The Ohio State University at Lima

This Day of Giving, we'll ask our caring community to uplift students like Kurtis. Every dollar raised for Ohio State Lima scholarships will be doubled up to $35K as part of the Scarlet and Gray Advantage program, which empowers Buckeyes to control their own financial futures and prepare for success after graduation. The Lima scholarships include the Lima Opportunity Scholarship (Fund #317250), which provides support for Ohio State Lima students who face barriers to achieving a college degree, including but not limited to those who are first-generation college students.

Join us May 3 at the Day of Giving as we continue creating pathways for students to graduate.

After a life-altering stroke his senior year of high school, Kurtis Bowersock’s scholarship meant he could stay close to home while still earning a high-quality education that would allow him to realize some big dreams.

“When we were doing the college decision process, me and my mom were sitting in a room at Nationwide Childrens, in the rehab unit when I applied to Ohio State. The thought process was 1. staying close to home for medical treatment and 2. the affordability.”

Kurtis is one of the first of this generation of his family to go on to college. Going into his senior year, he had athletic scholarships lined up to pay for his education and then everything changed.

“In high school, all I was focused on was that I had scholarship offers for track and basketball. All I had ever planned on was doing that while getting my education. But then things changed and I was concerned about how I was going to pay for college. We still had mounting medical bills. I was determined to work my way entirely through college or hopefully do as well as I could in school to get scholarships.”

Kurtis was chosen to be one of Ohio State Lima’s Rudd Scholars, which covered half his tuition and fees. He also received scholarships from the Anna B. Hennon Memorial Scholarship, the Edith R. Harris Memorial Scholarship and a Spring for Scholarships funds. Those scholarships made it possible for him to cut his work hours from 40 to 30 and focus on his studies.

“It was not just going straight to classes and work. I was able to have a bit of a buffer. I was able to coach for a little bit, which was something I really enjoyed. I was also able to dive deeper into my studies and get a better understanding of what I was learning and not just going through the motions.”

Three days after graduation from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Kurtis leaves for the next phase of his education, a doctorate in physical therapy.

“I was always interested in the inner workings of the body and how you can make it better. Human performance was also fascinating to me. My medical experiences solidified it for me. It shoved me towards physical therapy. It was kind of the perfect storm for finding what was right for me.”

As he works through this next step, Kurtis will pick a specialty and decide how he wants to use his degree. Currently, he is looking at neuroscience or sports medicine. He credits his life experiences for giving him a strong, early focus on his career.

“I always tell people and I try to be positive and be thankful because I would not have decided what I was doing so early in life and gotten a head start for it without my experiences."