Friday, December 8, 2017

Jackson student tackles top TimkenSteel scholarship

Senior Ryan Soltis, son of Cherise and Roger Soltis, has received a $20,000 college scholarship, which can be renewed three times, from the TimkenSteel Charitable Foundation.

Edd Pritchard CantonRep.com staff writer @epritchardREP

JACKSON TWP.  A starting left tackle who sings in the choir and calls advanced placement physics his favorite class has received the top scholarship awarded by TimkenSteel Corp.

Ryan Soltis plans to use the award — $20,000 per year, renewable up to three more years for a total of $80,000 — to study aerospace engineering. He's considering four universities and hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing football.

The Jackson High senior was one of seven students who learned Friday morning that they would receive scholarships through the TimkenSteel Charitable Foundation. Scholarships are presented to students whose parents are TimkenSteel employees.

Tim Timken, chairman, chief executive officer and president of TimkenSteel, visited the school to tell Ryan and his parents, Cherise and Roger Soltis, that Ryan won the top award. Roger is a program manager of advanced business development in the corporate office and has been with the company for 10 years.

Ryan is the oldest of the family's three sons. Ethan and Aaron also are Jackson High students.

The Soltises have learned not to question their oldest son's decisions because he always comes through, Cherise said. "He always surprises us," she said.

Ryan has been a choir member and football player all four years of high school. He also is in the robotics club, which started this past year at Jackson, and has served as an umpire for the Jackson Baseball Association.

He's pursuing aerospace engineering because of a fascination with space travel and the idea of discovering new things. He sees how private companies are looking at space exploration and believes they could on the brink of a new space age.

The TimkenSteel Charitable Foundation formed in 2014 when the company was separated from Timken Co. The foundation continues a tradition that started in 1958 when Timken Co. presenting scholarships to the children of employees.

The scholarships presented Friday by TimkenSteel Foundation carry a potential total of $145,000. The awards are based on academic and extracurricular achievements of the students. Since 2014, TimkenSteel has awarded $780,000 in scholarships to 30 students.

Other winners included Jackson High senior Anjali Ta, who received a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to three years for a total of $40,000. She is the daughter of Hung Ta, a principal process control engineer at the Gambrinus Steel Plant, and plans to study biomedical engineering.

Five students received one-time $5,000 scholarships:

• Claire Gatsios, daughter of Jeffrey Gatsios, a furnace attendant at the Gambrinus Steel Plant. Claire is a senior at Tuslaw High School and plans to study music education.

• Cameron Maier, son of Stephanie Maier, director of organizational advancement at the corporate office. Cameron is a senior at Jackson High and plans to study engineering.

• Lauren Samsa, daughter of Mark Samsa, a mechanical maintainer at the Harrison Steel Plant. Lauren is a senior at Dover High School and plans to study accounting.

• Stephen Gairing, son of Robert Gairing, manager of primary metallurgical quality assurance at the Faircrest Steel Plant. Stephen is a senior at Wadsworth High School and plans to study engineering.

• Samantha McAllister, daughter of Tina McAllister, principal environmental, health and safety analyst at TimkenSteel's St. Clair Plant. Samantha is a senior at Arcanum High School and plans to study agriculture education.

Reach Edd at 330-580-8484 or edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @epritchardREP


Source: Jackson student tackles top TimkenSteel scholarship

No comments:

Post a Comment