CHI O SCHOLARSHIP

1.CLEVELAND EAST CHI OMEGA ALUMNAE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

This year, 2026, the Cleveland East Alumnae Chapter offers a $1000 Achievement Award and a $500 Silver Award. New increased eligibility this year!

Chi Omegas who are a sophomore, junior or a non-graduating senior and have permanent residency in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Ashtabula or Summit Counties and/or attend a university in the Greater Cleveland area,and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, are eligible for our scholarships. The basis for selection will be on scholastic achievement and sorority/campus/community involvement. Financial need is not to be criteria for selection, but will be considered. In addition to the application, each candidate must submit a letter of recommendation from one of her chapter advisors, and it is to be sent under separate cover by the author. Applications may be submitted by mail or email. The Achievement Award recipients will be contacted in March. The scholarship money will be sent to the college after the recipients hasve returned to school the following fall and have provided evidence of full-time enrollment.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SXofrKWzGWqGIvcluO-dXggwrHJ_PePF/view?usp=sharing

Download the Achievement Award APPLICATION for complete instructions:

Link to: Chi Omega CLE E Achievement Award Application

Applications and recommendation letters must be received by March 5, 2026.

Questions? contact scholarship chair at cleveastscholars@gmail.com

2025 CLEVELAND EAST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Our Achievement Award winner is KAITLYN KUCHAR

A Junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas TX. Kaitlyn has a double major in Business and Sociology with a minor in Education Studies with a GPA of 3.944 and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. An active member of her chapter, she has held the position of Philanthropy Chair, Spirit Team Chair, Sisterhood Support Team leader, and Panhellenic President of External Recruitment. As Philanthropy chair she led her team to raise over $300,000 for Make-A-Wish with silent and live auctions, community involvement, and corporate sponsorships. She is working as an intern for Make-A-Wish North Texas now and will be continue in Northeast Ohio as a summer intern in our region. She says her "shoot for the stars" career goal is to one day become the CEO of a Make-A-Wish region.

2024 CLEVELAND EAST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

LEAH ELIZABETH LA VERDE, Zeta Alpha, The Ohio State University

Junior, Major: Neuroscience (Premed) 3.96 GPA

Director of Philanthropy and Community Service. Includes Make-a Wish Week and GALA (430 attended, raised $55,000 for 4 Wish Families). Director of Programming (15 events /month with 220 Chi O sisters)

Goals: plans to apply for Med School in 2025

2023 CLEVELAND EAST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Morgan Anderson, Upsilon Mu, John Carroll University

Sophomore, Major: Sociology/Criminology 3.98 GPA

Director of programing, Alumnae Relations Chair, Greek Week representative, Emerging Leaderin Campus Activities & Community Service. Goals: Move to Nashville, attend law school at Belmont University, become a Title IX lawyer.

2022 CLEVELAND EAST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

`MONICA INES KRONSTAIN, Rho Mu, DePaul University`

Junior, Majoring in Political Science & Psychology 3.951

Cleveland East Chi Omega Alumnae award an annual $1000 scholarship to a Cleveland area Chi Omega. The criteria include: outstanding scholarship & leadership in Chi Omega, on campus and in the community. We are thrilled to introduce this year's Achievement Award Winner :

Here are Monica's thoughts

"...Joining Chi Omega brought me stability, love, and a healthy influence. I feel that joining Chi Omega has brought back positive relationships and sisterhood to my life, and I think that without it I would be a completely different person.....joining Chi Omega has enhanced my ability to lead and strive to help others. There is no doubt that Chi Omega has built me into the strong woman that I am today.."

2. SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS
You can help us continue to award scholarships to Chi Omegas from the greater Cleveland area. Donations in honor or memory of a loved one or special sister can be sent with this donation form

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Td67wBTn5lhvRA5sXvbOe0SCg-0inc22/view?usp=sharing

Credit is earned toward individual life-time giving to The Chi Omega Foundation, a 501C3. All donations are tax-deductible. We accept donations by traditional check (Payable to Chi Omega Foundation, memo: Cleveland East Scholarship Fund) sent to our Foundation Trustee, Nancy Toth, 8153 Cloveridge Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

or by Paypal here:

3. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 2026

Eligibility increased! Both the XO Achievement Awards and the CAPA Scholarships are now OPEN to any sorority woman attending a university in the Greater Cleveland area AND to any whose permanent address is the Greater Cleveland Area.

