For the Future campaign launched by foundation
Trent Troyer
The Tuscarawas County University Foundation is launching its 2023 impact campaign, For the Future.
Beginning this month, the community can support local education. Trent Troyer, president and CEO of First Federal Community Bank, and Elizabeth Stephenson, Tuscarawas County court administrator, will lead this year’s campaign.
The Future Founders Fund supports scholarships and student success.
For second-year nursing student Jaydon Miller, scholarships have been a blessing.
“The support encourages me to focus on my studies and stay on top of my work,” he said. “You don’t want to dishonor the genuine gift. It is a gift.”
Miller is one of many Kent State Tuscarawas students who earned scholarships to pursue local education for future careers. Scholarships through the campus Tuscarawas County University Foundation can mean the difference in a college education.
Co-chairing the campaign, Troyer has been in the banking industry for 39 years and has served as president of FFD and First Federal since 2000. Actively involved in volunteer community and industry activities, he presently serves on the boards of New Philadelphia City Schools Quaker Foundation (president) and Connecticut Online Computer Center Inc.
He also is involved as a member of the Dover-New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club, Association of Ohio Commodores and member of the Ohio Bankers League Government Relations Council. Additionally, Troyer received the 2019 Kent State Tuscarawas Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award.
Since joining the court staff in 1997, Stephenson has worked closely with the judges, organizing and coordinating efforts to establish mediation and drug court programs. She has been active at the state level with the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Jury Task Force; is on the Rules of Superintendence Commission, having served as vice chair in an earlier term; and currently serves on the Advisory Committee on Case Management.
Locally, Stephenson is involved in the Tuscarawas County Bar Association and serves as a board member on several local boards including the Tuscarawas County University Foundation for Kent State Tuscarawas.
According to Brad Bielski, Tuscarawas campus dean, “We are pleased to have students who are so dedicated to their educations and futures; they are going to impact the world. We encourage the community to be part of that journey and support the foundation’s impact fund to assist us in providing essential scholarships and modern campus learning resources.”
In 1968 the foundation was created to sustain and advance a high standard of education and excellence at Kent State Tuscarawas. Funds raised through the campaign are used for student scholarships and student initiatives and provide educational facilities and equipment.
“We are asking the community to help us support our hardworking students by making gifts to our For the Future Founders Fund, benefiting scholarships and student services,” said Chad Conrad, director of philanthropy. “Individuals like Jaydon are examples of the types of students who receive much-needed scholarships through our campus foundation.”
Gifts to the Tuscarawas County University Foundation in support of Kent State Tuscarawas can be sent to Tuscarawas County University Foundation, 330 University Drive NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, or made online at www.TuscUniversityFoundation.org. For more information call or email Conrad at 330-308-7445 or cconra1@kent.edu.