YSU Foundation Scholarship Search

Brian Hudzik was born and raised in Mineral Ridge, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Art in Sociology/Criminology from Ohio University in Athens, OH and later completed the police academy at Youngstown State University in 2004. In August of 2008, Brian was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Through the support of his family and friends, as well as his desire to face challenges head on, Brian decided that he was going to gain more from Multiple Sclerosis than he was going to allow it to take from him. He came back to YSU to complete the Master of Social Work Program in 2013. Brian currently works in the social work profession and lives in the Mahoning Valley with his wife, Amy.

“The Huddy” was established as a golf outing in his honor to raise money for MS research. The committee of “The Huddy” wanted to establish a scholarship to honor Brian, as well as honor and provide assistance to students who share Brian’s passion for helping others. This scholarship is for a graduate student in social work attending full or part-time with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a completed FAFSA that demonstrates financial need. This is a one-year scholarship that can be renewable if the above eligibility requirements continue to be met; however, the applicant must compete with all scholarship applicants and go through the application and selection process each year. Preference will be given to a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in good standing. Preference will be given to applicants diagnosed or applicants with immediate family members diagnosed, or applicants who work with clients as part of their employment or internship who have been diagnosed with a neuromuscular or autoimmune disease such as Multiple Sclerosis (this is not a requirement for application)

This endowment was established in memoriam by friends and family of Joseph A. Latessa, Jr. in 2026 to honor a life defined by music, family, and community. A proud Youngstown native, “Little Joe” shared his extraordinary talent as a pianist and multi-instrumentalist with the region for more than 70 years. Joe’s passion was not only in playing – but in connecting with people. His love of performance continued into his later years, where he found special meaning in entertaining residents in local care communities and sharing music alongside his daughter, Lora. Beyond music, Joe was a devoted husband to his wife, Joyce, father to YSU graduates Lora and Michael, and grandfather to Karie, whose greatest pride was his family. Joe had a deep and lifelong connection to football, while continuing to share his musical talents with those around him. A standout player at Woodrow Wilson High School and Adrian College, he carried his love for the game into coaching and, ultimately, into being a devoted supporter of generation of student athletes. He took great pride in following his son Michael’s football career in high school and at YSU and remained a passionate fan of local high school and Penguin football throughout his life. This scholarship reflects Joe’s belief in dedication, teamwork, and perseverance – values he expressed both on the field and through his music. Established through the Youngstown State University Foundation, the ‘Little Joe’ Latessa Scholarship seeks to support students in music and athletics who embody these qualities – so that they may pursue their education while carrying forward Joe’s legacy of passion, pride, and community. The recipient must be enrolled in the Dana School of Music with a minimum 3.0 GPA. First preference to a member of the YSU Football Team, second preference to any YSU Student Athlete. If there are no student athletes enrolled in the Dana School of Music, then the scholarship is open to a non-student athlete. This is a one-year scholarship that can be renewable if the above eligibility requirements continue to be met; however, the applicant must compete with all scholarship applicants and go through the application and selection process each year.

This scholarship was established in 2023 by Gage family and friends of Dr. Stephen L. Gage. Dr. Gage served as Director of Bands and Orchestra at the Dana School of Music for 28 years from 1993-2021. During those years, he influenced the lives of thousands of students, helping them to develop their passion for music and honing their skills for sharing that passion. He constantly encouraged his students, present as well as former, to “be the music” and “dare to be great.” This scholarship continues that legacy by providing support for students who demonstrate Dr. Gage’s catchphrase “#lovemusic”. An eligible student(s) for this scholarship must be enrolled full-time in the Dana School of Music, majoring in music education or music performance. They must be an undergraduate student in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to student(s) performing in the band or orchestra program.

Student(s) must write a 300-500 word essay. What does “love music” mean to you? How will you help others to “love music”? How would this scholarship help you pursue this? This essay and a letter of recommendation must be submitted to the Dean of the Cliffe College of Creative Arts.

This scholarship was established in 2025 by the 1898 Foundation. The 1898 Foundation is an independent, autonomous, private, non-profit corporation that peruses, manages and distributes resources to support and preserve the historic district and historic place of the Youngstown Country Club, and other historic designed golf courses and facilities in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, Ohio along with the promotion of amateur golf and related sporting activities. In 2023, Youngstown Country Club celebrated its 125th anniversary and also announced that its clubhouse and golf course were both added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior, creating a historic district. This scholarship will be alternated between the YSU women’s golf team and the YSU men’s golf team for awarding. This is an annual scholarship that can be renewed; however, the applicant must complete the YSU Foundation Scholarship application and go through the application and selection process each year.

