OhioMBE Awards gifts Frank W. Watson Scholarship to two students
The OhioMBE Awards will recognize Asa Burke and Tylar Willis as Frank W. Watson Scholarship winners during the annual awards and luncheon ceremony on Oct.26.
The Frank W. Watson Scholarship is awarded to two local students who are pursuing post-secondary education. Frank was an advocate of higher education and founded one of Central Ohio’s first college access programs in the 1970’s, Tomorrow’s Education Now. The non-profit Model Cities program assisted students with completing financial aid forms and took them on college visits.
Tylar Willis is a first-year student majoring in Graphic Design at Ohio University. She graduated from Pickerington North High School. She was a volleyball referee for Pickerington Youth Athletic Association. She was a member of the Girls’ Basketball and Track teams.
Tylar participated in the Business Professionals of America. She placed first in the regional for Global Marketing team and fifth in the State for Global Marketing.
“Furthering my education is important because I would like to have a positive impact in my community and continue to be a productive member of society,” she said.
She is the daughter of Cheryl Watson and Charles Willis.
Asa Burke is a 2016 graduate and class valedictorian from Columbus East High school. He was also the student district ambassador for Columbus City Schools and a member of TRIO Upward Bound. He participated in three varsity sports: football, wrestling, and track and field.
He is continuing his education at The Ohio State University and furthering my talents in varsity track and field on an athletic scholarship.
“Education is important to me because it creates opportunities for myself that my ancestors were not always able to have. I acknowledged that in history, African Americans sacrificed almost everything to have an education, so I feel it is my responsibility to get an education and use it to better myself and my community,” he said.
He is the son of Monique Phillips.
The OhioMBE Awards are Oct. 26. Tickets are available at www.OhioMBE.eventbee.com
