On June 20, 1903, twenty years into the existence of SHSAA, association members, who decided that they wanted to do more than just keep memories alive of high school days, established the first high school alumni scholarship fund in Ohio to help outstanding graduates attend college. Fundraisers were held and donations solicited. With the interest generated on the funds, the association gave its first scholarship for $60 in 1908.

Although there are now more than two dozen SHSAA named scholarships available for graduates and alumni, the Academic Merit Scholarship is the descendant of that first 1908 scholarship which has evolved into what today is a generous scholarship for students demonstrating academic excellence.

Over the past 115 years, $6.7 million has been given to over 2000 graduating Salem High School students through Academic Merit Scholarships.

These awards are made available from the Charles Fox Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Born in Lisbon in 1903, Mr. Fox attended Lisbon public schools and East Liverpool Business School. He was employed by the Salem China Company from 1925 to 1950. He then began working at the Salem Label Company where he retired as secretary-treasurer in 1969. A love for music resulted in his becoming a founder and charter member of the Community Concert Association.

Mr. Fox was openly enthusiastic about talented young people.

Upon his death in 1972, Mr. Fox designated the income from his estate be used to support the Community Concert Association and the scholarship fund of the Salem High School Alumni Association.

Doris Tetlow, Class of 1922, was a long-time junior high teacher for Salem City Schools.

A talented singer, she was director of the junior high chorus. Miss Tetlow began teaching in 1925 at a time when teacher salaries were usually less than $1000 a year and woman teachers were to be unmarried.

Miss Tetlow lived with her mother Olive, who also left the alumni association a sizeable amount of money. Doris Tetlow died in 1982, bequeathing the association $222,000.

Matthew Yerkey ’82, DDS, and his wife Wanda have funded the E. Blair Yerkey Memorial Ohio State University Scholarship in memory of their son Ethan Blair, who passed away in 2005 from a seizure disorder at the age of 21 months. The scholarship is designated for a Salem High School graduate who currently attends The Ohio State University and who lives with or has overcome a life challenge. The first scholarship will be awarded in 2022, the year that Blair would have graduated.



Dr. and Mrs. Yerkey have strong ties to The Ohio State University. Dr. Yerkey graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1989 and afterward served in the U.S. Navy as a dental officer for 3 years. He returned to Salem in 1992 to open his dental office and for 30 years has served the Salem area. Dr. Yerkey is actively involved with The Ohio State Alumni Club of Columbiana County. Wanda Marrero Yerkey, a graduate of Lorain Southview High School, attended The Ohio State University on a track scholarship as a high jumper. She later completed her nursing degree at Kent State University and is currently a registered nurse at Salem Regional Medical Center.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Deming Lowry was a 2005 graduate of Salem High School and a 2009 graduate of Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism. A kind and compassionate young woman, she believed that selflessly helping others was an integral part of a meaningful life. She passed away in October 2020 at the age of 34, leaving behind her father W. Robert Lowry II of Salem, her mother Laura (McCorkhill) Cantini of Greensburg, PA, and her brother W. Robert Lowry III of Salem.



The Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lowry Memorial Compassion Scholarship recognizes the quality of compassion in a graduating student. One or two graduating high school students may be selected annually for their good works in helping others. Applicants will need to have demonstrated acts of compassion during their high school experiences or in special activities either inside or outside the traditional high school environment.



Generously funded by the Lowry Family, the Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lowry Memorial Compassion Scholarship was first awarded at the Salem High School Alumni Association’s Award Ceremony in 2022.

Emma Bauman Holmes '43, was a professor of education and child development, emeritus, at California State University, Fullerton.



Although a strong advocate of higher education, Prof. Bauman Holmes pointed out that satisfying careers which contribute to society do not necessarily require university study and a bachelor's degree. The Emma Bauman Holmes Vocational Scholarship assists graduating Salem High School students who want to enroll in an accredited certification or vocational program designed to teach skills in a recognized field of employment.



A unique aspect of the Holmes Vocational Scholarship is that recipients may reapply for a scholarship for one year if their studies continue in the same field in which they started, and if they have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA or its equivalent. (See postsecondary scholarships).

