of D. Osborne Meese. Timeline of History

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR

RICHARD COUNTY FOUNDATION

The Richland County Foundation was established as an independent nonprofit corporation, styled after the Cleveland Foundation that could accept and manage philanthropic gifts and bequests of any amount for the advantage of the neighborhood. Through strategic philanthropy and community leadership, the Richland County Foundation seeks to enrich and improve the quality of life in Richland County.

D. Osborne Meese, Paul R. Tappan, Norman L. Wolfe, Scott F. Coffin, George W. Stephens, John H. Finefrock, and Robert B. Black are the other founding members of the Richland County Foundation. So why is D. Osborne Meese regarded as the Foundation’s founding father? I questioned Bob Meese, Osborne’s son, and was fully prepared to hear, “He had the greatest money and wanted to give,” as the response. That wasn’t the response I got. What I got was a two-hour lunch date with Bob, during which he told me about the character of his father, some Mansfield history, and the founding of the Richland County Foundation.

Did Osborne have the most resources—money, education, and spare time—overall? Well, he didn’t have the most money, chuckled Bob. Osborne Meese possessed a commendable work ethic, solid relationships with the community, exceptional leadership skills, and foresight for Richland County. Parents who valued education, religion, giving back to the community, and helping others raised D. Osborne Meese. Osborne’s father, Rev. David Joseph Meese, attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin where he met Nancy Smythe Hughes. He was raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and utilized every chance for public education accessible to him. In 1892, he went on to receive a doctor of divinity degree from Wittenberg College. Over the course of his 22-year tenure at The First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Meese saw the congregation’s membership increase from 206 to 850.

Rev. Meese also played a significant role in the Mansfield neighborhood. He served as the YMCA’s director, a trustee for the Richland County Children’s Home, and a founding member of Westbrook Country Club. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Mansfield Hospital in 1898.

He served as a board member and president of the Mansfield Board of Education, and it was in that capacity that he was able to sign Osborne’s diploma as a 1905 Mansfield High School graduate. Three years later, Rev. Meese agreed to become the chaplain of The Ohio State Reformatory. He and his wife Nancy stayed there until his death in 1917, occupying a suite of rooms. Nancy, affectionately known as “Mother Meese,” was the matriarch of The First Presbyterian Church. Her family made sure she regularly attended Sunday services so she could sit in the “Meese Family Pew.” Her health was generally good up until her death in 1941.

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP

Donors have been providing scholarship funding for Richland County children’s educational needs since 1958. The dedication to that support persists even if the landscape of education has evolved since then.

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CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION

• A citizen of or a high school alumnus from Richland County

• Achieve a GPA of 2.0 or higher (for freshmen) (for past scholarship recipients)

• Show that you need money (determined using the Student Aid Report & tuition package)

• Complete ALL of the checklist’s necessary items.

Apply also; THE CTCL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Scholarships are available to non-traditional students, existing college students, and high school seniors.

• Scholarships are given for the next academic year (fall & spring semesters only).

• Scholarship checks are delivered right to the institution you designated on your scholarship application.

• Both before and after award choices are made, it is YOUR responsibility to let us know if your school preferences have changed.

• Make use of a valid email address that you can access frequently! We’ll give you notifications for awards, questions, and reminders.

CHANGING UNIVERSITIES?

We understand that sometimes your plans may change! Please be aware that changing your mind about a college after receiving a scholarship may result in a reduction in funds or loss of the award.

Here’s what you need to do to assess your continuing eligibility if you’ve already applied for or received a scholarship for the following academic year and you’re switching schools:

• Completing the College Change Form

• Submit the Permission to Financial Aid Form to your new school’s financial aid office.