The Ohio Department of Higher Education awarded The University of Toledo a five-year, $787,449 grant through the Choose Ohio First program to provide scholarships to students pursuing computer science and related fields.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner recently announced more than $20 million for 35 colleges and universities across the state to boost Ohio’s efforts to strengthen the state’s workforce in technology-related fields such as coding and cybersecurity while supporting an estimated 1,400 Ohio students.
“Careers in computer science and cybersecurity are critically important in today’s technology landscape,” UToledo President Sharon L. Gaber said. “This state grant will enhance our own investments to provide additional opportunities for students to receive advanced training in this area, such as our new master’s program in cybersecurity and a cybersecurity graduate certificate program.”
“The Choose Ohio First program is one of our state’s best tools to increase the number of students preparing to work in STEM-related fields,” Husted said. “In today’s technology-infused economy, every industry and business has important tech-focused jobs, and training Ohioans for careers in those positions is key to growing our economy.”
The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program began in 2008 as a way to increase the number of Ohio students enrolling in and successfully completing science, technology, engineering, math and medicine programs at Ohio’s public and independent colleges and universities.
“The ongoing investment in the Choose Ohio First program demonstrates the commitment of Governor DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Husted, and the General Assembly to build a talent pipeline in Ohio to the leading technology occupations,” Gardner said. “This new focused scholarship will further strengthen the Choose Ohio First program and put more students on a path to success.”