Florence C. Schafer, SHS Class of 1923, was a lifelong Salem resident. Even though a frequent traveler, she loved her hometown dearly and enjoyed reading about its history. She worked for 30 years in the offices of Gem Clay Company in Sebring, Ohio, retiring in 1960. Her father Jesse Schafer owned and operated Schafer's Tavern and Restaurant at 330 East State Street, the location of SHSAA's current office. For many years Miss Schafer had lived above the tavern on its second floor, which in 1993 became the location of the association's first office. After her father's death, she and her brother Tom operated the tavern until its closing in 1974. Florence Schafer died in 1996, bequeathing $231,000 for SHSAA scholarships.

The Floyd and Cora May Reich Stone Vocational Scholarship was first awarded in 1987. Over the course of many years Dr. Floyd W. Stone and his wife Cora May Reich Stone '35 gifted the Salem High School Alumni Association $393,873 through a combination of cash, stocks, and bequests. Floyd Stone was a native of Logan, OH and a graduate of Ohio University. He coached both track and football at Salem High School for six seasons. His 1929 football team is the last undefeated, untied football team at SHS. During his tenure, the first night football game in the state of Ohio was played at Reilly Stadium. In 1934, a time of dire economic circumstances in the U.S., he decided to quit teaching and enrolled in dental school at Ohio State. After graduation he set up an office in Cincinnati, where he practiced for 37 years. He married Cora May Reich '35. Together they retained their fondness for Salem High School and recognized they could help future students through their donations to the SHSAA Scholarship Fund.

Fred Gaunt, Class of 1946, was a long-time pharmacist and the owner/operator of Gromoll Drug Inc. in Sebring, Ohio. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy in 1950, he then spent two years serving his country in the Korean War. While stationed with a MASH unit, Fred used his pharmaceutical background to assist with research on hemorrhagic fever. He returned to civilian life as a pharmacist in Sebring, OH. In 1974 he married Dana Notman. Dana was a secretary for SanCap Alliance and also a former clerk/treasurer of Beloit Village Council. Both were involved in a multitude of civic organizations. In 1977 Fred received the Greater Youngstown Citizen Award. Fred passed away in 2004; Dana in 2018. Their bequest to SHSAA was invaluable in the Building for the Future campaign to save the downtown alumni association office. It has also allowed for the creation of the Fred and Dana Gaunt Pharmacy Scholarship, awarded for the first time in 2021.

Awarded for the first time in 2008, the Greenisen College Leadership Scholarship recognizes the skills and character traits of a leader. Recognizing the importance of leadership, brothers Joel '54 and Philip '61 Greenisen and Philip's wife Marjory provided for this scholarship to honor the memory of Greenisen family members and to encourage leadership development in qualified candidates. Philip Greenisen worked at the Electric Furnace Company for 38 years, retiring in 2003 as president. During a 17-year stretch, he was either a member of Salem City Council or its clerk. Phil acted as the Columbiana County Farm Bureau president for seven years, and for many years he has served as either president or trustee of the Ohio Haflinger Association. His wife Marjory was a supervisor with the Salem Area Visiting Nurses until 2008 after which she worked for Progresa Health Care Systems, retiring in 2012. Both Greenisens keep active with consulting work and volunteering. Joel E. Greenisen held numerous leadership positions during his 35 years with the Kroger Company. While president of the Kroger Co. of Michigan, he served as Vice Chairman of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce and was active in community organizations such as the United Way. Joel was also founding director and inaugural president of the American Haflinger Registry. He passed away in 2011. A Salem High School graduate attending college will be selected annually for his or her leadership character traits based on the demonstrated ability to facilitate a group of individuals working together to accomplish a goal. Leadership skills may be exhibited during their college or university experiences or in special activities inside or outside the traditional educational environment.

Joel E. Greenisen, the SHS Class of 1954 valedictorian, graduated from the Ohio State University in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. He then began a 35-year business career with the Kroger Company and rose in the management ranks until becoming president of the Michigan Marketing Area. During his time in Michigan, Greenisen served as a Vice Chairman of the Board of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce and held leadership roles with the United Way. In 2003 Mr. Greenisen established this scholarship in loving memory of his father, mother, and paternal aunt, whose leadership characteristics inspired him. The Greenisen Leadership Scholarship recognizes the skills and character traits of a leader: self-confidence, a strong dedication to helping others, and the willingness to step up and do the unusual or difficult thing. A graduating senior will be selected annually for his or her leadership character traits based on the demonstrated ability to facilitate a group of individuals working together to accomplish a goal. Applicants need to have demonstrated leadership during their high school experiences or in special activities either inside or outside the traditional high school environment.

