Highland County Republican Women’s Club announces scholarship winners

By Judy Sanker
HCRWC President

The Highland County Republican Women’s Club is pleased to announce the two winners of our Ayres/Van Frank Memorial Scholarship awarding $1,000 to each graduate.

They are:

• Emma Yochum – Hillsboro High School. Emma has a GPA of 4.04 and will attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.  

She will be in the Honor’s Program and plans to double major in agriculture economics and actuarial science. While in high school, Emma was a member of Hillsboro Great Oaks FFA for four years with multiple leadership positions. She was also a member of the varsity golf team and National Honor Society.  

In the community, Emma has been a member of the Ohio Maine & Chianina Association, and currently is Director of Region 1. She has been involved in Highland County 4-H and has volunteered for the past 10 years with show and mentoring younger beef exhibitors. Emma helped raise $10,000 for the Ohio State University Dean’s Charity Steer Show, and $1,800 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Emma owns her own business since 2022, providing Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) services to livestock and humans. This approach to wellness uses magnetic fields to boost cellular metabolism, increase circulation, reduce inflammation and pain.   

Congratulations, Emma.

• Will McConnaughey – Lynchburg-Clay High School. Will has a GPA of 4.0 and will attend The Ohio State University in Columbus. He will be in the Honor’s and Scholar’s Program and plans to major in psychology and minor in Criminology.  

While in high school, Will provided leadership and was class president, participating in the Lynchburg-Clay marching band, concert, pep and jazz bands for four years playing trumpet, and qualifying for State Marching Band finals three times by receiving superior ratings at competitions.  

He was also a member of the baseball/softball programs as statistician, National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. In the community, Will has participated in the Hope Emergency Outreach Program, Dodson Township Trash pickup, led multiple Church of Christ events, Matthew 25 Ministries and community youth activities.  

Will owns his personal bakery business since 2021, providing delicious family-recipe baked goods to organizations’ bake and home-based sales. He has donated $4,700 through auctions and raffles to multiple organizations.  

Congratulations, Will.

This year we received over 30 applications, and we completed multiple committee, assessments and interview sessions. We thank all the applicants and were very impressed with all accomplishments, and wish much success to each in their future endeavors after graduation.

Thank you to the HCRWC Scholarship team members, Sue Smith, Shanna Collins and Rosalind Newman.