“Intelligence Plus Character – That Is The Goal Of True Education.”
~ Martin Luther King Jr.
2023 Winner: Megan Swain
Megan was a past class officer and served as President of the Community Service Club 2022-2023 and was a member of the Cross Country Team, Track Team and Indoor Track Team throughout high school.
Megan plans to attend Hiram College, with a degree in biology and a focus on environmental studies because of her interest in the environment and the outdoors in general. Growing up her Grandfather had a tree farm and she would spend summer days working and focusing on the ecology of the forest. Beyond the tree farm he had a philosophy, that the energy you put into something or someone will always have a reaction, but it is up to you to make it a positive or a negative outcome. She now finds pride in being able to step up and take on that challenge. Megan says, “it makes me feel at peace with things knowing I can carry on the legacy and teach future generations as he taught me”.
Megan’s career goals are: she wants to go into field research with a focus on ecology and how things in the environment interact. She says, “There is so much to learn in this area because our world is constantly changing and evolving”. She also hopes to take over the tree farm or at least help run the farm when her Grandfather passes.
2022 Winner: Kemery Kerschner
Kemery was a member of AHS Choir 2018-2019, Varsity Football Cheerleader 2018-2021, Captain 2022, Varsity Basketball Cheerleader 2018 and 2019 and 2019-2020, Varsity Competition Cheerleader 2018-2022, National Honors Society 2020-2021 and the CollegeNow Business Program, 2020-2022, full time college student.
Her career aspirations include supporting children and adults who face difficult times as she did when she was a younger. Kemery, as a cancer survivor, would enjoy working in a field where she gets to walk kids through the strange and confusing stages of cancer treatments. Her hope would be to better explain the situation and what is expected and not expected of those families, in a way that isn’t condescending or confusing.
She hopes that her more narrow and focused education in Medical Case Management will allow her to have a better grasp on how to treat and handle these situations.
Kemery says, “I chose Medical Case Management, because ever since I was a kid in treatment, my goal has been to work in the medical field and help others the way I was helped and treated.”
2020 Winner: Cohan Robinson
In college, Cohan plan to double major in software engineering and electrical engineering, and then to continue his education at a graduate school like MIT. He would like to pursue a career in AI engineering and drone tech.
His passion for engineering and creative mindset has led me to pursue a degree in engineering.
After college, his goal is to pursue a career in control systems engineering, and to program technology that will change the world. This scholarship is important to him because it will enable him to seek a higher education.
The Ashland community has been very important to his development. From a young age, he was in the gifted program, which was specific to his learning needs and has always been able to grow with support from his community, from many different sports to music groups to athletics.
Cohan hopes to return the value of a great upbringing by giving back to his community by donating to charities and sponsoring local sports programs.
2019 Winner: Alysa Frcka
My name is Alysa Frcka. I am a four-year scholar athlete; I was a member of a cappella choir, and a four-year cheerleader at AHS. I was also a part of Tri-M (National Honor Music Society) and a two-year Arrow-to-Arrow Mentor at Ashland High School. I am a two-year recipient of the coach’s award for cheer, and my senior year I was awarded with the George Valentine award as well.
In 2019 I helped restart our Ashland Youth Cheer Program after many years and I also completed a lot of community service without even realizing it. I love helping others and helping out in our community. My senior year wasn’t your typical “Senior Year”, I had so many challenges that I didn’t know how to overcome. One example is I lost my grandpa two days before my 18th birthday. We were very close and after he passed I finally realized that God wanted me to be a teacher. I say that because he was like a teacher to me, he helped me through everything and he never gave up on me and I want to do that for others. I have decided to attend The Ohio State in Mansfield for Early Childhood Education. I am so thankful to have been awarded the Sophia Underwood scholarship and I know I will be very successful with the support of my family, friends, and community. Thank you for your support.
2018 Winner: Nicole Schuster
Nicole was a 4-year Award Winner in Soccer, Track & Field, Cheerleading, Choir/Sing and Swing and maintained a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of the Honor Roll and achieved the Scholar/Athlete Award in each of her four years at AHS. Nicole was named OCC First Team in Soccer, District First Team, District Player of the Year, Ashland Times-Gazette, Player of the Year, All-Ohio Division I, First Team and All-Region First Team.