The Hickey Vocational Scholarship was created in 2006 by Bob Hickey '50, his wife Nancy Howell Hickey '53, their son Leo Hickey '74, their daughter Lois Hickey Peters '77, and Lois's husband Nick Peters '73. A love for their hometown and its schools and the recognition of the need for vocational training spurred the Hickey family to fund this scholarship, which was first awarded in 2007. Hickey Metal Fabrication, which was established in 1942, is a four-generation family-owned business. Although it started out as a furnace and heating business, through the years it constantly expanded and adapted to meet the needs of the marketplace, adding roofing and eventually metal fabricating. Outgrowing the plant on Georgetown Rd., the business added a second plant in the Salem Industrial Park in 1995. It currently has seven locations in Salem and 175 employees.

Howard 'Doc' Pardee was a longtime Salem High School band director. As a beloved instrumental music teacher, he was an inspiration and mentor to many SHS students.

Pardee was also director of the American Legion Quaker City Band for 30 years and a driving force behind the construction of the band shell in Waterworth Memorial Park.

Former students, family, and friends, under the leadership of Mary Mercer Krogness '56, established the Howard (Doc) Pardee Music Scholarship for future generations of instrumental musicians from the Salem City Schools.

J. Robert Sebo, class of 1954, provided the funding of this scholarship. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Mr. Sebo is a noted businessman and philanthropist. He was instrumental in the startup and growth of the nationally known Paychex Corporation, retiring as senior vice-president in 1994 and returning to live in Salem. At Salem High School, he was an outstanding athlete who lettered three years in both football and track. He also participated in the SHS Concert Band for four years and was active in Student Council. The criteria for this award reflect his belief that a student's extracurricular activities help lay the foundation for a successful life.

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, J. Robert Sebo, SHS class of 1954, is a noted businessman and philanthropist. He was instrumental in the startup and growth of the nationally known Paychex Corporation, retiring as senior vice-president in 1994 and returning to live in Salem. He maintains close ties to his college alma mater, having served on the BGSU Board of Trustees and providing funds for an athletic center, a football scholarship, a scholarship in jazz studies, and more. Mr. Sebo provided the funding for this scholarship, which is designated for a student who will be attending Bowling Green State University.

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, J. Robert Sebo, SHS class of 1954, is a noted businessman and philanthropist. He was instrumental in the startup and growth of the nationally known Paychex Corporation, retiring as senior vice-president in 1994 and returning to live in Salem. He has maintained close ties to both his college and high school alma maters and has funded scholarships and educational programs at both.

John Frederick Cone '44 was an educator and an author. He began his teaching career at Montclair Academy in New Jersey in 1949. He taught at Scarsdale High School from 1952 to 1969 and worked briefly as academic dean at North Carolina School of the Arts before joining the faculty at the public high school in Red Bank, NJ. He taught at Red Bank Regional High School from 1970 to 1988 and supervised the English, Art, Music and Foreign Language Departments during his tenure there. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in English from New York University. Cone also researched various aspects of the history of opera, authoring three books and numerous articles for both scholarly journals and reference works such as The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. Dr. Cone designated the Salem High School Alumni Association the beneficiary of his retirement annuity. The John F. Cone Humanities Scholarship, funded from the $112,606.84 annuity, was given for the first time in 2011. The criteria for the scholarship reflect Cone's interests in literature, music, art, and foreign languages.

The John Michael Pozniko Engineering Scholarship Fund was established by Dorothy Pozniko Beam (Class of 1952) and her husband, C. Richard Beam, in memory of her brother, John Michael Pozniko. John Michael Pozniko was a 1945 graduate of Salem High School and a lifelong Salem resident. After serving in the Navy, Pozniko attended drafting classes offered by the school district's adult education program. He found employment with several area firms such as Hunt Engineering, Electric Furnace, and the Salem Tool Company, where he worked for nearly 30 years. While working, he also attended Youngstown State University and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. A quiet, unassuming man with a strong work ethic, Pozniko embodied the qualities of dedication, perseverance, and trustworthiness.

The John P. Sharp Jr. Engineering Scholarship may be presented to a Salem High School graduate who is pursuing an engineering degree leading to a bachelor’s degree or beyond. Applicants must have a minimum 3.00 college GPA and be completing or have completed at least two postsecondary years. Financial need is not a requirement but will be considered. A bequest from the estate of John P. Sharp ’46 and his wife Linda Anne Frazer Sharp provided the funding for this scholarship that reflects the couple's creativity and perseverance as business owners.