Chi Omega Alumnae Cleveland East Achievement Award
Chi Omegas with permanent residence in the Greater Cleveland area (see application for specific counties) are eligible to apply for our $1000 Achievement Award and the $500 Silver Award. Applications are due March 5, 2026 You may download the complete Achievement Award application above. Address further questions to Nancy Toth, cleveastchios@gmail.com.

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Cleveland Alumnae Panhellenic also offers $2000 scholarships in May 2026 to Cleveland area sorority women. Applications are due Feb 28, 2026 and details are available
on CAPA's website www.clevelandpanhellenic.org.

Chi Omega National offers :
The Alumnae Educational Scholarship.
The Rowdy and Lucky Shain Scholarship is available for Chi Omega collegians or alumnae pursuing degree programs in animal welfare or veterinary medicine. The goal of the Rowdy and Lucky Shain scholarship is to assist the growing core of caring Chi Omegas who are in a position to make positive changes in the humane treatment of animals.

The Mary Love Collins Memorial Scholarshipis for Chi Omegas who are enrolled or enrolling in graduate school on a full time basis. Recipients are selected on the basis of scholarship, aptitude, contributions and service to Chi Omega, the university and the community, and personal and professional goals.

For all scholarship applications from Chi Omega Foundation go to:

https://www.chiomega.com/scholarshipsandgrants

4. Our Scholars Photo Gallery & Bios

Scholarship Winner 2021

2021 Scholarship Winner

Cleveland East Alumnae Achievement Award

Lily Steiger, Xi Mu, University of Rochester, Beachwood OH

Junior, Majoring in Brian & Cognitive Sciences 3.9

Lily Steiger, Xi Mu University of Rochester, Beachwood OH

Junior, Majoring in Brian & Cognitive Sciences 3.9

Cleveland East Chi Omega Alumnae award an annual $1000 scholarship to a Cleveland area Chi Omega. The criteria include: outstanding scholarship & leadership in Chi Omega, on campus and in the community. We are thrilled to announce this year's Achievement Award Winner :

Here's Lily's unique story in her words: "In the late summer of 2020, over 75% of my chapter (Xi Mu) disaffiliated from Chi Omega because it wasn’t clear to them how they could be in a sorority and also be an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, I believed in the potential of Chi Omega to change for the better, so I—along with ten others—decided to stay. In November, I was slated into the roles of President, Personnel Chair, Panhellenic Delegate, and Facilities Manager. Since then, I have navigated the daily running of a small chapter, dealt with COVID restrictions and more disaffiliations, pushed for DEI changes in Chi Omega and in Greek Life on our campus, and executed a successful formal recruitment. Though this can often be overwhelming, I always do my best."

Photo Gallery of Scholarship Winners

2020 Achievement Award Wiinner

Annemarie Guta, Lambda Delta, Kent State University, Junior, Early Childhood Education, VP Student Ambassadors, Medina, OH.

Chi Omega Cleveland East proudly awards the $1000 Achievement Award to a worthy local Chi Omega sister annually. This year because of the special circumstances we are living in today and in honor of Chi Omega’s 125 years we will award two additional grants of $500. We are thrilled to have such outstanding candidates. Chi Omega continues to encourage women to demonstrate high purposes, character, scholarship, and sisterhood.

125th YEAR OF Chi Omega AWARDS

(middle) Emily Toth, Lambda Delta, Kent State University, Soph/Jr, Community Health Education, Panhellenic, Parma, OH. (bottom) Daniella Saul, Zeta Alpha, Ohio State University, Junior, Anthropology-public health, Community Service, Middleburg Hts,OH.

Past Scholarship Winners

2020 Scholarship Winners

Cleveland East Alumnae Achievement Award

Annemarie Guta, Lambda Delta, Kent State University, Junior, Early Childhood Education, VP Student Ambassadors,Medina, OH.

125th Year of Chi Omega Awards

Emily Toth, Lambda Delta, Kent State University, Soph/Jr, Community Health Education, Panhellenic, Parma, OH.

Daniella Saul, Zeta Alpha, Ohio State University, Junior, Anthropology-public health, Community Service, Middleburg Hts,OH.

