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Impact Story: 2025 Charles G. Will Scholarships
- Upper Arlington Education Foundation
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
On April 22, 2025, the Upper Arlington Education Foundation (UA+Ed) presented the annual Charles G. Will Scholarship Awards to Brooke V. (Senior), Trevor L. (Senior), Leigha R. (Junior), Max B. (Sophomore), and Emmy H. (Freshman) alongside Susie Rudolph Harpham and Jim Howe alumni of class ‘59.
“Brooke is an exemplary student, one who is wholly invested in her learning. As a writer, Brooke astutely draws from a wide variety of ways she has approached and understood a text: through class discussions, analysis of supplemental works, and close examination of the text itself. She then weaves these ideas together to support intelligent, convincing arguments. Even with timed assessments, she uses the writing process to create eloquent, evidence-based responses that consistently earn high marks. Doing so reflects her sustained attention to learning and her ongoing commitment to producing clear and compelling written communication. For all these reasons, I am honored to nominate Brooke V., a recipient of the Charles G. Will Writing Award. Congratulations, Brooke!” - Nominated by Meridith Niekamp
"Trevor is currently enrolled in my Greek Classics course. He is a bright, hardworking student who pushes himself to do rigorous, high-quality work. Trevor works well in groups, and his peers like and respect him. He is always willing to ask thoughtful, insightful questions while listening to his classmates’ contributions. When given feedback about his writing, Trevor reacts like a mature student with a willingness to improve as a reader, writer, and thinker. Because he dedicates himself to the pursuit of learning, Trevor L. is the perfect recipient of the Charles G. Will Writing Award.” - Nominated by Leah Miller
“Leigha has made remarkable growth as a writer this school year. As a deaf writer, she has often hesitated to begin tasks without reassurance and has relied heavily on support for organization and clarity. While she has always had strong ideas, turning those thoughts into clear written expression was a challenge to accomplish independently. Over this school year, Leigha has taken ownership of her growth and now regularly initiates writing tasks on her own, outlines ideas independently, and asks thoughtful questions during support sessions. Her grammar and sentence structure have shown consistent improvement, and her writing, in all ways, has become clearer. I’m incredibly proud of the progress Leigha has made this year. Her increased independence, accuracy, and confidence are a direct reflection of her hard work and tenacity.”
“I, too, am incredibly proud of Leigha. As Ms. Tedeschi said, “Leigha has made remarkable growth as a writer this school year,” and that is because Leigha is a committed learner. She worked closely with us to craft her ideas clearly, and her dedication really shone when Leigha had to complete a timed writing, a task that required her to rely solely on herself. Leigha wrote a clear thesis, cited and integrated evidence, and thoughtfully organized her argument about the text. So proud of her! That is why I, along with Ms. Tedeschi, have nominated Leigha for the Charles G. Will Writing Award. Congratulations, Leigha!”- Nominated by Ms. Tedeschi and Ms. Pavell
"Max has been developing his reading, writing, and critical thinking skills this year. He is a leader in class discussions and asks stimulating questions. He comes to class with a smile each day, ready to engage with his peers. His writing has gotten better and better this year - it is a joy to read. We look forward to seeing what Max will do in the coming years." - Nominated by Dorothy Sutton
“Emmy H. was nominated for this award because she stands out as a great storyteller. She likes to read and her writing reflects this. Her desire to read and write makes her a great candidate to be honored.” - Nominated by Robin Mollica
Scholarship Overview
The Upper Arlington High School Class of 1959 established an endowment fund to honor Mr. Charles G. Will, an educator who had a profound impact on their education.
In his memory, the fund acknowledges underclassmen who have demonstrated significant improvement and progression in their writing—our emerging writers.
Winners receive a gift card and a book (picked by their teacher) and will be surprised by members of the Class of '59 during their Language Arts class.
This initiative not only celebrates emerging writers at UAHS but also exemplifies the power of a class united in giving back to their alma mater. Future graduates will be inspired by this spirit of generosity and will continue the tradition of supporting the next generation of Golden Bears.
Selection Process
Each spring, Upper Arlington High School Language Arts teachers select one recipient from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. Teachers are also asked to recommend a book for each winning student. The Class of '59 purchases the recommended book, which is presented to the student along with a gift card.
The Upper Arlington Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides access to meaningful opportunities for students that are beyond the budget of the Upper Arlington School District. Established in 1985, UA+Ed is permanently structured to fund programs and projects today and for generations to come. The Upper Arlington Alumni Association is an important part of the foundation and keeps graduates connected, engaged, and motivated to pay it forward.
Past Award Winners