The John P. Sharp Jr. Outstanding Performance Scholarship may be presented to a Salem High School graduate who demonstrates a versatile college experience. The applicant must show a diversity of interest within multiple areas such as his or her academic program, co-curricular activities, and/or work experience. A bequest from the estate of John P. Sharp ’46 and his wife Linda Anne Frazer Sharp provided the funding for this scholarship that reflects the couple's creativity and perseverance as business owners.

John P. Sharp Jr. Scholarship of Promise may be presented to a Salem High School graduating senior who has demonstrated commitment to his or her future career plans by persevering when faced with a difficult situation. A bequest from the estate of John P. Sharp ’46 and his wife Linda Anne Frazer Sharp provided the funding for this scholarship that reflects the couple's creativity and perseverance as business owners. Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor’s or an associate degree program or in a technical program of study at an accredited school. Financial need is not a requirement but will be considered.

John Stratton '64, M.D., and his wife Carolyn Webster-Stratton, Ph.D., provided the funding for this scholarship designed to lessen the debt load of SHS graduates who are pursuing Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees. Stratton earned his bachelor's degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1968 and his M.D. from Yale University School of Medicine in 1973. He was a professor of Medicine/Cardiology at the University of Washington (U.W.) in Seattle until 2020 and is now professor emeritus. He was also chief of cardiology at the Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System from 2003 to 2011. Webster-Stratton earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto in 1970, a master's degree as a pediatric nurse practitioner and a master's in public health from Yale University, and a doctorate in educational psychology from University of Washington. She was a professor at the School of Nursing for 30 years and currently is a licensed child psychologist, an emeritus U.W. professor, and developer of the evidence-based Incredible Years video-based interventions for teachers, parents and children designed to prevent and reduce behavior problems in young children. Stratton and Webster-Stratton combined patient care with research, teaching, and administration during their academic careers. Because they recognize that very large student debts might steer young doctors into choosing more lucrative specialties to pay off their medical school loans, the Strattons hope that their scholarship will allow the recipients full choice in their career paths. Their donations, totaling $200,000, provide a $10,000 scholarship. The first John R. Stratton and Carolyn Webster-Stratton Medical Student Scholarship was presented in 2019.

Leon H. Colley was born in Tennessee in 1897 and came to Salem in 1926. Employed by the First National Bank in Salem in 1928, he rose through the ranks from cashier to vice president and by 1938 was named bank president, a position he held until 1967. He actively supported the community serving on various boards such as the two hospital association boards and the Salem Worlds War Memorial Building Association. He was also a two term president of the Chamber of Commerce. His wife of 47 years, Enid, died in 1973; Mr. Colley passed away four years later in 1977. Mr. Colley bequeathed $601,000 to the Salem High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

The Lois A. Peters Memorial Business Scholarship is designed for students who will be seeking a bachelor's degree in business or accounting. It is open to both Salem High School graduating students and past graduates who have completed one year of college. Lois A. (Hickey) Peters was a devoted supporter of the Salem High School Alumni Association and its mission to help Salem graduates further their education. A 1977 SHS graduate, Lois was a successful businesswoman and the Chief Financial Officer for Hickey Metal Fabrication Inc. Along with an outpouring of community memorial donations to the alumni association, Robert Hickey '50, Leo '74 and Suzanne Hickey, Nick Peters '73, Nicholas Peters '98, Benjamin Peters, and Hickey Metal Fabrication Inc. provided the funding to establish this scholarship in memory of their beloved daughter, sister, wife, and mother.

Marion Ackerman ’56 graduated from Ohio University before realizing that he had a passion for a career in construction. He spent his early years in the Peace Corps building schools and houses for teachers in Africa. For many years Mr. Ackerman ran a successful construction company for commercial buildings and historic restorations. He has chosen to support students interested in a vocational career with two $2,500 scholarships for either a graduating high school student or a previous graduate with the first award to be given in 2024.

Max M. Fisher was an internationally known businessman, philanthropist, and political advisor. A member of the SHS class of 1926, he attended The Ohio State University on a football scholarship. He graduated with a degree in business administration and soon became successful in the oil reclamation business. OSU's Fisher College of Business and Detroit's Max M. Fisher Music Center are two of the many, many recipients of his philanthropic largesse. The 1972 Honored Alumnus, Mr. Fisher established in 1973 the first named SHSAA scholarship, which has been given now for 50 years. Mr. Fisher passed away in 2005.