Cleveland Panhellenic Scholarship Winners

Annemarie Guta – Kent State University – Early Childhood Education

Teresa Kelly - John Carroll University – Biochemistry

2019 Scholarship Winner

Cleveland East Alumnae Achievement Award

Emily Marie Teutsch, University of Dayton

2018 Scholarship Winner

Cleveland East Alumnae Achievement Award

Emily Toppin, Marietta College

2017 Scholarship Winner

Cleveland East Alumnae Achievement Award

Leanne Tang, John Carroll University

2016 Scholarship Winners
Cleveland East Alumnae Achievement Award:
Cara Sutherland, John Carroll University

Cleveland Alumnae Panhellenic Award:
Janessa Brickman, John Carroll University
Amber Seaman, University of Cincinnati

2016 Achievement Award Winner

Cara Sutherland , Upsilon Mu, JCU from Shaker Heights, majoring in Exercise Science with a 3.8 GPA. She was the Personnel Chair for UM and has studied and taught Irish Dance extensively. She hopes to use her education and talent to teach Irish dance wherever people want to learn it, possibly abroad. This year she was the president of JCU's Panhellenic council. Cara is shown here amid Phyllis Martis, Lorry Szabo, Nancy Toth, and Pam Wurster at 2016 Eleusinia at Lockkeepers

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED2015
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED!
Kat 2015cropped.jpg
Kathleen Piascik, Lambda Delta, is the recipient of our Achievement Award. She is currently a senior at Kent St. U. and plans to graduate in 2016 in Human Development and Family Studies. (She transferred from Univ. of Pittsburgh after 3 semesters and was initiated in 2013.) Her home is in Silver Lake, OH. Kathleen's GPA is now 3.61, with a 4.0 last semester! She has been GNV and is currently co-chair of philanthropy. Her Chi O Karaoke raised $19,000 for MAW this spring. She is also a graduate of the Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute and was recently elected Senator of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services. CONGRATULATIONS SISTER PIASCIK

2015 CAPA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
We are thrilled to announce that 2 Chi Omega sisters were awarded Cleveland Alumnae Panhellenic Scholarships at the May 16, 2015 CAPA Luncheon at Landerhaven.

Cara Sutherland (left) , Upsilon Mu, is a sophomore at JCU from Shaker Heights, majoring in Exercise Science with a 3.8 GPA. She is the Personnel Chair for UM and has studied and taught Irish Dance extensively. She hopes to use her education and talent to teach Irish dance wherever people want to learn it, possibly abroad.

Audra Franley (right), Beta Delta, Thiel College is from Astabula County, majoring in Parish Education with a minor in Psychology and English. She is the secretary for Sigma Tau Delta and a member of Choir. She is the current Vice President of BD.

2014 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED!
Chi Omega Cleveland Alumnae East are happy to announce the winner of our $1000 Achievement Award: Margaret (Maggie) A. McCue, Zeta Alpha. Maggie is currently a junior at OSU, majoring in Human Nutrition, carrying a 3.89 GPA. She went to Hudson HS. She has held several ChiOmega committee chairs and was the GKA for 2013. In addition to her sorority activities Maggie has been active in Panhellenic as VP of Judicial Affairs and in campus groups including Student Wellness Ambassador. She created an innovative program to instill our 6 Purposes in her sisters daily lives. She plans to earn a masters in Nutrition and become a registered dietician. CONGRATULATIONS SISTER McCUE!

2013 Panhel Scholarship Winner!

Emily Elizabeth Clark, Kappa Delta, is one of the eight CAPA winners of A $2000 scholarship. Her home is in Hudson, OH. She is a sophomore majoring in English (creative writing) in Memphis at Rhodes College.
Photo of Emily with Nancy Toth and Emily's mother at 100th Bomb Group May 18, 2013.

