The $500 scholarship will be awarded annually at the OWSA conference. The eligibility requirements are listed below and the application is on the following page.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Must be nominated by an OWSA member (current full-time or retired)
2. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (to include incoming freshman and/or enrolled full-time students)
3. Must be an in-state college/university.
4. Must be in the field of corrections or criminal justice

Application Procedure/Application Checklist

1. Complete scholarship application
2. Compose a one page essay on “Why you have chosen the field of corrections or criminal justice?” The essay must be typed and double-spaced.
3. Enclose one letter of recommendation from the nominating OWSA member.
4. Enclose verification of your GPA (either a letter from your professor and/or your most recent transcript).

The application form can be copied for distribution.


Please forward completed application to OWSA P.O. Box 770063 Lakewood Ohio, 44107, or email to frank.shewalter@odrc.state.oh.us

DEADLINE: This year's deadline for submitting applications will be March 1, 2009.

  Click here to view and print the application.

2009 John Dean Scholarship Recipient: Kyle Watts

By Barbara King

Treasurer, OWSA

Kyle Watts is attending Sinclair Community College pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice—Law Enforcement. He has a 4.0 GPA. He chose the field of criminal justice for many reasons. The main reason is his desire to help people that are in need. He also wants  to serve his community and to improve the community in which he lives. In his freshman year, he worked as a Security Guard as Sinclair College and is currently working in the Sinclair Police Department as a  dispatcher. He serves in his community by helping out Big Brothers / Big Sisters.
            Kyle graduated in 2007 from Lebanon High School where he took accelerated classes and carried a GPA over 4.0. He was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Buckeye Boys State and a member of the national Honor Society.  He is the son of Ron Watts who began his career at Lebanon Correctional Institution in 1994 as a Correctional Officer and is now serving in the capacity of Account Clerk Supervisors in the Cashiers Office.
            Kyle is the future of our department and our community. He has hopes of making the world around him a safer place no matter what the cost. He is willing to fight to keep his community and this nation together and free. Kyle is not one to sit and wait for things to change but to go and make the change himself.

Nominating OWSA Member: Warden Tim Brunsman, Lebanon Correctional Institution

Congratulations to Sara Unger our 2008 Winner, She is in the Criminal Justice Program at Lakeland Community College with a 3.33 GPA.Congratulations to Stacey Marie Saunders our 2007 Winner.