Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarship

The Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund’s late Executive Director who passed away in 2009 from complications due to Breast Cancer. This year the MLCF will award two scholarships in Sharon's name.

The $20,000 scholarship will recognize a male or female student from the Greater Cincinnati region who comes from a home of a single parent.

This scholarship criteria is as follows:

Minimum 2.25 grade point average
Proven commitment to the community
Financial need
A varsity letter in any sport or proof of club/extracurricular involvement
A 1,000 word essay explaining why he/she deserves the scholarship

The second $20,000 scholarship will recognize a student from the Greater Cincinnati region who has faced the adversity of a mother or caretaker affected by breast cancer. Whether their mother (or caretaker) is battling the disease, has beat the disease or unfortunately has passed away due to complications caused by the disease.

This scholarship criteria is as follow:

Minimum 2.25 grade point average
Proven commitment to the community
Financial need
A varsity letter in any sport or proof of club/extracurricular involvement
A 1,000 word essay explaining why he/she deserves the scholarship and how the breast cancer has impacted their live

Are you interested in applying for either scholarship?

Click here to fill out the dependent application today to apply for our scholarship. The application will be available through April 25th. Please note that your application is not complete until you submit your 1,000 word essay to scholarship@fuse.net. Please put Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarship essay in the subject line.

2011 Sharon Thomas Scholarship Recipient

Jacqueline Raabe is a graduate of Oak Hills High School and will attend Thomas More College majoring in Nursing.

Sharon Thomas' Biography

Sharon came to Cincinnati in 2003 after she served as the Executive Director of the Washington Redskins Foundation. Coach Lewis recruited her to start the Marvin Lewis Community Fund to empower, educate and inspire individuals in the Greater Cincinnati region. Since her arrival she spearheaded several key programs including the local efforts of the NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle, the Marvin Lewis Scholarship Fund, Marvin Lewis Coaching Clinic, the Coach of the Year Award, Cruisin' for a Cure and most recently the Learning is Cool program.

Since the inception of the MLCF she raised nearly 5 million dollars and helped touch the lives of over 250,000 individuals. She brought a group of regional CEO’s together to form the Quarterback Club to jumpstart the Community Fund and has brought a renewed energy to Cincinnati events through the Marvin Lewis Golf Classic and Football 101. Both have been first class, unique events started by Ms. Thomas. Her newest fundraising initiative was the Coaches Club, a personal giving campaign focused on education.

Sharon had an extensive background in event planning and was an exceptional fundraiser. While in D.C. she planed inaugural balls, celebrity golf outings, and large fundraising events for national organizations including Fight for Children, Children's Hospital, Fannie Mae, the Leukemia Society of America, the Darrell Green Foundation and many more.

Sharon’s work has impacted more than those she served: everyone that worked along side her felt a renewed energy and the feeling that the impossible was some how within reach. She was an admirable advocate for helping those less fortunate.

Previous Winners

Nevin Heard is the 2009 recipient of the Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarship. Nevin graduated from St. Xavier High School and is now attending Morehouse College majoring in Biology/Psychology.

Jamie Coogan is one of the 2010 recipients of the Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarship. She is a graduate of McAuley High School and is attending Xavier University majoring in Nursing.

Kristen Kayse is also a 2010 recipient of the Sharon Thomas Memorial Scholarship. She is a graduated Mother of Mercy High School and is attending the College of Mount Saint Joseph majoring in Pediatric Nursing.