She also earned several awards for Track & Field and was a three time state qualifier in cheerleading along with a State-1st in Class award for a cappella Choir. Nicole was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church-Younglife and also a four-year member of Student Council.
Nicole plans to attend University of Findlay where she has earned a scholarship to play soccer.
According to Nicole, “My future as a student athlete working toward a future in Sonography would not be possible without the generous support of the Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship. Thank you for creating this amazing opportunity!
2017 Winner: Hannah Donofrio
Hannah was a four-year scholar athlete, a three-year letter winner in volleyball and a four-year letter winner in track. She was also active in the National Honor Society and Younglife during high school and served as a volunteer for Dale Roy events and Replay for Kids events. She was awarded the All Sports George Valentine Award and the All Sports Scholar Athlete Award for the highest GPA of all female four-year letter winning athletes.
Hannah will be attending the University of Dayton in the fall to major in civil engineering.
“I am so grateful to be the recipient of the Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship. She set an amazing example of giving back to others, something I hope to do in my professional and personal future.”
2016 Winner: AJ Beer
I am blessed and honored to receive the Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship. I have been told how sweet and amazing this woman was. I am proud to be a part of her legacy.
The entire Matt Underwood Charity Golf Team wishes him much success as he pursues to further his education.
2015 Winner: Katelyn Renolds
Katelyn played Tennis for the Lady Arrows her Junior and Senior year and was involved in the High School Musical all four years. A Member of the National Honor Society her Junior and Senior years, she was also involved in many church activities throughout her high school years.
Katelyn was also a Regional Art Award winner in both her Junior and Senior year.
Katelyn states, “I am so blessed to have received the Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship and I am very appreciative for the opportunity to help keep Sophia’s memory to live on”.
She will be attending The University of Findlay this Fall and majoring in Physical Therapy. Her goal is to become a therapist and return what the Ashland Community has taught her, which is to help others.
2014 Winner: Alexis Stoops
Alexis was a four-year varsity letter winner in basketball at Ashland High School and All-Ohio Division I Special Mention as well as Player of the Year District 6. Alexis was the second in Arrow history to score 1000 points during her high school career. She also excelled in volleyball earning District 6 Player of the Year and was named Ashland Times-Gazette Player of the Year in 2014.
Alexis was involved in Arrow Inner Circle, OCC Leadership and attended Ashland University for post secondary classes and served as AHS Student Council, Class Treasurer. According to Alexis, “I was very happy to be the recipient of the Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship Award, knowing how wonderful of a lady she was and what she stood for”.
Alexis plans to attend Ashland University this Fall and Major in Business. All of the Matt Underwood Celebrity Golf Team wishes her well as she pursues to further her education.
2013 Winner: Megan Eagle
Megan Elizabeth Eagle has been awarded the 2013 Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship Award. Megan plans on attending Ohio University in Athens this fall majoring in Communications.
Megan was a four-year AHS Scholar Athlete and a four-year Letter Winner in Golf and Track. She was honored with the Most Inspirational Award in track and the George Valentine Sportsmanship Award in Golf. Megan also was a four-year Honor Roll student and Student Council member as well as involvement in the AHS Panorama, AHS Video Production, AHS Orchestra and served as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Ashland County Cancer Association.
The entire Matt Underwood Tournament Team wishes Megan Eagle much continued success at Ohio University!
2012 Winner: Taylor Campbell
The First Sophia Underwood Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Taylor Campbell an Ashland High School 2012 graduate. Campbell was chosen from over 17 applicants to the scholarship in its inaugural year. Among her accomplishments at Ashland High School were National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Arrow Television Production team, Panorama Newspaper Staff and a four-year Girl’s Tennis Team Player. Campbell will be attending Ashland University this fall. Matt Underwood’s message to Taylor Campbell was, “Pursue your dreams with all of the determination that mom (Sophia) showed in her life”. The entire Matt Underwood Golf Tournament Team wishes Taylor Campbell much success in her pursuit.