Rising Scholars

Program Overview 

Due to the success of the Columbiana County Rural Scholars Program, Kent State University has implemented a local version of our program on each of the seven regional campuses. To align the mission university-wide, all of the campuses have adopted the Rising Scholars name, including the program on the Columbiana County campuses. Now, under the new designation of Rising Scholars, students from the entire northeast Ohio region are benefiting from this approach to student success.  

The Kent State Rising Scholars is a mentorship and post-secondary success program for 7-12 grade first-generation college-bound students. Since 2012, undergraduate student mentors from the KSU branch campuses, many of whom are also first-generation collegestudents, meet with scholars on aweekly basis. This experience, along with our workshops, provides students with the knowledge, academic exposure, and social support that fosters success after high school.

In 2025-2026, the Columbiana Rising Scholars Program served 154 scholars in 7th-12th grade in 12 school districts including Beaver Local, Columbiana, Crestview, East Liverpool, East Palestine, Lisbon, Leetonia, Salem, Southern Local, United, Wellsville, and St. Paul. During this academic year, 14 mentors have visited our middle and high school scholars on a weekly basis, helping them recognize their strengths, and use their talents to build a path to their chosen success.

“Having a mentor has helped me more than anyone knows. I wouldn’t have made it this far on my own, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program.”  - 2026 graduate of the Rising Scholars Program

Our Goal 

Kent State University's Rising Scholars Program offers first-generation college-bound students from neighboring areas a college access program designed to give them and their families the knowledge, rigorous academic exposure, and social support they will need in order to be successful at a world-class university. Our goal is for every student in our program to complete post-secondary education with the credentials necessary to succeed in their career. 

Branch Campus Pages: 

Rising Scholars Tuscarawas
Rising Scholars Stark 
Rising Scholars Ashtabula 
Rising Scholars Geauga/Twinsburg 

Outcomes: 

• Increase high school graduation rates, enhance college readiness, and improve college/postsecondary attendance in rural counties.  
• Prepare a technically skilled, professionally trained workforce to promote economic growth in the region.
• Support the success of students who have promising academic ability
• Provide sponsored scholarships to cover tuition at Kent State Geauga for Rising Scholars and their student mentors.