Dr. Patty's Scholarship

Dr. Patty's Scholarship honors Dr. Patricia (Patty) Cunningham, a three-time graduate of The Ohio State University and founder and Director of the Buckeye Civic Engagement Connection (BCEC). Dr. Patty was an extreme advocate of social communities and organizations all over Ohio, teaching leadership courses covering poverty, race, gender, and civic engagement. Her work spanned from downtown urban environments to Appalachia, making everyone she encountered feel seen, heard, hopeful, and inspired. This scholarship supports students who demonstrate commitment to social justice in accordance with Dr. Patty's legacy. Candidates must have completed at least one college term, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, and attend an accredited public or nonprofit college or university in the U.S. full-time. The scholarship recognizes students who embody Dr. Patty's values of civic engagement, social advocacy, and leadership in underserved communities. Dr. Patty was a mentor to several students and her Department of Social Change facilitated over 50 programs in eight neighborhoods every week, focused on empowering and engaging underserved and impoverished communities while teaching students crucial civic engagement and leadership skills. This scholarship continues her legacy of supporting students committed to social change and community engagement.