Ohio State’s Gee Helps Reward Elementary Students

Students at the Marion City Schools’ Benjamin Harrison Elementary were rewarded for attendance and grades during an assembly on Wednesday, May 18. In addition to college tuition, the students were paid a visit by Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee.

Gee encouraged the students to continue working hard and to pursue their dreams. He also asked how many of them would be attending Ohio State University in the future. Nearly every hand shot up in the air.

The Harding High School Pep Band played and high school seniors told the student what their plans were for college and life. One elementary student from each classroom also shared their professional goals for the future, including a nurse, photographer, and eye doctor.

While Gee’s visit was the media highlight of the day, the assembly was more about celebrating the achievements by the students and the awarding of Go Buck$ program certificates.

The program is a partnership between the City Schools and the Ohio State University at Marion. Students in grades K-12 can earn an attendance voucher per quarter for $25.00. Students in grades 3-12 can also earn a $50.00 voucher per quarter according to criteria such as grades, behavior, etc.

The certificates can be redeemed for tuition at OSU Marion in the future, meaning the students are already earning money towards their college education. The Go Buck$ voucher program is funded through the George-Alber Scholarship Endowment at The Ohio State University at Marion.

Principal Leah Filliater told the students that this year’s third graders could earn $3,000 by the time they graduate high school. Those in first grade could earn $3,300.

Filliater said the students in her school have earned over $39,000 so far this year. She expects the total to be over $50,000 when the final nine-weeks’ awards are totaled.

Following the assembly, the students held a balloon launch outside the school.