“I’d like to thank you guys again for picking me to be one of the first scholarship winners. I’d also like to let you all know that with the scholarship money I was able to pay for drone licensing, training and part of the cost for insurance for the drone. I also want to tell you that my business “GS Custom Ag Services” will be starting up this year and I am buying the large spray drone and picking it up on April 5th. I am honored to be one of the first recipients and be a young entrepreneur like Jacob was and in the same area that he serviced too. Thank you again.”

“The Jacob E. Rhoades Foundation Scholarship has helped me be where I am today and pursue my dreams. I encourage every prospective entrepreneur to apply for the scholarship, as it has benefited me in so many ways.”

“I was honored to be one of last year’s scholarship recipients. As the holiday season has come to an end, I’ve been busy taking down all of the Christmas lights I installed both at my own home and through my lighting business.

I’m incredibly grateful to share that this was the best year I’ve ever had. My personal light display had a record-breaking season, drawing visitors from all around the area, with cars lined up outside our home night after night throughout the holidays. I was also able to expand my business into more families and communities, which has been such a rewarding experience. While taking down the lights isn’t quite as exciting as putting them up, I still enjoy the work, knowing I was able to bring joy to the world around me.

I am currently studying Civil Engineering at Youngstown State University, continuing to grow my skills and work toward my future. Your generosity through the Jacob E. Rhoades Foundation has truly been such a blessing to me, from helping reduce my tuition, to supporting a record-breaking year in my lighting business, to the keepsake ornament that reminds me of your kindness and of the incredible young man Jacob was.

I am deeply thankful for everything your foundation has done for me and for staying in touch even after graduation. I truly appreciate your continued support, encouragement, and belief in me, and I am so grateful for all that you do.

I wanted to share with you my new favorite Christmas ornament. I placed it at the top of my tree right below my angel. This ornament will be a keepsake that I can look at as I get older to remember Jacob, and his incredible family. I am still so grateful for your family and the foundation scholarship you had given me.”

“I was one of few recipients of the 2025 Jacob E. Rhodes Foundation Scholarship. This Scholarship has been of great assistance to me and my small business. Since earning the Scholarship, I have moved my business off of my family’s property to a location in Shippenville. What once was Muddy Paws Grooming is now the home of Brooke’s Grooming LLC at J&J Feeds and Needs in Shippenville PA. I have used the Scholarship money to help me pay my first month’s lease, along with other necessities as I have expanded my business and taken on a number of new clients. I am very appreciative of this award and all that it has done for me and my business. I hope you are able to continue to provide such an award and opportunity to graduating seniors in the local area who are looking to begin working out of high school or start their own business. It has been such a blessing to me and I am sure it will be for many other young adults in the future to come.”

“I wish I had gotten the opportunity to meet Jacob. He sounds like such a sweet hardworking and determined man. I’m so excited and thankful to have received this scholarship and to use it to further my education. I plan on working hard to become and entrepreneur just like Jacob would’ve. Thank you all so much! I’m so honored to have been chosen.”