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Memorial Scholarships

There are many scholarships at Cleveland State University that were established by families in memory of their loved ones. Below are just a few. Please consider supporting one or more to help current students in need. Thank you!

Projects

Megan's Rainbow of Hope Endowed Scholarship
Support hope and positive change through this scholarship! 
Honor Megan’s legacy by supporting hope and positive change through this scholarship!
Honor Megan’s legacy by supporting hope and positive change through this scholarship! Support hope and positive change through this scholarship! MEGAN’S RAINBOW OF HOPE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND On August 14, 2024, the life of Megan Keleman was unexpectedly cut short. Megan was just starting her life and professional journey. She was wide eyed and full of hope striving to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. Megan helped those in need and spoke up for those who could not or were afraid to speak up. Megan was very proud of being a CSU Viking! She obtained both her bachelor’s degree in business administration (BA) with a major of finance and master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with courses in finance from Cleveland State University. While carrying a heavy academic load as an undergraduate student and wanting to make life better for everyone on campus and in the surrounding communities, Megan was very active in student life while attending CSU. She was involved in Greek life as a founding member & President of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, became President of the Panhellenic Association, was active in student government and a contributing writer & Editor-in-Chief of CSU’s newspaper the Cauldron, and worked in the Admissions Office. While Megan was pursuing her MBA with finance courses, she worked part-time at a non-profit organization called Shelter Care, a residential treatment program for children ages 6 to 18 who have emotional or behavioral problems, located in Tallmadge, Ohio. During this time, Megan flourished professionally and had a growing desire to pursue a career in the nonprofit industry. Due to her passion to help others and wanting to make a positive change in the lives of at-risk youth, Megan accepted a full-time position with Shelter Care in May of 2024 soon after receiving her master’s degree. In the very brief time of her budding career, Megan made a lasting and positive impact on the staff and on the youth at Shelter Care. Megan still managed to find time to volunteer as a coach for Girls On the Run which is a program that helps girls build confidence, learn life skills, and connect with others through running. She wanted to be a positive role model for young girls and be an example of an empowered woman. Megan would teach these young girls how to succeed by pushing through tough obstacles (running a 5K or in life) and tell them that there are always people who will be there for support. The initial funding for the endowment fund is from donations raised shortly after Megan’s passing. We are very grateful for the numerous people who made generous contributions to establish the Megan’s Rainbow of Hope Endowment Fund. We welcome and greatly appreciate future contributions in any amount. Our hope is to make funds available long into the future for Cleveland State University students with a desire to make a positive impact in the field of business. Our mission is to honor Megan’s legacy by supporting hope and positive change while spreading around kindness and happiness like confetti.
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Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship
Support Ken Montlack's First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship today! 
Support Ken Montlack's First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship and help Levin students!
Support Ken Montlack's First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship and help Levin students! Support Ken Montlack's First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship today! When Ken Montlack passed away in 2023, we lost a loving family member, a good friend, a wise colleague, and a devoted community servant. Later in the summer the Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium (FSC), an organization of twenty inner ring suburbs surrounding the city of Cleveland founded by Ken, awarded an FSC Ken Montlack Leadership Award and an FSC Community Program Award at a special meeting honoring Ken. Later, FSC proposed the idea of creating a scholarship in Ken’s honor for college students who are studying some form of urban or community development. Jennifer Kuzma, Director of FSC, met with members of Ken’s family, and, after speaking with a representative from Cleveland State University, we agreed to establish the Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship Fund to be awarded to local students in the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. The scholarship will be used to provide emergency funds to students in need of extra help in order to stay in school. This scholarship will be funded by contributions. The First Suburbs Consortium itself will contribute $1,500 annually, Montlack Management, Ken’s family realty company, will also contribute, and Ken’s immediate family is donating as well. We are inviting you, as someone who knew and remembers Ken in a way that makes you smile, brings up a fond memory or whose paths crossed personally or professionally, to contribute to this fund to help students who are interested in carrying on Ken’s legacy of civil and community service in the Cleveland area. Ken believed that everyone brought something to the table – an idea, experience, or an interest in becoming a member of the group. He was welcoming, committed and used his humor to bring levity to heavy moments. Ken helped people with his law expertise, providing connections or bringing resolve to the difficulties of life. The Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Scholarship will honor Ken by helping those who need it most. Cleveland State University will use these funds to provide financial assistance to Levin students who find themselves in need – maybe books are too expensive one semester or there is a one-time financial struggle that threatens their ability to complete classwork. Many of our leaders were once students working hard to meet the demands of their personal, professional, and academic lives. For many, a little assistance is needed from time to time, and it is the goal of Ken Montlack First Suburbs Consortium Memorial Fund to provide a cushion to those in need so they can later do the same for someone else. The fund needs $12,500 to get off the ground and those closest to Ken are nearly halfway there. Your generous donation of any size will help get us closer to that goal and allow for funds to be awarded to deserving students for the 2024-2025 academic year. We thank you for your consideration. We think Ken would be thrilled to know that he continues to impact the future of Northeast Ohio in a way that shows kindness, compassion, and willingness to work together for the betterment of our community.
