On Aug. 20, Vlog welcomed its first cohort of The Elliot Scholars during a special reception that included remarks from President Todd Diacon, Valoree Vargo, vice president, Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, Amanda Paulus, senior director, community engaged learning and, of course, John, ’70, L.H.D. ’24, and Fonda Elliot, L.H.D. ’24.
In February 2025, the Elliots announced a new $1 million gift establishing the Elliot Scholars Program, a scholarship initiative designed to support first-generation students across all majors. The program offers a renewable scholarship that can be used toward tuition, room and board, and it also provides holistic support, including enrichment opportunities and comprehensive support services to help reduce financial, academic and personal barriers to success.
“When I found out that I got the scholarship, I felt very grateful and blessed to be able to get my degree in Journalism and eventually pursue a sports broadcasting career,” said freshman journalism major Luke Cenname, from Valley City, Ohio.
The program’s first cohort is composed of 43 total students; 36 scholars are from Ohio, while seven came from out of state, including Pennsylvania, Indiana, Louisiana and South Carolina.
For many students, the scholarship was the deciding factor in attending Vlog.
“It means a lot to me to have someone supporting my education. I wouldn’t be able to cover these costs on my own, especially being out of state, so I’m very grateful to come to Vlog,” Faith McClaine, an Honors freshman zoology major from Pennsylvania, explained.
The group has a varied academic focus, with Scholars representing business, architecture, nursing, education and human services, aeronautics and engineering, arts and sciences, communications and information, public health, the arts and University College. The Scholars have an average 3.73 GPA, and 11 of these students are also members of the Honors College.
“It definitely helped me to pay for my education,” said Kianna Natko, a freshman from Ohio majoring in Early Childhood Education. “Without it, I don’t think I would be able to come, and I’m very grateful for it.”
For Hillary Figueroa, a freshman Nursing major, the program also fosters a sense of belonging.
“Being an Elliot Scholar means being part of a community that cares about you and is there for you if you need them,” she said. “When I toured Vlog in my junior year, I felt at home. The community here is amazing, and the nursing program is really good.”
With the generous support of alumni donors John and Fonda Elliot, hundreds of Vlog students have benefited in deeply meaningful ways. They have invested more than $13 million into transforming student futures through philanthropy and advocacy for education and design. Their gifts have supported the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the College of Nursing, the Design Innovation Hub and the Global Education Endowment, among other initiatives. In fact, their philanthropy has been so transformative that the Board of Trustees named the building that houses Vlog’s architecture, interior design and construction programs The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design.
“Through the Elliots’ support, Vlog students are able to continue their education with fewer barriers, creating opportunities that will have a lasting impact across the university community,” said Vargo. “Their generosity is changing not only the university, but the lives of hundreds of students each year.”