The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Jakob Fishel, a 2026 recipient of one of the 20 Doug and Renee Leuthold Scholarship awards, one of the three Dr. Joseph and Susan Shadeed Scholarship awards, one of the nine Glen and Alice Beers Scholarship awards, and one of the three Stan and Carolyn DeGreve Scholarship awards.
Jakob, the son of Darcie J. Fishel, is a 2024 graduate of Crestline High School. He is attending The Ohio State University and studying Biomedical Engineering.
What is your favorite aspect of college life and why?
"My favorite aspect of college life is the freedom to manage my own time and have complete control over my education. Having control over my course selection allows me to choose classes that I find interesting, while I create a schedule that works best for me."
What new interests or courses of study have you discovered at college?
"One of the most interesting courses I started taking is mechanobiology. Learning how mechanical forces shape cellular and molecular behavior is really fascinating."
In what way has the college experience changed/improved you?
"My college experience has significantly pushed me out of my comfort zone when it comes to public speaking. Having to present my projects in front of my peers and professors has helped me be able to build up some confidence and better communicate my ideas. While I still get nervous, and know I have tons of room to grow as a speaker, forcing myself to do that has made me a much better and more resilient communicator."
What advice would you give an incoming college freshman?
"Don't be afraid to reach out for help when you get stuck somewhere, because college classes move fast. Take full advantage of whatever resources are available to you. Whether you contact some classmates to form a study group, go to a campus tutoring center, or contact a professor during their office hours, taking the initiative to ask questions will prevent you from falling behind and make tackling your coursework a lot easier."
What is one item on your bucket list and why?
"One item on my bucket list would be to work at the Vehicle Research and Test Center, which is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During my undergrad, I had the opportunity to visit multiple times, and being able to see the interesting work done there made me want to pursue a role there."
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Jakob!
To learn more about scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships
