EFCTS students who earned an ASCENT scholarship gather together with OU and Intel staff members.

To cap off their educational pursuits, 10 Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools graduating seniors earned the prestigious honor of being named an ASCENT scholarship recipient. 

During the May Board of Education Meeting, representatives from Ohio University and the Intel Corporation awarded 10 scholarships to Eastland-Fairfield students through the ASCENT program. Family, friends, and EF staff gathered to celebrate students from across the district who earned a scholarship, which will be used to support their future academic endeavors in a STEM-related field.

Superintendent Shelley Groves presents a scholarship to an EFCTS student.

The following students, all recent graduates, were awarded an ASCENT scholarship:

Abbaamilkii Abduljelil (Reynoldsburg, Pre-Engineering) - Ohio State-Newark, Engineering Technology

Aidan Kinnisten (New Albany, Cyber Security) - Purdue University, Computer Science

Aidien Gooden (Whitehall-Yearling, Programming & Software Development) - Tidewater Community College, Computer Science

Baslel Etissa (Reynoldsburg, Programming & Software Development) - Ohio State-Newark, Computer Science & Engineering

Blessing Mensah Abrampah (Groveport Madison, Programming & Software Development) - Howard University, Computer Science

Cora Russell (Pickerington Central, Aviation) - Kent State University, Aeronautical Studies

Jillian Szerensci (Gahanna Lincoln, Bioscience) - The Ohio State University, Forensic Chemistry

Karim Basse (Canal Winchester, Programming & Software Development) - Columbus State Community College, Computer Information Science

Porter Knowles (Canal Winchester, Pre-Engineering) - Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering

Suman Adhikari (Reynoldsburg, Pre-Engineering) - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering

Superintendent Shelley Groves presents a scholarship to an EFCTS student.

The ASCENT scholarships are part of a $3 million grant awarded by the Intel Corporation to support ASCENT, a program that is creating an inclusive workforce training program to cultivate Ohio’s next generation of skilled technical and STEM professionals. This marks the third year Eastland-Fairfield students have been among those to earn an ASCENT scholarship.

Superintendent Shelley Groves presents a scholarship to an EFCTS student.ASCENT is comprised of a broad coalition of institutions, colleges, and technical centers across the southeastern Appalachian region of Ohio. Each will play a vital role in the visualization, delivery, and programming of the overall ASCENT Ecosystem.

Intel’s Semiconductor Education and Research Program for Ohio was announced in March 2022 as part of the company’s pledge to invest $100 million in education and research collaborations with universities, community colleges, and technical educators in Ohio and across the U.S. The program is designed to help build a pipeline of talent and bolster research programs. Of its $100 million investment, Intel designated $50 million specifically to Ohio colleges and universities.

More information about ASCENT