LAURA J. STEELE AND TERRY THEIS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
2026 Scholarship Winners
Sydney McMullen
Sydney attends Columbus Alternative High School and holds a cumulative 4.318 GPA.
Sydney has been bowling for about four years. She started back in 2022 as a one-handed bowler at Sequoia Pro Bowl in their youth varsity league and was able to win their end-of-season house cup championships that year. In winter of 2023-24 Sydney decided to switch to become a two-handed bowler and was able to bowl high school for her home school, Whetstone High School. Her first season, sophomore year, she was able to finish with a 159.1 average, earning herself a spot on First Team All-City. Junior year she finished with a 180.7 average and was asked to participate in the All-Star Tournament. Her senior year she was the captain of the bowling team, and qualified for Districts barely missing the State line cut after losing a tiebreaker. Sydney finished her high school season averaging 172.8 and was asked to participate in the All-Star Tournament. Her high game is a 257 and her high series is a 687.
When Sydney isn’t putting time in on the lanes you can find her playing piano or drums or playing on the school’s tennis team. Sydney puts in a lot of time for her studies as well. She is valedictorian, a member of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar, is a part of the IB Diploma Programme, and is a part of her school’s robotics team. Sydney is also the drummer for the Columbus Youth Jazz Studio big band. She also volunteers her time with the Community Resource Center in Clintonville by participating in food pantries and community projects.
Sydney plans to attend The Ohio State University for Civil Engineering. She plans on participating in jazz assemblies at the university, as well as, joining the bowling team. After college she would like to get a job as a Civil Engineer, continue bowling and hopes to be able to coach as well.
Congratulations Sydney!
Sydney has been bowling for about four years. She started back in 2022 as a one-handed bowler at Sequoia Pro Bowl in their youth varsity league and was able to win their end-of-season house cup championships that year. In winter of 2023-24 Sydney decided to switch to become a two-handed bowler and was able to bowl high school for her home school, Whetstone High School. Her first season, sophomore year, she was able to finish with a 159.1 average, earning herself a spot on First Team All-City. Junior year she finished with a 180.7 average and was asked to participate in the All-Star Tournament. Her senior year she was the captain of the bowling team, and qualified for Districts barely missing the State line cut after losing a tiebreaker. Sydney finished her high school season averaging 172.8 and was asked to participate in the All-Star Tournament. Her high game is a 257 and her high series is a 687.
When Sydney isn’t putting time in on the lanes you can find her playing piano or drums or playing on the school’s tennis team. Sydney puts in a lot of time for her studies as well. She is valedictorian, a member of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar, is a part of the IB Diploma Programme, and is a part of her school’s robotics team. Sydney is also the drummer for the Columbus Youth Jazz Studio big band. She also volunteers her time with the Community Resource Center in Clintonville by participating in food pantries and community projects.
Sydney plans to attend The Ohio State University for Civil Engineering. She plans on participating in jazz assemblies at the university, as well as, joining the bowling team. After college she would like to get a job as a Civil Engineer, continue bowling and hopes to be able to coach as well.
Congratulations Sydney!
Cayden Griffin
Cayden attends Reynoldsburg High School and holds a cumulative 4.28 GPA.
Cayden has been bowling most of his life, starting at a very young age, thanks to his mother and grandmother who also love the sport. Cayden’s list of accomplishments is quite extensive throughout his years of bowling. In the Youth City Tournament, he claimed team titles for the 2022 U15 division, and in 2023 claimed team, doubles, singles and all- event titles within the U18/U15 divisions. That same year he was also a recipient of the Jimmy Clemens Youth Ambassador Award. In 2024 he was the mixed trio U18 singles champion. In 2025 he won State Team Champions for scratch, had a 2nd place team National Youth Open, and 2nd place for doubles in the National Youth Open—missing 1st by a mere 1 pin. Cayden had an impressive high school career as well, bowling varsity all four years. In 2025 the RHS team had 1st place finishes in the Almost Bakers Dozen and the Red and Blue Classic. They were division A champions and COHSBC Champions. They finished the season with 2nd place District Runner up State Champions. Cayden finished his senior year in the top 15% for average for high school bowling averaging a 182.9. His personal high game is a 289 and high series is 690.
When Cayden isn’t striking on the lanes you can find him playing tennis for the high school team or participating in the orchestra where he plans the violin and guitar. Cayden has volunteered over 200 hours between the Gahanna library, Sequoia Pro Bowl, and National Honor Society. Cayden also stays focused on his studies, earning gold honor roll all four years of high school and had a National Honor Society induction. He is valedictorian for Reynoldsburg High School. He also was the winner of a competitive essay contest that allowed him to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery.
Cayden plans to attend Denison University and pursue a major in Applied Mathematics or go into a dual or partnership program in Electrical Engineering with another university. After college he hopes to get a career in the field of Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning. He plans to continue bowling and participating in local tournaments and leagues.
