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Dwayne
Thompson addresses scholarship recipients during a banquet held in
their honor.
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Edison State
Scholarship Recipients Recognized
Edison State Community College in partnership with The Edison
Foundation recognized over 110 students during the annual scholarship
recognition dinner on Thursday, October 4. The event provides
recipients with the opportunity to meet the patrons that made their
scholarships available.
Following networking and dinner, Dwayne Thompson, Edison State alumni,
and Piqua City Schools Superintendent talked about some of the
obstacles he had to overcome as a first-generation college student.
“I’m a first-generation college student in my family. No one in my
family had gone to college prior to me, I had no blueprint, and I had
no real knowledge of how I was going to pay for college at that time. I
knew college was important to my goals and I simply did not have the
means.”
As a lifelong resident of Piqua, Thompson was well-aware of Edison
State but initially chose a different route, pursuing education from a
four-year university.
“My first college application after high school was actually accepted
to another university. But after speaking with a mentor to help me
fully understand the transition process from high school to college, it
caused me to cancel my placement and seek a job that I thought would
provide me with a stable income.”
“I could not stop thinking about college, however, with a goal to
become an educator so I reached out to a counselor at Edison State for
the first time. After my first visit, my unsure, reluctant, emerging
young self, left with confidence, hope, and a plan for my future. I
realized after that one meeting that I could afford my education and I
would personally have to fund it but I could work while I was taking
classes here at Edison State.”
Thompson credits Edison State for setting him on the path to success.
“Simply put, my positive experience at Edison State, served as a strong
foundation to my post-secondary education and was everything that I
needed as a first-generation college student.”
After graduating from Edison State, Thompson went on to receive a
Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ohio University and most
recently completed a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education as
well as Superintendent Certification from Wright State University.
“Even when I transferred to Ohio University, I would continue to enroll
in classes at Edison State when I would come back and work over the
summer break. This ultimately allowed me to earn my bachelor’s degree
in just two-and-a-half years, saving me both money and time.”
Thompson has since served as a teacher, principal, curriculum director,
assistant superintendent and now superintendent over the past 26 years
- all in the Piqua City Schools System. He was selected as the Piqua
Teacher of the Year in 1999 and was a finalist for State Teacher of the
Year in 2000. His wife, Merrianne, is a teacher at Piqua Central
Intermediate School where their 6th-grade twin daughters and 5th-grade
son also attend as students.
Made possible by The Edison Foundation, Edison State Community College,
and local organization sponsorships, recipients honored were awarded a
total of nearly $130,000 in academic and need-based scholarships.
Scholarships awarded will aid in students’ pursuit of higher education
at Edison State Community College.
Founded in 1993, The Edison Foundation has raised millions of dollars,
primarily giving through scholarships to Edison State students. For
more information about The Edison Foundation and scholarship
opportunities, visit
www.edisonohio.edu/Foundation<http://www.edisonohio.edu/Foundation>.
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