Marlene Jones Scholarship Recipient

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – One retired teacher’s love of education has driven her to help other educators.

Marlene Jones awards a scholarship every year to a teacher working on their Masters degree. She said with higher education being so expensive she felt she needed to help. Jones said when picking a recipient for the scholarship she looks for someone with a love of teaching, and this year Ashley Larimer fit that description.

“Somebody that loves education,” said Jones. “I guess that’s the big word, love. And you usually can tell. I can tell that she does very much.”

Ashley Larimer said both her mother and stepfather worked in education, which drew her to the field, but two teachers she had growing up really left an impression.

“I also had two teachers growing up that were fantastic,” said Larimer. “My second grade teacher her love every single day I will never ever forget it and I had a high school science teacher that really made me love science a lot more than what I thought I could.”

Larimer said she has actually just completed her Masters degree in May and is currently working as a high school biology teacher. She said she was excited to receive the scholarship and the money will go towards paying back what she has already paid for her degree.