Lainie Simons
College: The Ohio State University
Major: Biochemistry
High School: Austintown-Fitch High School
Year of Scholarship: 2019
Congratulations to our 2019 OAB Kids Scholarship recipient, Lainie Simons! A graduate of Austintown-Fitch High School, Lainie plans to study Biochemistry at The Ohio State University in the fall of 2019. Her father, Orville Simons, is an account manager for WKBN-TV, Youngstown.
“The biggest benefit from my parent working in the broadcast industry is learning the importance of relationships,” Lainie said. “Knowing people and understanding the complexity of connections is what he specializes in.”
That relationship building will serve her well as she pursues a career in medicine where she hopes to have a positive impact on her patients — offering them comfort in challenging, stressful times.
Lainie, an accomplished student-athlete, graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and was a three-year letter winner, and captain in volleyball and a four-year letter winner in softball. She served as president of both Students Serving Veterans and Key Club, served as treasurer of Interact Club, and was a member of National Honor Society, the school newspaper and the drama club to highlight just a few of her many activities.
It’s the work with Students Serving Veterans that Lainie considers to be the most rewarding.
“We make it our goal to help the veterans in our area feel loved and appreciated,” Lainie explained. “Through this club, I have found a sense of purpose and a moral obligation to give back to those that have served our nation so dutifully. “
Outside of school, Lainie has stayed active in her community year-round where she could be found running food drives in the spring, running blood drives through the American Red Cross, supporting Trick or Treat for UNICEF, , serving food at the Rescue Mission in Youngstown, and ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas.
Lainie plans to spend her summer playing travel softball and spending time with her family on the lake.
About the Ohio Broadcasters Foundation
The Ohio Broadcasters Foundation is the educational foundation affiliated with the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, the not-for-profit trade association of radio and television stations in Ohio. The OAB Kids Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior planning to attend college next year whose parent is employed by an OAB member station.
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