YSU Foundation Scholarship Search

Brian Hudzik was born and raised in Mineral Ridge, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Art in Sociology/Criminology from Ohio University in Athens, OH and later completed the police academy at Youngstown State University in 2004. In August of 2008, Brian was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Through the support of his family and friends, as well as his desire to face challenges head on, Brian decided that he was going to gain more from Multiple Sclerosis than he was going to allow it to take from him. He came back to YSU to complete the Master of Social Work Program in 2013. Brian currently works in the social work profession and lives in the Mahoning Valley with his wife, Amy.

“The Huddy” was established as a golf outing in his honor to raise money for MS research. The committee of “The Huddy” wanted to establish a scholarship to honor Brian, as well as honor and provide assistance to students who share Brian’s passion for helping others. This scholarship is for a graduate student in social work attending full or part-time with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a completed FAFSA that demonstrates financial need. This is a one-year scholarship that can be renewable if the above eligibility requirements continue to be met; however, the applicant must compete with all scholarship applicants and go through the application and selection process each year. Preference will be given to a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in good standing. Preference will be given to applicants diagnosed or applicants with immediate family members diagnosed, or applicants who work with clients as part of their employment or internship who have been diagnosed with a neuromuscular or autoimmune disease such as Multiple Sclerosis (this is not a requirement for application)

This scholarship was established in 2023 by Gage family and friends of Dr. Stephen L. Gage. Dr. Gage served as Director of Bands and Orchestra at the Dana School of Music for 28 years from 1993-2021. During those years, he influenced the lives of thousands of students, helping them to develop their passion for music and honing their skills for sharing that passion. He constantly encouraged his students, present as well as former, to “be the music” and “dare to be great.” This scholarship continues that legacy by providing support for students who demonstrate Dr. Gage’s catchphrase “#lovemusic”. An eligible student(s) for this scholarship must be enrolled full-time in the Dana School of Music, majoring in music education or music performance. They must be an undergraduate student in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to student(s) performing in the band or orchestra program.

Student(s) must write a 300-500 word essay. What does “love music” mean to you? How will you help others to “love music”? How would this scholarship help you pursue this? This essay and a letter of recommendation must be submitted to the Dean of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts.

This scholarship was established in 2025 by the 1898 Foundation. The 1898 Foundation is an independent, autonomous, private, non-profit corporation that peruses, manages and distributes resources to support and preserve the historic district and historic place of the Youngstown Country Club, and other historic designed golf courses and facilities in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, Ohio along with the promotion of amateur golf and related sporting activities. In 2023, Youngstown Country Club celebrated its 125th anniversary and also announced that its clubhouse and golf course were both added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior, creating a historic district. This scholarship will be alternated between the YSU women’s golf team and the YSU men’s golf team for awarding. This is an annual scholarship that can be renewed; however, the applicant must complete the YSU Foundation Scholarship application and go through the application and selection process each year.

This endowment was established in 2019, in recognition of the 1986 and 1987 Penguin Football Teams as well as Back to Back National Championship teams of 1993 and 1994. This scholarship will be awarded to the member of the Penguin Football Team. It can be renewable through the application and selection process.

Professor Caroline Oltmanns established this scholarship in 2015 to provide an annual scholarship to a piano student in the Dana School of Music.

Student must be majoring,or minoring, in piano. Student must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. FAFSA form must be completed, financial need is a consideration.

This scholarship was established in 2016 by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to assist a non-traditional student in their pursuit of a degree from Youngstown State University. An applicant must be non-traditional student. Preference given to students over the age of 50. Students can be attending full or part-time, with a minimum 2.5 GPA. For undergraduate or graduate students pursuing any field of study.

The Abdou Ayoub Scholarship was established in 2024 by Abdou Ayoub, a proud alumnus of Youngstown State University, in gratitude for the scholarship that significantly impacted his academic journey and career. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by international students and inspired by the rare opportunity he received as an international student; this scholarship aims to provide similar opportunities to future generations, empowering them to pursue their educational goals and make lasting contributions to their communities and careers. This scholarship is for an international student, enrolled full-time, open to undergrad and graduate level students; regardless of major with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Abe Harshman Scholarship was established by the YSU Alumni Association with the friends and family of Mr. Harshman. An eligibile student for this scholarship is a junior or senior accounting major with at least a 3.5 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship that can be renewable if the above eligibility requirements continue to be met; however, the applicant must compete with all scholarship applicants and go through the application and selection process each year.