Huntington National Bank has gifted the Clark State Community College Foundation Scholars program with $10,000.

“Huntington has a tradition of providing meaningful support of charitable programs and initiatives that seek to improve self-sufficiency and quality of life in communities served by Huntington,” said Philip Teusink, community president with Huntington National Bank.

Teusink served on the Clark State Foundation board of directors from 2010 through 2019. He said the funds donated by Huntington National Bank are earmarked for the Clark County Scholars program. 

“The more I became involved with Clark State, the more I appreciated how community colleges help change lives,” said Teusink. “It was especially evident in the year or so following the great recession, reading scholarship applications from people seeking new training and new skills or new jobs.”

The Clark State Foundation has teamed up with several local school districts to identify eligible middle school students who will become the first in their families to earn a college degree. Upon graduation from high school, the students will be eligible for three years of college at Clark State at no cost to the students.

Upon selection to the program, all Scholars and their parents/guardians must sign a contract. The contract states the Scholars program student must maintain a 2.0 or greater grade point average, maintain 93 percent or better school attendance, participate in at least 75 percent of the program activities, exhibit good citizenship, take classes in high school that will prepare the students for college and stay enrolled in the district in which the student was inducted.

“The Clark State Foundation appreciates Huntington National Bank’s continued support of our students,” said Karen Hunt, director of the Clark State Scholars program. “The gift will truly make a difference in the lives of first-generation students, who now have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of attending college. On behalf of the participants of the program, we appreciate Huntington National Bank’s investment in their futures and communities.”