Join the Scholar Network Community

Navigating college life can take some getting used to! Our Scholar Network program provides support, mentorship, and connections for current students with experience in foster care kinship care or other out-of-home placements. Scholar Network members gain access to unique opportunities such as scholarships, grants, and other advocating resources and assist with your success.

Applicants must be enrolled students at Columbus State Community College.

For additional questions on how to get involved, please contact Dr. Cerelia Bizzell by email at cbizzell@cscc.edu or by contacting the Student Engagement and Belonging Office at 614-287-2637.

What is the Scholar Network Experience?

The Scholar Network, a community of peers and supportive leaders, offers an exceptional experience to current or former fostered youth and kinship youth students. This support system is designed to provide students with intentional connections, resources, and guidance, fostering a sense of community and support. The benefits of this program are numerous and include:

Engage with mentors and supportive staff through events and leadership development opportunities.
Holistic academic support through programs such as TRIO and Weiller Scholars and establish college networks.
Eligibility to unique scholarships such as the Dale Greeson ‘ I Am One Scholarship and the Ohio Reach Scholarship
Access to qualify for the Ohio Reach emergency funding
Could be eligible to access Scholar House Three

Connecting with Mentors

Students are matched up with a peer mentor Scholar Network Coordinator during their first semester in the program. Students are also matched with an employee mentor through Columbus State's Mentorship Hub. Mentors support Scholars for the entire academic year (or longer). Mentoring is a two-way mutually beneficial learning situation where the participants provide advice, share knowledge and experiences, and teach one another using a self-discovery approach.

Connecting with the S.P.A.R.K. Team

Our S.P.A.R.K. Team comprises informative experts who can assist with answering questions and providing resources to our Scholar Network students. Please see the list of members below with their contact information.

S.PA.R.K. Contacts and Off-Campus Resources

Student Engagement and Belonging	Dr. Cerelia Bizzell	cbizzell@cscc.edu
Student Central/ Financial Aid	James Cable Laura Ziegler	jcable6@cscc.edu lziegler@cscc.edu
Student Advocacy Center	Augustine Munobe	amunobe1@cscc.edu
Adjunct in Social Sciences	Kimberly Eckhart	keckhart@cscc.edu
OSU Bound Program	Chaka Wilson	wilson.1071@osu.edu
COMPASS	Morgan Becker	mbecker8@cscc.edu

Off-Campus Resources

Explore the resources offered by community organizations and institutions below.

Ready to Join?

Please fill out the following application, and a Student Engagement and Belonging team member will be in touch with you regarding upcoming events, opportunities, and connections. Be sure also to join the Scholar Network organization through Cougar Connect!

Apply to Scholar Network