By Kay Bouyack
The Scioto Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the new Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship Fund, established by Audrey and Ryan Schiesser who are making the scholarship available to students who are interested in pursuing a career in marketing or business.
To be eligible for the Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship, a student must be a graduate of a Scioto County high school, maintain a 3.5 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 and attend Shawnee State University, majoring in business. Preference will be given to students studying marketing.
The Scioto Foundation volunteer scholarship committee will make annual selections of scholarship recipients on behalf of the SF Board of Governors.
“We believe that entrepreneurship and business are essential to the growth and success of our community,” said the Schiessers. “We wanted to create a scholarship that could help support students who are interested in pursuing these fields and help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in our community. Our goal is to give back to the community by supporting students passionate about those fields”
“We hope that this scholarship can help support these students’ academic and career goals,” Audrey concluded.
“It is so exciting when young people like Ryan and Audrey want to give back to the community and help other young people afford a college education, “ said Patty Tennant, Scioto Foundation Program Manager for Donor Services. “It is because of people like them that the Scioto Foundation can make a difference in our community.”
Audrey, who is the owner of Appalachian Marketing and Media, is a graduate of Portsmouth West High School. She attended Shawnee State University where she graduated with a B.S. Degree in Marketing. She was a recipient of a scholarship from the Scioto Foundation.
She is on the board of Scioto Christian Youth Athletics, Vice President of Main Street Portsmouth and a member of the Leadership Team for Friends of Portsmouth.
Ryan, the Business Manager for Appalachian Marketing and Media, is a graduate of Green High School. He graduated from SSU with a B.S. Degree in Cybersecurity and Business Management. He is currently serving his 10th year in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist. He is a mentor at the Kricker Innovation Hub and a member of the Leadership Team for Friends of Portsmouth.
Audrey and Ryan are the parents of Addie, three months old, and Hunter, eleven years old.
The Appalachian Marketing and Media Company, which is three years old, has developed eight marketing services to address every need, said the Schiessers. The services include strategic marketing, photography, social media marketing, email marketing, website development, search engine optimization, videography and graphic design.
Their intent is to grow businesses with target marketing strategies, tactics and resources aimed at attracting more clients and gaining peace of mind, the Schiessers said.
“We believe in supporting our local community which is why we give back to local organizations in our area,” Audrey explained.
The company has launched an internship program benefitting local college students, has expanded into eight service lines, services more than 80 local companies and currently employs seven Shawnee State University graduates, according to Audrey.
“We focus on providing high quality marketing for our customers, excellent employment opportunities for our staff and excellent experience for local college students with our internship program,” she concluded.
Contributions to the Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship Fund from family, friends or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of gifts of cash, securities or property.
Additional information about the Appalachian Marketing and Media Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.