Scholarships

Betty L. Davis (May 15, 1928 – April 27, 2004) was a professional Clinical Social Worker for 35 years. She specialized in mental health and served the Marion, Ohio community. Perhaps most impressive, Betty was a socialworker in her personal life, all her life. Her focus on other people was clearly demonstrated through her extensive volunteer work throughout the community. Betty Davis was an intelligent, independent woman of faith and integrity who strongly believed in giving. She was philanthropic with her time and means, hoping to make a difference, and she did.

Eligibility

Anyone is eligible to apply for and receive these loans as long as they meet the following requirements:

• Is a student at OSU Marion in the College of Social Work
• Has a 3.0 GPA or higher

Selected recipients will receive an award of $680 or more.

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Provides financial support to women, Jewish or non-Jewish, pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees, and may be used for tuition, stipends, living expenses, housing, supplies, food, transportation, and related educational costs.

Carol Kroll attended Columbia University on scholarship, an opportunity that changed the course of her life. While her academic scholarship covered tuition, it did not fully meet her living expenses. During that time, the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women stepped in to provide critical support when no other resources were available.

Carol was a woman of faith who believed strongly in giving back to others. This scholarship is established in the spirit of gratitude and service, honoring the support she once received and extending similar opportunities to women pursuing their own educational journeys.

Please note: The Carol Kroll Scholarship Fund will be available in 2027.

The Ralph A. and Beatrice W. Jaffee Endowment of JewishColumbus provides annual grants to Jewish students at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. As a student there during the Great Depression, Ralph struggled to support himself while pursuing his education. He never forgot those challenges. Established in 1988 through Ralph and Beatrice’s estate, the endowment helps ease the financial burden for future students while honoring the couple’s commitment to Jewish life. Grants prioritize students who demonstrate financial need and engagement in the Jewish community.

Eligibility

• The applicant has accepted or is continuing their post-graduate studies at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
• The applicant comes from a Jewish background

Timeline

• October through November: Applications open in October and close in November.
• November: The Jaffee Scholarship Committee reviews applications and determines scholarship awards.
• Early December: Award notification letters are mailed to applicants. Scholarship funds are paid directly to The Ohio State University College of Dentistry for the recipient’s spring semester expenses.

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Laura Ratner lived a life defined by resilience, intelligence, and determination. When her husband Abe passed away suddenly at a young age, Laura was left to raise five children amid profound uncertainty. During the height of the Great Depression, she chose to lead the family business herself.

In 2020, her family established the Laura Ratner Jewish Women’s Education Scholarship Fund with JewishColumbus in her memory. The Fund supports Jewish women in pursuing higher education or career training and preparing for meaningful careers that enable them to become self-supporting.

Eligibility

• The applicant is a Jewish woman.
• The applicant is seeking higher education, including associate, bachelor, master, or doctorate degrees, or professional career training, including certification or licenses.

Selected recipients of the Laura Ratner Jewish Women’s Education Scholarship Fund will receive awards of $1,500 or more, subject to available funding.

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The Yashon Award of the Phi Delta Epsilon Endowment Fund honors the legacy of the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity at The Ohio State University, a Jewish medical fraternity dedicated to scholarship, professional development, and service within the medical community.

The fund is named in recognition of Dr. David Yashon, a longtime neurosurgeon and professor at Ohio State. Scholarships will be used for loan relief for students in their final year of medical school at Ohio State.

Eligibility

• The applicant comes from a Jewish background.
• The applicant is a student in their final year of medical school at The Ohio State University.
• The applicant is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Selected recipients of the Yashon Award of the Phi Delta Epsilon Endowment Fund will receive awards of $1,000 or more, subject to available funding.

Applications open in mid-March and close on April 17, 2026. The committee reviews applications in April, and applicants are notified with grant payments issued directly to schools at the end of April.

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In 1987, as the Soviet Union was beginning to unravel, Zach was nearing the end of a three-year prison sentence in Siberia for so called anti-Soviet activity, only to face the threat of an additional term. Through advocacy efforts he was ultimately released and able to leave the USSR.

Arriving to America without any money, unable to legally work, and ineligible for student loans, his dream of continuing his education seemed out of reach. A group of Jewish faculty at The Ohio State University formed a committee to assist Jewish academics from the former Soviet Union, and sought help from the Columbus Jewish Foundation who helped secure a stipend for Zach while Ohio State waived tuition.

Zach established the Zach Zunshine Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for individuals pursuing higher education, calling it “a small token of my appreciation” for the community’s generosity.

Eligibility

• The applicant is a high school graduate or equivalent. Applications from students who are in their final year of high school or secondary education will also be accepted; however, proof of graduation may be requested at a later date.
• The applicant is seeking higher education, including associate, bachelor, master, or doctorate degrees.

Selected recipients of the Zach Zunshine Endowment Fund scholarship will receive awards of $1,000 or more, subject to available funding.

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