Columbus, Ohio High school students from around Ohio who participated in this year’s State Science Day competition were recently awarded scholarships by the Friends of Stone Lab (FOSL). Fifteen students in total received scholarships from the non-profit group.

Each year, FOSL celebrates Ohio science students by offering a full room and meal scholarship at Stone Laboratory to over a dozen Ohio high school students from the State Science Day event, held each year on The Ohio State University campus and sponsored by the Ohio Academy of Science.

State Science Day, held on May 11 this year, gave Ohio students the opportunity to display their own science projects, network with practitioners in their field, and receive recognition for their work through awards like the Stone Laboratory FOSL Scholarship.

FOSL has awarded State Science Day students with outstanding projects in fields such as botany, chemistry, energy and environmental sciences, microbiology, and zoology since 1996. To date, more than 300 high school participants have been given the opportunity to learn at Stone Laboratory with hands-on science learning.

Judges for this year’s awards included FOSL board members Tracey Meilander and Michelle Pennington, as well as staff from Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab including Kristen Fussell, Mackenzie Gesek, Lilly Nahar, and Erin Monaco.

Monaco, business coordinator for Ohio Sea Grant, described the scholarships as “a conduit to the hands-on learning of field-based biology that happens at Stone Lab.”

“These scholarships not only support student success but also allow us to reach new audiences, increase participation, and broaden our impact,” Monaco said. “It lessens the financial burden of the student. It’s a great way for FOSL volunteers to give back and fosters a more inclusive learning environment. Many of the State Science Day recipients are motivated to strive for academic excellence, go on to future Stone Lab coursework, learn about freshwater careers and opportunities, and get exposed to the world of philanthropy.”

All students who receive a scholarship have their housing and meal expenses covered for a one-week summer class at Stone Laboratory, the Ohio State University’s island campus on Lake Erie. These scholarships, with an estimated value of $9,750, can be used at any time through the summer of 2027. Scholarship recipients can choose from a catalog of classes covering topics including aquatic biology, entomology, botany, and ecology.

Learn more about State Science Day at ohiosci.org/ssd.

Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.

FOSL is non-profit group dedicated to donating time and money to assist with the lab’s educational, outreach, and research programs through volunteerism and financial donation. Since its creation in 1981, FOSL has raised more than $1.3 million in endowments, purchased equipment and supported scholarships for more than 1,000 students, and funded research assistants and visiting professors. Information about joining FOSL can be found at ohioseagrant.osu.edu/giving/fosl.