This endowment was established in 2019, in recognition of the 1986 and 1987 Penguin Football Teams as well as Back to Back National Championship teams of 1993 and 1994. This scholarship will be awarded to the member of the Penguin Football Team. It can be renewable through the application and selection process.

This endowment was established in 2016 at the 25th anniversary celebration for the 1991 National Championship football team. Ken Conaster’s longtime assistant to legendary head coach Jim Tressel initiated the gift to start this scholarship. The 1991 season was full of many memorable moments. The Penguins stood at 4-3 when they traveled to play Georgia Southern in early November. YSU’s road to victory that day, when the odds were against them, launched them into an 8-game-winning streak culminating in the program’s first national title. The Penguins historic playoff run in 1991 was decided by a total of 21 points. The 1991 National Championship team will forever be remembered as the first team to reach the pinnacle, bringing a tremendous amount of pride back to the Valley. The team motto for RYFP, Reach Your Full Potential, still resonates with players, coaches, and the entire Penguin football program. The recipient must be a member of the Penguin Football Team with a completed FAFSA application. Preferably wearing jersey number 91. This is a one-year scholarship that can be renewable if the above eligibility requirements continue to be met; however, the applicant must compete with all scholarship applicants and go through the application and selection process each year.

This endowment was established in 2023, in recognition of the Penguins 1997 National Championship team. The Penguins travelled the long road on the way to winning their fourth national championship in seven years. In the playoffs, YSU had to win two of three games on the road to get to the title game, and those contests took the Guins across the country. That journey ended in Chattanooga, Tenn., in the National Championship Game against McNeese State. In a tight contest, the Penguins trailed 9-3 entering the fourth quarter before the Cowboys committed a costly mistake. With 12:02 remaining, Jeff Fackrell intercepted a Blake Prejean pass at the YSU 35 to end a Cowboy threat and keep the Penguins within 9-3. Just over four minutes later, Demond Tidwell threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Renauld Ray, and, after Mark Griffith’s extra point, YSU led 10-9. The Cowboys had two final chances only to be stopped each time by the Penguin defense. The YSU offense came up big with a clock-consuming drive that took 5:07 of the final 6:23 off the clock. McNeese took over with just 1:16 remaining and at its own 22-yard line. Four plays later, two of which were sacks by Harry Deligianis, the game was over. In the contest, the teams had remarkably similar statistics. YSU had 12 first downs and 200 total yards while McNeese had 11 first downs and 201 yards of total offense. Youngstown State was seeded eighth in the playoffs following a 9-2 regular season. In the first round, the Penguins opened with a 28-13 win over Hampton. Then the travels began. In the quarterfinals, YSU trailed 21-0 at top-seed Villanova before mounting a furious rally. At halftime, the Penguins were behind 28-14 before scoring 23 straight points to build a 37-28 lead. The Wildcats scored late and out yarded the Penguins 459- 286. YSU’s postseason road trip continued in Spokane, Wash., against Eastern Washington. The Penguins led 17-0 on an Adrian Brown touchdown run, a Mike Stanec fumble return and a Mark Griffith field goal. But the Eagles responded with 14 third-quarter points to trim the deficit to three. In the fourth, EWU was deep in YSU territory before Jake Anderson intercepted a pass to end the threat, and Brown added a touchdown for a 25-14 victory. In the regular season, YSU began the season by winning its first six games — over Slippery Rock, Kent State, at Boston, Hofstra, at Indiana State and over Buffalo — before losing at Northern Iowa. YSU rebounded with wins over Illinois State, Southern Illinois and Southwest Missouri State before losing the regular-season finale 24-21 to Western Illinois. YSU led 21-10 before the Leathernecks scored in the third and in the fourth to win the Gateway title. The recipient must be a member of the Penguin Football Team. This is a one-year scholarship that can be renewable if the above eligibility requirements continue to be met; however, the applicant must compete with all scholarship applicants and go through the application and selection process each year.

Professor Caroline Oltmanns established this scholarship in 2015 to provide an annual scholarship to a piano student in the Dana School of Music.

Student must be majoring,or minoring, in piano. Student must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. FAFSA form must be completed, financial need is a consideration.