Cleveland State University today announced the establishment of the Barbara Byrd-Bennett Endowed Scholarship to provide financial support to Cleveland Metropolitan School District students who plan to attend CSU.

The scholarship was created through the transfer of $30,000 to the CSU Foundation from the Barbara Byrd-Bennett Foundation for Cleveland’s Children. The former chief executive officer of the Cleveland schools has been an executive-in-residence in CSU’s College of Education and Human Services since January 2006.

“Throughout her career, Barbara Byrd-Bennett has been a passionate advocate for student academic achievement,” said CSU President Michael Schwartz. “This scholarship is just the latest example of her determination to provide educational opportunity. These funds will help promising students change their lives through a Cleveland State education.”

Potential scholarship recipients will be nominated by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and will be selected based on academic achievement, proven financial need, and promise for successfully completing a college degree. Byrd-Bennett scholarships are expected to be awarded each academic year, beginning in 2008-09.

During her nearly eight-year tenure with the Cleveland schools, Byrd-Bennett established her foundation to expand educational opportunities for students, create and/or enhance curriculum-based programs that promote the intellectual development of students, and encourage innovative, quality teaching.

“I am pleased that the Cleveland State University Foundation will now manage these funds and I look forward to playing a leadership role in expanding their impact and scope. The continued growth of this endowed scholarship will enable us to support greater numbers of high-potential students as they pursue their higher education at Cleveland State,” said Byrd-Bennett.

As executive-in-residence, Byrd-Bennett is assisting the University in becoming a national resource and destination for undergraduate- and graduate-level education and research. The College of Education and Human Services has gained regional, statewide and national recognition for its programs in urban education, including its highly touted First Ring Leadership Academy, Master’s in Urban Secondary Teaching, and Quality Urban Educators programs and is positioned to become a national leader in the field of urban teacher education overall. The association of Byrd-Bennett is seen as a major step in accelerating the process.

Gifts to the Barbara Byrd-Bennett Endowed Scholarship may be made online at www.csuohio.edu/offices/advancement or sent to Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave., MM 209, Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2214. For information, call 216.687.5513.

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