Congratulations Cayden!
Cayden has been bowling most of his life, starting at a very young age, thanks to his mother and grandmother who also love the sport. Cayden’s list of accomplishments is quite extensive throughout his years of bowling. In the Youth City Tournament, he claimed team titles for the 2022 U15 division, and in 2023 claimed team, doubles, singles and all- event titles within the U18/U15 divisions. That same year he was also a recipient of the Jimmy Clemens Youth Ambassador Award. In 2024 he was the mixed trio U18 singles champion. In 2025 he won State Team Champions for scratch, had a 2nd place team National Youth Open, and 2nd place for doubles in the National Youth Open—missing 1st by a mere 1 pin. Cayden had an impressive high school career as well, bowling varsity all four years. In 2025 the RHS team had 1st place finishes in the Almost Bakers Dozen and the Red and Blue Classic. They were division A champions and COHSBC Champions. They finished the season with 2nd place District Runner up State Champions. Cayden finished his senior year in the top 15% for average for high school bowling averaging a 182.9. His personal high game is a 289 and high series is 690.
When Cayden isn’t striking on the lanes you can find him playing tennis for the high school team or participating in the orchestra where he plans the violin and guitar. Cayden has volunteered over 200 hours between the Gahanna library, Sequoia Pro Bowl, and National Honor Society. Cayden also stays focused on his studies, earning gold honor roll all four years of high school and had a National Honor Society induction. He is valedictorian for Reynoldsburg High School. He also was the winner of a competitive essay contest that allowed him to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery.
Cayden plans to attend Denison University and pursue a major in Applied Mathematics or go into a dual or partnership program in Electrical Engineering with another university. After college he hopes to get a career in the field of Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning. He plans to continue bowling and participating in local tournaments and leagues.
Congratulations Cayden!
PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS
2025 NICK MALIWESKY, CAMERYN GALE
2024 SADIE BASSITT, CARSON DEVER
2023 GARRETT DIXON
2022 KYLE NEELEY, TAYLOR SANZO
2021 LILU SMITH, NICK LAURO
2020 JADEN ERWIN, NATE MINZLER
2019 LEAH DEANER, BRANDON SHAW
2018 MADISON OSWIANY, MADISON STIFFLER, WILLIAM HRIVNAK
2017 KAYLEE JOSEPH, TREW CHAFFIN, DAVE DOWNEY
2016 ANTONIA PETER, ANGELA LEONE
2015 TORI PAPPAS, CARLY SCHOONOVER
2014 KELLY BISHOP, ANDY JOHNSON, NICK EVANS
2013 KELSEY FERGUSON, MORGAN WILES
2012 MARY WELLS, CONNER SARICH
2011 MAGGIE TAYLOR, JAMIE ROBINSON, KAITLIN MILBURN
2010 DASAN WILLIAMS, KEVIN GEARY
2009 BLAIR BLUMENSCHEID
2008 KATHERINE FISHER, ADAM ZINK
2007 MISTY GALLION, TRANG NGUYNEN
2006 ALLYSE HARRAH, ASHLEY STAHURSKI
2005 MICHELLE HOUSE, JENNIFER JAY
2004 TIFFANY THARP, JERRICA PATTON
2003 ANDRIA THOMPSON, TRISHA REID, MELISSA SHY
2002 CHAKA WILSON
2024 SADIE BASSITT, CARSON DEVER
2023 GARRETT DIXON
2022 KYLE NEELEY, TAYLOR SANZO
2021 LILU SMITH, NICK LAURO
2020 JADEN ERWIN, NATE MINZLER
2019 LEAH DEANER, BRANDON SHAW
2018 MADISON OSWIANY, MADISON STIFFLER, WILLIAM HRIVNAK
2017 KAYLEE JOSEPH, TREW CHAFFIN, DAVE DOWNEY
2016 ANTONIA PETER, ANGELA LEONE
2015 TORI PAPPAS, CARLY SCHOONOVER
2014 KELLY BISHOP, ANDY JOHNSON, NICK EVANS
2013 KELSEY FERGUSON, MORGAN WILES
2012 MARY WELLS, CONNER SARICH
2011 MAGGIE TAYLOR, JAMIE ROBINSON, KAITLIN MILBURN
2010 DASAN WILLIAMS, KEVIN GEARY
2009 BLAIR BLUMENSCHEID
2008 KATHERINE FISHER, ADAM ZINK
2007 MISTY GALLION, TRANG NGUYNEN
2006 ALLYSE HARRAH, ASHLEY STAHURSKI
2005 MICHELLE HOUSE, JENNIFER JAY
2004 TIFFANY THARP, JERRICA PATTON
2003 ANDRIA THOMPSON, TRISHA REID, MELISSA SHY
2002 CHAKA WILSON