Finding purpose in the scholarship journey

Scholarships can be a lifeline for many college students and their families. In the 2025-26 academic year, U.S. families reported spending an average of $34,019 on college expenses. While 11% of parents and 11% of students surveyed said they used borrowing as a funding source, 61% of families surveyed relied on scholarships to help cover education costs¹.

Huntington Bank has been a proud sponsor of scholarship programs to help high school seniors prepare for their college trek. Read more about two recipients and their stories.

From annual study by Sallie Mae^® and Ipsos called “How America Pays for College 2022

For more than 30 years, Huntington has partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers to award annual scholarships to 10 high-achieving northeast Ohio high school seniors. Each year, qualifying students apply to receive a $2,000 scholarship. Entries are evaluated based on academic performance documented through high school transcripts, ACT and SAT scores, a letter of recommendation, community service activities, and a 500-word essay.

Carlin D.T. Jackson of Cleveland Heights, received this award in 2011. Carlin’s older sister received the Cavaliers and Huntington scholarship in 2008 and, after witnessing how the scholarship helped her in her first year of college, Carlin said, “I was determined to apply and receive this scholarship myself.” He used the funds to pay for his textbooks.

Now a Case Western Reserve University graduate, Carlin is the founder and principal consultant of Theo Wyes David Ltd., a consultancy firm specializing in business strategy, software engineering, systems architecture and operations.

“As the beneficiary of several college scholarships, I have challenged myself to return the investment and give back to my community through mentorship, working with students, and working with entrepreneurs who are just getting started in business,” Carlin said.

Since the inception of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Huntington scholarship program, more than half a million dollars has been awarded to more than 300 college students.

While getting straight A’s is commendable, it’s not always the best indicator of leadership. That is why Huntington established a program focused on young scholars who showcase strengths in other areas.

The S.W.A.G. (Students Wired for Achievement and Greatness) scholarship program, in partnership with The Michigan Chronicle, targets deserving Detroit students with a grade point average of at least 2.25, who are passionate about leadership and community service. As part of this annual program, 15 awardees receive scholarships between $2,500 and $25,000. Award levels include six scholarships for $2,500, five for $5,000, two for $10,000 and one for $15,000. Finally, one student receives the grand prize scholarship of $25,000.

Since launching S.W.A.G. scholarships in 2015, Huntington has provided more than $2 million in scholarship funds to Detroit-area students. Many recipients have gone on to intern at Huntington, become members of advisory boards, and several have even accepted jobs with the bank.

Jonae Maxey received a S.W.A.G. scholarship in 2016. While enrolled at the University of Michigan, she founded Maxey Real Estate Investments LLC, a real estate development company in Detroit. Jonae interned at Huntington in 2018. After graduating from college in 2021, she accepted a job with Huntington as a community coordinator in Detroit.

“My S.W.A.G. scholarship provided me with opportunities to network and learn from dynamic professionals while in college,” Jonae said. “This experience gave me the courage, as a college student, to establish companies and organizations that focus on transforming the lives of others through education, financial literacy, real estate investments, studying abroad through volunteerism, and more.”

The goal of these programs is to build confidence, ensure a better future for teens, provide a village of support for parents and educators, and build strong future communities and business leaders.

Students, parents and guardians are encouraged to learn more about opportunities to gain financial support for college through scholarships. Let’s join the movement to improve educational opportunities and educational achievement across our country.