Fruth Pharmacy this past Friday made a $10,000 donation to Ohio University Southern towards its effort to establish an ongoing scholarship in the business’s name.

The scholarship is aimed at helping students with financial needs and first-generation college students.

“Ohio University Southern is grateful for the generosity and commitment to education displayed by Lynne Fruth and Fruth Pharmacy,” Dr. Dan Evans, interim dean, said in a press release. “Establishing this scholarship will make higher education more accessible for people in our region.”

The scholarship recipient must be a graduate of a Lawrence County high school.

“We have about $14,000 in our scholarship fund at Ohio University Southern right now,” Fruth, president and chairman of Fruth, said. “We will continue adding to it with the goal of making it an endowment.”

The pharmacy holds an annual golf tournament to help raise money that is then donated back to colleges and universities in the region aimed specifically at students with financial needs.

“As a former teacher, I not only realize the value of education, but I also realize the need for it,” Fruth said. “We aim to award this scholarship to a first-generation college student with financial needs for a reason, which is giving that person a leg up when they otherwise would not have one.”

Fruth said this year’s recipient sent her a touching thank you note.

“She told me how great it was that she got the scholarship and promised she would not waste this opportunity,” she said.

The Fruth Scholarship at OUS is $500 per year. Fruth offers 26 scholarships total and all are posted at www.fruthpharmacy.com. To apply for the Fruth or any scholarship available at OUS, contact financial aid officer Jacki Adkins at 740-533-4603 or by email at adkinsj@ohio.edu.