Leah Hegarty
College: University of Tennessee
Area of Study: Law
High School: Sylvania Southview High School
Year of Scholarship: 2026
The Ohio Broadcasters Foundation is pleased to recognize Leah Hegarty as the recipient of our 2026 OAB Kids Scholarship! The daughter of Shaun Hegarty, a Reporter at WTVG in Toledo, Leah will be attending the University of Tennessee, where she’ll be building a career in law.
Leah’s career aspirations stem from years of watching the investigative reporting of her father, whose stories have often given a voice to individuals facing adversity. “He gave exposure to those who truly needed it. I aspire to help my community like him, but instead of exposure I’d rather be representing them in court,” she states.
Consistently a straight-A student, Leah has proven she has the smarts to take on any career path she wishes, having earned highest honors all four years of high school and graduating with an Advanced Placement Capstone Certificate through the College Board. Her merit earned her a nomination into the National Honor Society, as well as several awards from her school, the Board of Education, and Educational Service Center.
Outside the classroom, Leah served on Student Senate and Student Government, worked as Editor-in-Chief on both her school newspaper and yearbook committees, and chaired the Homecoming Assembly. She also served her school through volunteer efforts including tutoring her peers, working as a classroom aide, and leading freshman orientation.
Leah’s volunteerism extended into the greater community as well, where she dedicated time to causes including her local senior center, toy drives, and charity walks. She also participated in a sponsored Leadership Academy and a separate Leadership Camp program, where she was able to head and partake in special service projects.
Demonstrating a deep passion for volunteerism, Leah also brought her service to another beloved hobby of hers, dance. She spent several years working with children at a dance-focused kids’ camp and worked as Captain of her school’s Dance for a Chance dance marathon for charity. This was all on top of serving as Varsity Dance Team Captain and competing in multiple state and national dance competitions.
Now that she has graduated, Leah plans to spend the summer playing with her two beloved dogs, hanging out with friends, and working at her seasonal job. She can’t wait to further her education and continue her volunteer efforts in her new community of Knoxville, Tennessee this fall.
The OAB is proud to extend this year’s scholarship to such an intelligent, active, and community-minded student as Leah, and we’re confident she will thrive in her college career and beyond!
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.
← Return to Scholarship Homepage