Daily briefs

Owens launches Presidential Scholarship Owens Community College has announced the new Presidential Scholarship for high-achieving high school students, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. The scholarship will award $1,000 per semester for a student's first two semesters of enrollment. The scholarship is applicable toward tuition, fees or other approved educational costs. Students who meet the following criteria are eligible: enrollment at Owens directly from high school; graduation within the top 10 of their high school class; a minimum high school GPA of 2.5; and completion of the FAFSA. There are no residency requirements for the scholarship. The Presidential Scholarship is designed to make merit-based aid accessible to a broader student base. Previously, Owens offered limited merit-based scholarships for incoming students. The Board of Trustees Scholarship is restricted to students residing within Owens' legal service district, and the Start Here Scholarship requires completion of at least nine College Credit Plus credits at Owens. Students can apply for the Presidential Scholarship or find more information on other forms of aid at owens.edu/scholarships. Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation applications open The District 13 Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC) has announced the opening of the fiscal year 2027 application period for Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation funding to now be open through Aug. 13, 2026. Applications are open for projects in Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. Although District 13 includes Logan and Shelby Counties and funds a range of conservation and recreation projects, these counties are outside the service area of the West Central Ohio Land Conservancy, which focuses on protecting natural areas. Approximately $6.7 million will be available to support the permanent protection of natural areas across northwest Ohio. Funding supports projects that ensure these spaces are permanently conserved for their ecological value, and water quality benefits. Landowners who have natural areas on their property and are interested in long-term protection are encouraged to explore this opportunity. Because Clean Ohio funding is awarded to public entities and qualified nonprofit organizations, individuals cannot apply directly. Instead, the Conservancy serves as a partner and applicant, working with landowners to evaluate eligibility, prepare and submit applications, and manage the funding process if a project is awarded. More information about program requirements is available online at https://pwc.ohio.gov/Programs/Clean-Ohio-Application.