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The Mark Sturdevant '19 Endowed Scholarship
Please support this scholarship established in memory of Mark Sturdevant '19.
Please support this scholarship established in memory of Mark Sturdevant '19.
Please support this scholarship established in memory of Mark Sturdevant '19. Please support this scholarship established in memory of Mark Sturdevant '19. Mark Manring Sturdevant lost his 3-year battle with brain cancer on Friday, January 19, 2024. Mark was born May 29, 1997 in Geauga County and grew up in Concord Township before moving to Painesville in 2019 after the birth of his son, Owen. He attended Phillips-Osborne Academy before transferring to Riverside Schools for middle and high school. Mark went on to earn a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cleveland State University in 2019 and worked at Steris designing and testing sterilizers. Mark was an accomplished motorcycle racer, two-time CRA dirt track champion, Daytona Bike Week amateur champion, and was on the podium at Amateur National championships in 2015. He also enjoyed cross country and road racing but dirt track was his passion. This scholarship is being funded because Mark believed that his racing made him a better engineer and in turn, his engineering knowledge made him a better racer. Please consider supporting the Mark Sturdevant '19 Endowed Scholarship. Thank you!
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Pamela K. Rutar Endowed Nursing Scholarship
Support Dr. Rutar's legacy and help current Nursing students!
Support Dr. Rutar's legacy and help current Nursing students!
Support Dr. Rutar's legacy and help current Nursing students! Support Dr. Rutar's legacy and help current Nursing students! Dr. Pamela K. Rutar (59) passed away on May 22, 2018 at her home following a brief illness. During her time at the School of Nursing, Dr. Rutar dedicated herself to nursing education and furthering the capabilities of student nurses to ensure they were accomplished professionals when they graduated. Dr. Rutar's legacy of molding great nurses will continue to grow and prosper with your help. Dr. Rutar was an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean of Research and Collaborative Partnerships within the School of Nursing. Her clinical focus was neonates (specifically NICU), Obstetrics and Pediatrics. She held several positions in the service sector as a Registered Nurse and as a Nursing Manager in these specialty areas with the latest being at Metro Health Medical Center. Her scholarship focused on the: use of technology with simulation and problem-based learning in the area of Obstetrics and Pediatrics transition from that of student nurse to registered nurse with the provision of mentors for new graduate nurses, underwritten by HRSA with funding totaling 1.4 million over several years and chronic disease prevention and management at the community level, which includes the Area Health Education Center (now entering its 4th year and recently refunded for an additional $475,000), and the Community Health Worker (CHW) program (now entering its 5th year, which was initially funded by HRSA, St. Lukes, and most recently, the Centers for Disease Control/Reach for almost $900,000) Dr. Rutar was a member of the National League for Nursing, the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, and the Ohio League for Nursing. She also authored several journal articles and book chapters on obstetrics, pediatrics, and leadership. She had several presentations (paper and poster) at the regional and national levels. She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she was a lay minister. Her hobbies included golf, travel, friends, and family. Dr. Rutar's legacy will continue not only through the AHEC and the CHW program, but also through this endowed scholarship in her name. Your contribution to grow this fund provides scholarships for undergraduate nursing students in need. Thank you!
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The George Yunis Future Rock Star Scholarship
Rock On For George: Support Future Rock Stars!
Support the next generation of rock stars!
Support the next generation of rock stars! Rock On For George: Support Future Rock Stars! George Yunis was an enduring figure in the Cleveland rock music scene beginning in the 1970s. From fronting bands like Souvenir, Champion, Racer, and The Maxx Band to being the house band during the heyday of the iconic Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, George left an indelible mark on the city's musical landscape. In more recent years, George continued to captivate audiences with his performances in Time Traveler, the premier Moody Blues tribute band, and That 80's band. Tragically, George's nearly five-decade-long performing career came to an end when he succumbed to cancer in October 2021 at the age of 63. To honor his memory and passion for music, George's lifelong friend, Scott Chatham, and his twin brother, Mike Yunis, established the George Yunis Future Rock Star Scholarship. This initiative aims to provide scholarships to incoming students at Cleveland State pursuing studies in the pop/rock music track. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join us in commemorating George's legacy by contributing to the George Yunis Future Rock Star Scholarship. Your generous gift not only pays tribute to a beloved artist but also ensures that aspiring musicians at Cleveland State can follow in George's footsteps. Let's come together to support the next generation of rock stars and keep the spirit of Cleveland's music scene alive. Thank you for considering a donation in honor of George and his enduring impact on the world of music.
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Our Crowdfunding Groups
Cleveland State University Main Giving Tuesday 2026