Beat the Odds Program

>>Beat the Odds Program
Beat the Odds Program2021-07-08T11:36:27-05:00

About the Program

The Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio Beat the Odds® scholarship program honors outstanding high school students who have overcome tremendous adversity, demonstrated academic commitment and given back to their communities. Every other year, CDF-Ohio provides a $5,000 college scholarship, a laptop computer, and an invitation to join CDF’s youth leadership development programs, to five Ohio high school seniors.

The next round of Beat the Odds scholarship applications will be available in the fall of 2020. High school seniors who will be graduating by June 2021 will be eligible to apply. After a competitive review process, five Ohio high school seniors will be selected as CDF-Ohio’s Beat the Odds scholars. These students will be introduced and honored at the Beat the Odds Award Ceremony where their powerful stories of resilience, courage, determination and hope serve as a stirring reminder and call to action for change-agents, policy makers and every one of us to renew our commitment to children. They are a reminder that no one should ever give up on a child.

Since 2012, the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio Beat the Odds scholarship has been awarded to 30 students statewide. Alumni of the CDF-Ohio program have graduated from universities throughout the country and are serving in a diverse range of occupations.

Previous Honorees

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Alfreda Koroma

2019

Asia McKenzie

2019

Lauren Joy Frisby

2019

Nul Rai

2019

Tyrek Mitchell

2019

Sara Abou Rashed

2017

Abigail Huffman

2017

Ciara Scott

2017

Teneeyah Hale

2017

Terrell Johnson

2017

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Darrius McLean

2016

Ebi Reyes-Leiva

2016

Emily Wilcox

2016

Journae’ Morris

2016

Linda Ransom

2016

Alberto Jones

2015

Ayriq Sims

2015

Britiny Lee

2015

Kaylyn Sigman

2015

Walter Thompson

2015

Asiae Roberts

2014

Carmen Griffith

2014

Paóla Benefo

2014

Theresa Tran

2014

Rebecca Finley

2014

Amber Rohrer

2012

Clara Smith

2012

DeVon Jennings

2012

Joshua Jenkins

2012

Indyasia Johnson

2012

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