The Memorial Society Award is presented in memory of deceased individuals or families who have donated or bequeathed funds, or for whom memorial donations have been made, totaling at least $10,000 but less than $100,000.

The Salem High School Alumni Association has recently created recognition societies to standardize the recognition of our past and future donors for their significant gifts in advancing the mission of the association. We memorialize deceased individuals or families who have given or bequeathed funds or for whom memorial donations have been made totaling at least $10,000 through our Memorial Society or higher-level recognition.

The names of the Memorial Society members are listed on our Recognition Society Page.

We encourage donations by estate planning through our Legacy Society.

In addition to the already established Hickey Metal Fabrication Vocational Scholarship for graduating students, the Robert Hickey family created the Nancy Hickey Memorial Healthcare Scholarship in 2011. It was first awarded in 2012. A hard-working, intelligent woman, Nancy Howell Hickey '53 was an integral part of the family-owned Hickey Metal Fabrication and served as its corporate treasurer. She became ill in 2007 and passed away in 2011. In those years while she was ill, the Hickeys discovered the immense value of caregivers. Family members decided that the creation of a scholarship for students entering healthcare fields, whether they are seeking a degree, a certificate, or a license, would be a way of 'paying forward' the kindnesses they had encountered from healthcare employees.

This scholarship may be awarded to a Salem High School graduating senior or graduate who is enrolled in a pre-professional program that will lead to a certificate, a license, or a degree in a healthcare field. Acceptable programs may be those related to nursing (e.g., LPN, CNA, RN), physical therapy, radiology, phlebotomy, mental health/psychology, etc. It is not designed for those who will be enrolling in coursework to become a physician, chiropractor, optometrist, dentist, psychiatrist, pharmacist, etc.

John Frederick Cone '44 was an educator and an author. He began his teaching career at Montclair Academy in New Jersey in 1949. He taught at Scarsdale High School from 1952 to 1969 and worked briefly as academic dean at North Carolina School of the Arts before joining the faculty at the public high school in Red Bank, NJ. He taught at Red Bank Regional High School from 1970 to 1988 and supervised the English, Art, Music and Foreign Language Departments during his tenure there. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Rutgers University and his Ph.D. in English from New York University. Cone also researched various aspects of the history of opera, authoring three books and numerous articles for both scholarly journals and reference works such as The New Grove Dictionary of American Music. When Dr. Cone passed away in May 2009, he bequeathed the alumni association the residual of his estate, desiring that a music scholarship be established in memory of his parents. The Nina J. Cone and Stephen F. Cone Music Scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2012.

Committed to helping talented students who show exceptional academic excellence and outstanding promise, members of the Class of 1966 created this scholarship on the fortieth anniversary of their graduation with a $100,485 donation given in the name of every member of the class. A graduating senior is selected annually based on demonstrated financial need and on academic ability and potential, as evidenced by his or her high school achievement, class rank, and success on the ACT and/or the SAT. The Salem High School Class of 1966 Scholarship, which was awarded for the first time in 2007, is distributed during the second year of college.

To honor the fiftieth anniversary of their graduation, members of the Class of 1968 raised the $100,000 necessary to establish a scholarship.

The class designed the scholarship to focus on the area of education confirming its commitment to the future of our children, schools, and community.

This scholarship may be presented to a Salem High School graduate enrolling in an accredited four-year college or university with a major in education leading to a bachelor's degree and licensure. Examples of programs include, but are not limited to, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescent/young adult, physical, and special education.

This award is open to both graduating seniors and past graduates. Applicants must possess a minimum 3.0 GPA. Financial need is not a requirement but will be considered.

The Virginia E. Snyder Scholarship may be presented to a Salem High School graduating student and/or a Salem High School graduate enrolled in an English or English-related program at an accredited four-year college or university. Examples of English programs include, but are not limited to, English, creative writing, American literature, British literature, rhetoric and composition, linguistics, film studies, theater, and journalism. Virginia E. “Jinny” Snyder taught physical education at the Salem Junior High School for more than two decades. However, her first teaching job was as an English teacher, and she designated in her will that the scholarship be awarded to a student enrolled in an English program. Applicants must have a minimum 3.00 high school GPA. Financial need is not a requirement but will be considered.