Ten Emerson/McKnight Scholars announced for 2026-27 academic year

ASHLAND, Ohio – The newest group of Emerson/McKnight Scholars—10 current students from the Ashland University Dauch College of Business and Economics (COBE)—has been named for the 2026-27 academic year.

Each of the Emerson/McKnight Scholars will receive a $3,500 scholarship, an award in addition to the student’s financial aid package. To be selected for the scholarship, a student must be a business major, hold a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher, have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the College, on campus and in the community and possess the potential to be a high contributor in their chosen career.

This year’s group of 10 Emerson/McKnight Scholar recipients are:

• Trinity Cook, a business management major from Bellville, Ohio (Clear Fork High School)
• Lynsey Deibel, an accounting major from New Albany, Ohio (Homeschool
• Itzelle Guzman, a marketing, fashion merchandise and brand management major from Berlin, Ohio (Hiland High School)
• Ronald Hamm, a marketing major from Grafton, Ohio (Midview High School)
• Zachary Harrison, a business analytics major from Upper Arlington, Ohio (Upper Arlington High School)
• Isabella Jesse, a marketing and business management major from Medina, Ohio (Cloverleaf High School)
• Megan Reynolds, a supply chain management and business management major from Mansfield, Ohio (Madison Comprehensive High School)
• Sergio Ruiz de Chavez, a business management major from Tucson, Arizona (Salpointe Catholic High School)
• Aubrey Stepanik, a business management major from Independence, Ohio (Independence High School)
• Donovan Yeager, an accounting major from Oregon, Ohio (Clay High School)

“The Emerson/McKnight Scholars program provides tremendous value to our students in the Dauch College of Business and Economics,” stated Lance Kaltenbaugh, interim dean of COBE. “In addition to scholarship support, students gain opportunities to interact with a leading organization and better understand the wide range of careers available to them.”

Paul McKnight, retired senior vice president for organizational planning at Emerson, added, “Successful companies must have the right talent in the right place at the right time if they expect to win in the global marketplace. Because advancing people is a top priority at Emerson, we created the Emerson Scholars program in the Dauch College of Business and Economics at Ashland University.”

A $175,000 initial grant from Emerson funded the creation of the program in 2007 and it was renewed in 2013, 2018 and 2023, with financial support also coming from Paul ’70 and Lani ’68 McKnight. Emerson/McKnight Scholars are selected annually, and with this year’s recipients, there have now been 179 such honorees at AU through the years.