Six Mercer and Auglaize County Students Receive OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Scholarships

Six graduating seniors from schools in Mercer and Auglaize counties have been selected to receive $1,000 scholarships through the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Program.

The OHSAA and its six District Athletic Boards awarded a total of $198,000 to 198 recent high school graduates across Ohio.

Local scholarship recipients include Keira Knapke and Edward Obringer of Coldwater, Madison Heitkamp of Fort Recovery, Annie Hemmelgarn of Minster, Mason Ludwig of Wapakoneta and Bradey Triplett of St. Marys.

The six local students will receive a combined $6,000 in scholarship money.

Hemmelgarn, Knapke, Ludwig, Obringer and Triplett were selected through the Northwest District Athletic Board, while Heitkamp was selected through the Southwest District.

Scholarship recipients are selected through a point system that considers grade point average, class rank, community service, varsity letters and individual and team athletic honors.

Students receiving athletic scholarships from NCAA Division I or Division II institutions, along with appointees to military academies, are not eligible for the OHSAA award.

The OHSAA has distributed $598,000 to graduating seniors through its scholarship program over the past three years.

In addition to the scholarships, the OHSAA is sending $1,250 to each member high school in Ohio through its Athletic Enrichment Fund.

The statewide distribution totals more than $1 million and can be used by athletic departments for expenses including equipment, uniforms, transportation, officials and programs aimed at improving student sportsmanship and adult fan behavior.

The Athletic Enrichment Fund was established in 2023.