Ohio Natural Energy Foundation Awards Scholarship
Daily Advocate, July 29, 2025
PATASKALA — The Ohio Natural Energy Foundation is proud to announce the selection of 48 students for their scholarship program, supporting those pursuing careers in the natural gas and oil industry.
At the end of June, the Ohio Natural Energy Foundation honored the scholarship class of 2025 at the fourth Annual Ohio Energy Student Scholarship Breakfast at the Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center. The morning featured a Keynote Speech from Chris Kimble of Kimble Companies.
“We want to congratulate this new class of scholarship recipients and wish them the best in their professional careers,” said Bruce Tague, Executive Director of the Ohio Natural Energy Institute and Foundation. “ONEi is proud to continue supporting the next generation of our essential industry. Since 2007, the Foundation has awarded 736 scholarships totaling $760,000 to 437 students from 83 counties in Ohio.”
Historically, scholarships were $1,000 each, but to assist with the rising costs of tuition and living expenses, the Foundation raised the amount to $1,500 in 2025.
Students are required to have a career goal within the natural gas and oil industry, maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA, be a U.S. citizen, and either an Ohio resident or attending an Ohio educational institution. To apply they must complete the application, submit letters of recommendation, a resume, and transcript. Every application is thoroughly evaluated and scored by a review committee who then come together to decide the top applicants. Students are eligible to receive the scholarship a total of four times upon reapplication each year.
“With the help from ONEi, this scholarship will allow me to continue my education,” said one scholarship recipient. “This means everything to me and will support me as I prepare for the next chapter of my career.”
This year’s recipients are pursuing a wide range of majors and fields of study such accounting and business, heavy equipment operation, welding, numerous types of engineering, and more. They will be studying at more than 30 different educational institutions such as Ohio Northern University, the University of Akron, The Ohio State University, and the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, to name just a few.
Local student receiving an Ohio Natural Energy Foundation scholarship this year include:
-Marissa Shook, University of Toledo
The breakfast event was made possible thanks to co-hosts, Encino Energy, MPLX and Infinity Natural Resources, as well as support from Diversified Energy, Enbridge, EOG Resources, the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, and Pin Oak Energy Partners.
ONEi wants to also recognize their table hosts, the American Petroleum Institute, American Refining Group, Artex Oil Company, Ascent Resources, D. Byers & Associates, David R. Hill, Inc., Marissa Dessert, EQT, Ergon, Kimble Companies, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Sound Energy Company, and Williams, as well as our meal sponsor, Strategic Public Partners.