Our Chi Omega Cleveland East Award 2013 winner is Katherine Anne Began, Sigma Mu, Babson College. She is a 2013 Katherine Began.JPG sophomore majoring in Business Administration (Finance, Computational & Mathematical) Her home is in Avon Lake. This summer Kate joined us for a Chi O East-West planning meeting for the May 17, 2014 Panhel Luncheon.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED AT ELEUSINIAN BRUNCH

13 Highly deserving Chi Omegas from the Greater Cleveland area were considered for this year's award. The winner is Karis Tzeng from University of Pennsylvania. Karis is a Junior majoring in Urban Studies with a GPA of 3.69. She has been on the sisterhood committe, was Morale Chair of Recruitment and is now the GTB. She is actively involved with peer counseling, tutoring and mentorship. She was the coxswain for the University of Pennsylvania Men's Heavyweight Rowing Team in 2009-10. She worked with Wigs for Kids last summer. She said, " Being a Chi Omega has pushed me to be more grateful and more gracious, more passionate and more compassionate. My sisters have shown me that there truly is no limit to how much or how many people I can love."
Photo: Karis Tzeng with Carol Kelly

CAPA SCHOLARSHIP 2012 WINNER Katelyn Alesci
Chi Omega is pleased to have a winner among the 8 scholarship awardees this year. Katelyn Marie Alesci, Lambda Delta Kent State, is our winner! Katelyn

Katelyn Alesci

is a sophomore from Streetsboro, majoring in Early Childhood Education with a 3.76 GPA. She is on the sisterhood committee, on Jr. Panhellenic Council and is Assistant Housing Manager. She transferred from Ohio University to aid her family situation. She is a member of Tau Sigma National Honor Society and is on the Dean's List. Her goal is to be "that special teacher" to her young students.
Photo:Katelyn with Phyllis, Lorry, Pam, Nancy and Jenny at Westwood CC.

2011 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Our 2011 scholarship winner is also a CAPA scholarship winner! Congratulations to Rita Rochford, Mu Lambda, John Carroll University. Rita is a Junior studying Political Science and Economics with a 3.8 gpa. She is her chapter Recruitment Chair and is the Student Body President! Rita has been the Foundation Ambassador, attended Firesides, and has been on other committees. She was a staff reporter for the Carroll News, Relay for Life Captain, and spent part of her Christmas break in Nicaragua on an immersion trip. Rita is all we could ask for as an example of Chi Omega at her best.

We are pleased to announce Kristen Dobransky is our Cleveland East scholarship winner for 2010. Kristen is a sophomore at University of Dayton, from Broadview Heights, majoring in Early Childhood Education with a 3.8 gpa. She is currently the Vice President of her chapter, is in the Honors Program and on the Dean's List. She will be studying abroad in Italy this summer. She plans to teach in NEO, then go on for a Masters and Doctorate, then teach at the university level.

Congratulations to Kaylin Major who has been announced as a Cleveland Panhellenic scholarship winner for 2010. Kaylin is a Junior at Kent State, majoring in Theatre with a 3.8 gpa. She was the model initiate, received the Order of the Owl, and is president of her honorary. She is from Amherst and enjoys bring her chio sisters into theatre. Kaylin plans to go to law school and specialize in Entertainment Law.

Congratulations to Jennifer Kuhn from Marietta. She was chosen as the 2009 recipient of the Cleveland East Achievement Award.

She has a 3.4 GPA and is from Summit County. She is very involved in Chi Omega and the greek community. (GM, Rho Chi for Panhel, VP in Panhel) She is also active on campus (dance team, weather anchor, and works in admissions). Her personal statement was good and the reason she believes she should win the award was compelling. "I believe that the young woman who wins this award should be a woman who represents XO in her everyday life. I am that young woman."

WINNER (shown here with Scholarship Co Chairs Kathy and Jessica)
Joanne Reid, Kent State University, was the 2008 recipient of our scholarship award. This is the first year that the amount was increased to $1000. Joanne is a 4th year student studying Middle Childhood Education, Science & Social Studies with a minor in Reading while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. She is very active with Chi Omega and Kent State Panhellenic. She was the model initiate, newmember educator assistant, G.K.A., and chair to several committees including Make-A-Wish. She was also the KSU Panhellenic Council president, Panhellenic Vice President of Scholarship, and participated in many Greek philanthropies. Joanne is dedicated to helping others. Every summer she is a camp counselor for kids with special needs in grades 5-8. She has also been involved with Garfield Heights Partnership Program. She is dedicated to helping adolescents develop academically and socially. Upon graduating, she plans to stay in Northeast Ohio as a teacher. She aspires to teach 4-6 grade science & social studies.