Our Crowdfunding Groups
Thank you to all who were so kind to contribute to the "Give the Buckeye Experience!" Your generosity helped us to bring in over $3,000 which will all go towards student scholarships. If you didn't check out the video in the last update, be sure to check it out with this one.
Our giving page is no longer active, but you can still give. If you would like to provide any additional support to our project, please do so here.
Thank you again for your support!
We are in the finals days of our fundraising efforts. Everyday we are amazed and thankful for the amount of donations we have received. Each of us at TOPS would like to give you are sincerest of thank you's. You have no idea how much these donations mean to us and the students. Instead of telling you, why don't we show you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxj-6SI9eLI
If you haven't donated yet, now is the time!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
The TOPS Team
We had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Cutshall, a mental health counselor as well as a TOPS Program Instructor to reveal her passion and perspective of the value behind the TOPS Program at the Nisonger Center.
What have you learned as a result of working so closely with the students in the TOPS Program?
I learned how important relationships are in establishing a productive learning environment. It was important for me to establish a relationship with the TOPS students, the Ed coaches. But it was also important and rewarding to watch TOPS students establish relationships with their peers in class and to see how much this helped TOPS students in their own learning and well as other peers.
What do you think benefits the students the most while in the program?
I think the TOPS program benefits students to learn management skills that help them personally and professionally: managing time, taking responsibility for actions, communication, etc.
What has been your favorite memory as a TOPS instructor?
My favorite memory as a TOPS instructor is the final projects that all of my students give at the end of the semester. TOPS students have a wealth of knowledge of topics that the whole class benefits from learning about.
How do you think Scholarship donations will aid future students?
Scholarship donations are important because families would like to provide opportunities for their children and higher education is expensive for everyone. Especially those with disabilities.
Keep on Donating! We are over HALFWAY towards our goal, but we need YOUR help!
I had the privilege of speaking with Sherry McNary this past week. We spoke about how the TOPS Program has had a positive impact, not only on her son Jamie, but also on her entire family.
Jamie is finishing his first year in the program. Sherry is a manager here at Ohio State, working in university development. While doing research at her job, a year ago, she read about the TOPS program. Together they quickly completed the application and Jamie was accepted into the program last fall.
Jamie had been working at Kroger for several years and knew he was ready for higher education and wanted to add to his employment experience. The program was a perfect fit to help Jamie reach his goals.
Sherry highlighted Jamie’s love for sport statistics, especially Ohio State football. So, it came as no surprise, when he began working at St. John’s Arena. He has works both weekends and weekdays since entering the program. Sherry also mentioned his strong interest in history and keen ability to remember any fact pertaining to American history. He is currently finishing his second course in that field of study.
The TOPS Program has had a profound impact on the man Jamie is becoming. The amount of knowledge he has gained through experiences, and the friends he has made while participating in the program, will impact him for the rest of his life. One recent success occurred just the other day, when Jamie drove on the freeway for the first time by himself. He told Sherry later that evening. She undoubtedly attributes his growing confidence and ability to try new tasks to TOPS.
Sherry describes our fundraising efforts saying, "...how meaningful it is for someone to contribute to a scholarship who doesn't even know who you are - it shows such faith and confidence in Ohio State and the students. For Jamie that really means a lot!"
She has seen the strides made by Jamie in just one academic year. The impact the program has had on students can be seen in every aspect of their lives. With only two weeks left to donate to our Buckeye Funder, we are at nearly 50% of our goal. Your donation will give students an awesome opportunity to become a Buckeye, learn independence, and grow into a responsible citizen. Thank you!
“He is limitless and the TOPS Program has showcased that…”
We interviewed a student from the TOPS program, Jackson, and asked him a few questions this week:
What does the TOPS program mean to you?
“It means making new friends, getting a college experience.”
How much does it mean to you that people care to give money so that more students may get this experience?
“It means a lot because without donations there wouldn’t be nearly as many people in this program, it wouldn’t be getting as popular as it is getting.”
What do you do with the band?
“I got to go to the football games, and I got to go to the drum line. I also took inventory and ran the metronome during practice, got to go on the field, move equipment after the skull session and set up the skull session on occasions.”
What have you gotten involved with in the university?
“I’ve gotten involved with camp counseling, which is helping kids through their parents' cancer.”
Why are these scholarships important?
“It’s important because it reduces the price of college, and this means even more to me because I was a recipient of the $2,000 scholarship this last year.
What is your favorite class?
“My favorite class is the music because we get to go to schools and actually tutor kids, and observe what the teachers do.”
So far $1,518 has been donated out of our $4,000 goal, which is incredible!
Thank you to everyone who has donated and who will donate, it means a lot to the students and program!
A Student Activity Fee is assessed to all students enabling them to participate in programming offered by OSU such as joining a club or organization. This donation could support participation in (but not limited to) clubs of interest such as Pokemon League and Camp Kesem.
Each student is responsible for the General Student fee which is required by the State of Ohio to help with the cost of non-instructional services such as cultural and diversity growth as well as emotional well-being. This donation could support services at Younkin Success Center and Student Health Center, among others.
This donation could contribute to the student Recreational and Physical Activity Center Fee providing the opportunity to engage with 8 locations on and around campus in a variety of health related opportunities. TOPS students enjoy working out at the RPAC and swimming.
This generous donation could contribute to an entire semester of tuition, consisting of 4 credit hours of classes for one student. Courses students have recently taken include Food Production Management, Sound Technology and Introduction to Children's Literature.
