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Where children start in life must not determine how far they can go.
The belief that intellectual gifts and personal drive exist across socioeconomic backgrounds is part of our country’s founding DNA. What matters is the ability to develop those talents through an excellent education.
Columbus Academy has offered tuition assistance for remarkable students for more than a century. Alumni, parents, families and friends invest generously to ensure that Central Ohio’s brightest young people can learn and grow at CA.
Unlocking access to the best education is so important that a national foundation – with no direct ties to Columbus Academy – has recently increased its philanthropic support for our students.
The Malone Family Foundation: Extending Opportunity
In 2010, Columbus Academy received a $2 million endowed scholarship gift from the Malone Family Foundation. The philanthropic support came following an extensive application process, including a two-day site visit by the Foundation’s executive director Cathie Wlaschin, who observed classes, toured campus and talked with students and faculty.
The only Ohio school supported by the Malone Family Foundation, Columbus Academy demonstrated the teaching quality, student-faculty engagement and alumni success worthy of investment.
Malone Scholar candidates are highly motivated students who are among the top of their public-school classes but lack the financial resources to attend CA. As Cathie noted in her 2010 award letter to Academy, “This is not a gift but rather a challenge to find and educate deserving, exceptional students.”
Need-Based Scholarships to Unleash Human Potential
Nearly 30 students at CA have received the Malone Scholarship since 2010. Today, at least one Malone Scholar is in each middle and upper school grade level.
“We are wildly proud of our Malone Scholars,” says John Wuorinen ’80, Academy’s director of admissions and tuition assistance. “These students enrich the school for all students through their gifts and perspectives.” He notes that in addition to being great students, they routinely serve as leaders in clubs, sports, the arts and community service programs.
Interest from the scholarship endowment meets scholars’ demonstrated need for tuition as well as school-related expenses.
These “incidentals” are actually essential, enabling scholars to participate in the full CA experience. “We’re buying their prom ticket,” explains John. “We’re getting them a letter jacket or a computer, and we’re financially supporting them to go on school trips with their peers.”
After graduating from Columbus Academy, scholars have gone on to attend Princeton, Georgetown, the University of Chicago, USC, Duke, Stanford and CalTech among other top-ranked public and private universities. CA’s first Malone Scholar is now completing medical school.
A Flourishing Partnership: CA and the Malone Family Foundation
In spring 2023, the Foundation donated an additional $500,000 to supplement its original $2 million gift. This means more superb students will have access to CA’s unparalleled education as well as the lasting benefits that amplify over a student’s life and across generations and communities.
As the Foundation’s director says, “This gift is a confirmation of the Foundation’s pride in our partnership and the school’s scholar selection, as well as our eagerness to fund additional scholars at Columbus Academy.”
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