Congratulations to the winner of the 2023-’24 Mikaylah Belford Moore Scholarship, Kennedy Murphy. Kennedy will receive $250 from this fund.
Established in 2022, the Mikaylah Belford Moore Scholarship Fund was created by Alex Moore of South Webster in honor of his wife. Born June 5, 1999, in Portsmouth, Mikaylah was the daughter of Michelle Belford and Ryan Rase and the granddaughter of Joe and Sandy Belford and Mike and Debbie Rase. She grew up in Vernon Township and attended school at Bloom Vernon where she graduated in 2017. While in high school, she was a member of Select Sound and the National Honor Society and was chosen Senior Homecoming Attendant. She also played volleyball and softball and was a 14-year member of 4–H.
While taking engineering classes at South Webster, Mikaylah became interested in the field. She received an Associate Degree in CAD drafting from Shawnee State University and was hired as a drafter at EN Engineering, now called ENTRUST Solutions. She was pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering at Ohio University when she was diagnosed with GBM.
Mikaylah and Alex were married on June 1, 2019; her in-laws were Rick and Lou Ann Moore.
“Mikaylah and I wanted to set up this scholarship fund to help others pursue a degree in a STEM field”, said Alex. As they look back on the last few years, there has been no shortage of people willing to step up and help her in any way they could, stated Alex.
“We can’t even begin to express how grateful we are to everyone that’s helped us get to where we are today,” Alex said. “We hope that with this scholarship we are able to help out others just starting on their college journey with the hope that they can achieve all the dreams Mikaylah isn’t able to achieve now.”
Sadly, Mikaylah passed away on April 14, 2023.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a graduating senior at South Webster High School with a documented high school grade point average of 3.0 or better. The candidate must plan to major in a STEM-related field. Preference will be given to girls who participated in high school sports.
The Scioto Foundation scholarship application will open on November 1st and close a few months later. Graduating seniors at South Webster High School are encouraged to apply.
For more information about this scholarship fund, other funds at the foundation, or the Scioto Foundation scholarship application, please contact Ginnie Moore, Grant and Scholarship Coordinator, by emailing ginnie@thesciotofoundation.org or calling the office at (740) 354-4612. Those wishing to make contributions to this fund may do so at any time. Online donations can be made by visiting www.sciotofoundation.org.
