This spring, the Hamilton Community Foundation is awarding scholarships to 162 Hamilton area students, the largest number to receive scholarships in one year in the Foundation’s history. The total value of the scholarships is more than one million dollars.

Two of the scholarship recipients are Alvin and Kelvin Mantey, 2017 Hamilton High School graduates. The twin brothers came to Hamilton from West Africa’s Republic of Ghana at age 14. They arrived with their mother and older set of twin brothers to reunite with their father, who had been working here for 11 years until he was established enough for the family to join him.

Alvin is the recipient of the Jeannie S. and Don J. Meeks Scholarship, the Fanny Gray Memorial Scholarship and the Nathanial Lampley, Jr. Scholarship. Kelvin received the Herbert T. and Olive S. Randall Scholarship. 

“Alvin is an outstanding young man who will be a great influence and will touch many people,” says Linda Harford who started the Jeannie S. and Don J. Meeks Scholarship in her parents’ memory.

In high school, both Alvin and Kelvin were in the National Honor Society, Rhapsody in Blue show choir, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Men’s Soccer Team.

Kelvin will major in engineering this fall at the University of Cincinnati. “From my younger days in Ghana, I would be found to be making my own toys and playing with them, and sometimes even modifying broken ones. My mother told me she could see I would be an engineer when I grew up,” he said. “I truly believe that the power of a creative mind, combined with the necessary tools, can change the world.”       

Alvin is also headed to the University of Cincinnati this fall, where he will study biology. “I thank the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation for giving me the opportunity to receive help in furthering my education,” he says.

“I was so impressed with both of them,” says Nate Lampley, Jr., founder the Nathanial Lampley, Jr. scholarship, who recently met the students. “They are energetic, inspiring, and grateful.  They are positioned for success.”  

The largest single allocation of Hamilton Community Foundation funds is for scholarships. Since 1951, scholarships totaling more than $13 million have been granted to college-bound students. The Hamilton Community Foundation, established in 1951, began awarding scholarships just three years later in 1954. Since that time, more than $11 million has been awarded. For more information, contact the Hamilton Community Foundation by calling (513) 863-1717.