Get personal

Leesa and Donald Kurdziel have established three scholarships at Ohio State, including The Wilbur A. and Mary Lou Hall Concert Band Scholarship Fund in the School of Music and The Henry P. and Kathryn A. Kurdziel Education Scholarship Fund in the College of Education and Human Ecology. Both are one-time scholarships that honor Leesa and Donald's parents, but they wanted to make an even bigger impact on "the place that has been so important to our family." The result is The Leesa Hall and Donald M. Kurdziel Family Fund, a renewable, four-year scholarship.

"We hope that by making this a renewable reward, we can get to know the recipient over their entire Ohio State career and perhaps provide a bit of support, guidance and mentorship along the way." The Kurdziels were inspired by Leesa's experience as a social worker in the New York City foster care system to award the scholarship to students who were once wards of the state.

Sandra Jones, the scholarship's first recipient, graduated this spring with a degree in social work. The Kurdziels were able to attend the ceremony and said "We were so impressed by what Sandra accomplished and we were very happy to celebrate with her."

Passion for Ohio State and concern for youth fuel Leesa and Donald's desire to support as many students as they can. In fact, the issue is so personal to them that the Kurdziels have also started a project called Be a Love Preserver (TM) . They market products and donate a portion of the proceeds to nonprofts that support foster care children.

You can be the personal difference in the life of a student. Contact Leslie Kreinberg at 614-247-6600 or by email at kreinberg.3@osu.edu