Charles and Mary Lou Heck Educational & Forest M. and Meryl C. Cale Scholarship & Violet and Ralph Hennessey Educational Scholarship Grant

Charles and Mary Lou Heck Educational & Forest M. and Meryl C. Cale Scholarship & Violet and Ralph Hennessey Educational Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Muskingum County Community Foundation
Last Updated: October 05, 2025

Summary

The Charles and Mary Lou Heck Educational, Forest M. and Meryl C. Cale, and Violet and Ralph Hennessey Educational Scholarships, administered by the Muskingum County Community Foundation, support residents pursuing higher education. Established to honor community leaders, these scholarships target students maintaining a 'C' average or higher, including late bloomers and those from families not qualifying for financial aid. Preference is given to graduates of Muskingum County high schools, ensuring local talent is nurtured.

Overview

Mission & Vision The Mission of the Muskingum County Community Foundation is to improve quality of life in the community by nurturing opportunities and serving needs through collaboration and philanthropy. The Envisioned Future of the Muskingum County Community Foundation is that Muskingum County’s quality of life attracts organizations and people to pursue their dreams and practice their passions. In 1985, civic leaders in the area established the Zanesville Development Corporation to generate ideas to enhance the quality of life in Zanesville. The corporation suggested three projects: formation of a community leadership program, an enhanced economic corridor along Interstate 70, and the establishment of a community foundation. Charles and Mary Lou Heck Educational & Forest M. and Meryl C. Cale Scholarship & Violet and Ralph Hennessey Educational Scholarship In 2008, the ''Forest M. and Meryl C. Cale Scholarship Fund'' was established at the Muskingum County Community Foundation. The scholarship recipients may attend the Mid-East Adult Center or any two or four-year accredited college, technical college or university within the United States. Meryl C. Cale was born Meryl Catherine Myers on March 16, 1925 in Duncan Falls. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She died on January 1, 2008 in Ruston, Louisiana where her sister Joan Gordon lives. Her husband, Forest M. Cale, preceded her in death in 2006. Meryl worked for 24 years at the Mosaic Tile Company and then was employed for 19 years at Putnam Transfer Co. where she was in claims and the over, short, and damage (OSD) department. According to Putnam's CEO Dan Hennessey, ''She has the personality that when people called ticked off, she left them smiling.'' The Charles and Mary Lou Heck Educational Fund was established in 2015 to provide scholarship grants to Muskingum County residents furthering their education. The scholarships shall be awarded to students attending accredited institutions of higher learning at traditional colleges and universities, vocational and technical institutions, including 4-year degrees, technical 2-year degrees and post graduate degrees including Masters and Doctorate degrees. Ralph and Violet Hennessey believed in giving back to their community. They volunteered their time to many organizations. Violet was very active in her church, First United Methodist Church, a member of OES #45 and a 50-year member of the Eastern Star White Shrine of Jerusalem. She spent many years volunteering as a gray lady at Bethesda Hospital and also supervised the Candy Stripers. She also served as a cub scout den mother. Ralph was the owner, Chairman, and CEO of Putnam Transfer & Storage. He also found time to serve his community and work with his peers in the trucking business. Ralph was a member of the President Council of the American Institute of Management Operations, Council of the American Trucking Association, a member of the Ohio Trucking Association, where he served as president and chairman of the board. He also served as the Director of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. On a local level, Ralph served as President of the local Chamber of Commerce, board member of Goodwill Industries, member of the Board of Directors of Citizen National Bank and a consulting Director of Banc Ohio. He served on the Bethesda Foundation Council, was a member of the Elks Lodge 1124, a 32nd Mason, Lafayette Lodge 79 and a member of the Shrine. He also was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Recipients of the Cale, Heck, & Hennessey scholarships will most likely be somewhat different from most scholarship winners. A candidate for the Forest M. and Meryl C. Cale, Violet and Ralph Hennessey, and the Charles and Mary Lou Heck Educational scholarships is expected to fit the profile described below. Must be a resident of Muskingum County.Maintained at least a ''C'' average in high school (2.0 GPA on a 4 point grading system). Maintain no less than a ''C'' average in pursuing higher education. Attending or planning to attend an accredited college, technical college, university, adult center, or graduate school within the United States. May be a ''late bloomer'' who has gained focus and direction the last year or two of high school. May come from a family that does not qualify for student financial aid on the basis of need. May have graduated earlier and has now chosen to further his/her education. If the applicant is over the age of 24 and is self-supporting, they may skip the parental information questions. Not necessarily be a top student who is eligible for academic scholarships or a member of a low-income family who would qualify for adequate financial aid on the basis of need.