On Thursday evening at the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation’s (CSF) 90th Anniversary “Sharing the Journey” Gala, NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz announced the 2008 CSF Hall of Fame winners to a room of 300 people. Six individuals were honored among all of the fine recipients who submitted their stories. Their lives of distinction and contributions to the Cincinnati community are a testimony that the CSF’s scholarships mattered. Since 1940 the CSF has helped over 27,000 students attend college.

The evening’s events also included a past recipient slideshow presented by Channel 5 and emceed by Courtis Fuller, a Montgomery Inn dinner, and a tribute to CSF President, Ned Hertzenberg for his 25th Anniversary. “With the generous support of the CSF sponsors we were able to invite a majority of the past scholarship recipients to share their journey” says President Ned Hertzenberg. “It was enlightening for us all to reconnect and see how the scholarships inspired them to get through college and become what they are today.” Sponsors included Cincinnati Financial Corp., GE, River City Furniture, Xavier University, Duke Energy, David Taylor, The Ohio National Foundation, Cincinnati Bengals, John J. and Thomas R. Schiff, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Kroger, Tom and Ann Hayden, Graydon Head Ritchey LLP, University of Cincinnati, Frisch's, Western & Southern, Jeffrey and Margaret Pasquale, Carl H. Lindner, Macy's, Westin Cincinnati, Selby Printing, Montgomery Inn, Anthony Muñoz Scholarship Fund, Cincinnati Herald, WLWT-TV, Lee Knose & Co., Cincinnati Bell, and Ray & Pauline Brokamp.

Hall of Fame Winners Included:

Erica Lynn Selby
Degree(s): B.S.N., R.N. Nurse, The College of Mount St. Joseph
Today: R.N., Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati Ohio Cardiac/Vascular Unit
Advice: “Do not let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. I know what it is like to overcome poverty and a life full of broken promises. It is hard to be who you want to be when you are in an environment that is full of lies, drugs, alcohol, and abuse. Many people cannot succeed in such an environment, but I did. I would tell students that no matter what your life is, and no matter what happened in your past, that if you want something then you need to fight for it.”

Profile: Currently a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Erica was born and raised in Price Hill. With her dad into drugs and alcohol and her mom a victim of domestic violence, Erica’s parents divorced when she was 10. Her family got by with the help of family, friends, and community programs. The Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation gave her a scholarship every year while she attended college, which was a great help while Erica worked three jobs to put herself through school. With no help from her parents, she had to make the decision to stay in school because she knew her future would be brighter with a degree. While her older and younger sister both dropped out of college, Erica was the only one out of four who graduated. The Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation made her feel as though she wasn’t alone and gave her the confidence and encouragement to reach her goals. She feels that foundations such as CSF help the community become something better and those recipients succeed and ultimately give back. She believes in paying it forward and can't wait to help someone else, just as she was helped.

Onnie R. Martin
Degree(s): B.S., Master of Education, and Masters in Community Planning, University of Cincinnati 1963, 1971, 1972
Today: Executive Director, Cincinnati Minority Contractors Business Assistance Program
Advice: “Set high goals. Decide what you want. Decide what you are willing to give up to get what you want. Plan your work, then work your plan.”

Profile: Onnie feels he could not have attended school without the scholarship assistance. In terms of giving back, he served as Treasurer of the Foundation during the early 1980’s.

Jymi Bolden
Degrees: B.A. in Fine Arts, Art Academy of Cincinnati 1991
Today: Jymi is an Artist, the Owner of Not On 4th St. Gallerie Photo, and the Director of Art Beyond Boundaries Gallery
Advice: “Never abandon your dreams!”

William E. Wynne
Degrees: B.A. in Political Science. U.C. 1965
Today: University Registrar Wichita State University
Advice: “Apply for everything you can.”

Profile: William’s parents could not afford to send him to college and loans were not an attractive option. He graduated in the top 8% of his high school class and was awarded three scholarships. He changed majors. Polly Hamlin of the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation had faith in him and allowed William to keep the Tangeman Scholarship for four years. On graduation, he received a commission in the US Army Field Artillery and spent two years in active duty. After serving as an Assistant Registrar at U.C., he became a Registrar at Wichita State University in 1976. In the spirit of giving back, he established a scholarship at CSF, the Wynne Family Memorial Scholarship that awards University of Cincinnati students $1,000 per year. He has also established a life insurance plan that names CSF as beneficiary. He feels he owes his life success to CSF's faith in him.

Nikela S. Owens
Degree(s): B.A. in Government/English; Master of Education; EdD/PhD in Educational Studies
Today: Educational Consultant- University of Cincinnati; CollegeLink Dual Enrollment Program Law Clerk- GEAviation
Advice: “Never allow the cost of schooling to dissuade you from pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities. There are an abundance of scholarships available to assist you in pursuing a college degree.”

Profile: Dr. Nikela Owens is a native Cincinnatian and a proud Purcell Marian graduate. In 1989, the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation (CSF) awarded her a “Scholarship for Our Kids” scholarship (the forerunner of the Greater Cincinnati Scholarship Association), and later a;Gardner Foundation Scholarship in 1991. Dr. Owens credits CSF for not only assisting her financially with college, but providing her critical social support as well. In 1992, Dr. Owens earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College. She later served as a VISTA volunteer in the domestic peace corps (now AMERICORP VISTA) for 2 ½ years. Dr. Owens continued her education later obtaining both Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Nikela Owens is both grateful and humbled by the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation’s recognition of her work with students throughout the Greater Cincinnati community. She enthusiastically joined the CSF board in July, 2008.

Yvonne Robertson
Degree(s):Early Childhood Education, University of Cincinnati
Today: Active in the Cincinnati community and serves on many boards

Profile: Yvonne grew up in the Avondale area and attended Woodward High School. She learned about the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation scholarship through her counselor. Yvonne then attended UC, where she met her husband Oscar.