Scholarship pays tribute to Zelma S. Holmes鈥� life of service
The first Zelma S. Holmes Scholarship, benefiting high-achieving, financially-eligible 花季传媒 Southern students who have a record of serving others, will be awarded for the 2019-20 academic year.
Zelma S. Holmes lived a life of service.
A lifelong resident of Ironton, Ohio, she learned how to operate a ham radio during World War II in the event of an organized community need. She served the Lawrence County Senior Citizens Center and was selected to represent the county at a White House Conference on Aging. She cooked for her church. And she always had a hot meal for anyone in the neighborhood who needed one.
As the 10-year anniversary of Holmes鈥� passing approaches, her family is continuing her legacy, creating a scholarship for high-achieving, financially-eligible 花季传媒 Southern students who carry that same commitment to serving others.
This photo from The Ironton Tribune shows members of the civil defense communicators crew during the early 1940s. Zelma S. Holmes (far right, first row) learned how to operate a ham radio during World War II in the event of an organized community need.
鈥淢y family is full of people who are always lending a helping hand. This was especially true of my grandmother who, as a black American, grew up in southern Ohio during some trying times in the United States,鈥� Jasmine Anderson, BBA 鈥�04, said of her grandmother, the namesake of the Zelma S. Holmes Scholarship that Anderson and other friends and family established in her honor. 鈥淪he had this innate awareness to help those around her, regardless of social differences. 鈥� This scholarship is a means to ensure that her compassionate spirit lives on, and, as a lifelong resident of Ironton, the Southern Campus was the obvious choice.鈥�
While Holmes did not attend 花季传媒, she saw the impact it had on her loved ones. Anderson鈥檚 mother鈥檚 first job was in the library on the Southern Campus, and a few members of the family are proud Bobcats.
鈥淔or nearly 20 years, 花季传媒 has been a direct influence in my life,鈥� Anderson, an associate bursar at The Ohio State University, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very likely that I would not be here today professionally if I had not received the education I did from OHIO.鈥�
Nicole Pennington, dean of 花季传媒 Southern, said the Holmes Family is well known in and around Ironton as is Holmes鈥� record of kindness, generosity and service to the community.
鈥淚t is always meaningful when donors invest in our students at 花季传媒 Southern,鈥� Pennington said. 鈥淭heir contributions not only assist students with financial needs, but also boost the students鈥� confidence by reminding them that someone believes in their abilities and is willing to contribute to their success. 鈥� The establishment of this scholarship in Mrs. Holmes鈥� honor speaks to her family鈥檚 commitment to follow her lead and to continue to pay kindness forward.鈥�
The first Zelma S. Holmes Scholarship will be awarded for the 2019-20 academic year.
鈥淲e have a lot of students who have financial need, so we are so appreciative for every gift donated to the Southern campus,鈥� said Stephanie Burcham, director of development and alumni relations for 花季传媒 Southern and director of OHIO鈥檚 Proctorville Center. 鈥淚 appreciate the community service aspect of this scholarship because it鈥檚 clear that Zelma Holmes was a giver.鈥�
To be eligible for the scholarship, undergraduate applicants must be residents of Lawrence County, Ohio, or Boyd County, Kentucky; have demonstrated financial need and academic merit; and have demonstrated community service.
鈥淎s this scholarship has strong academic and community service requirements, I hope that it encourages a lifelong commitment to learning and service,鈥� Anderson said.