Cooper Tire awards Roy V. Armes, Centennial scholarships

FINDLAY, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has named the recipients of this year's Roy V. Armes and Centennial Scholarships, honoring six students as they prepare to pursue higher education.

"This is a very deserving group of scholarship winners who have demonstrated commitment to their education and achieving their goals," Brad Hughes, Cooper President and CEO, said in a statement. "...We are proud to support the children of Cooper employees through these national scholarship programs, and wish them well in their future endeavors."

Hughes noted that the tire maker saw the largest number of qualified applicants for the awards this year. Applicants are chosen based on the strength of their resume and an essay. An independent committee selects the award winners.

Cooper's scholarship programs are administered by the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, an independent philanthropic agency.

Established in 2016 and named in honor of former Cooper Chairman Roy Armes, the Roy V. Armes scholarship recognizes a high school student who demonstrates high achievement in the classroom and is choosing to pursue a degree in either business or engineering at a four-year collegiate institution. The $5,000 award goes to the child of a Cooper employee working in the U.S.

This year's Roy V. Armes' scholarship recipient is Jay Kaufman.He graduate of Ottawa Glandorf High School in Ottawa, Ohio, where he was a three-year member, letterman and team captain of both the football and basketball teams. In addition to serving with the Student Council and National Honor Society, he has volunteered with the American Red Cross, Challenged Champions Equestrian Center and the Meadows of Ottawa care facility.

Kaufman is active within his church, where he has served as a mass server, lector and vacation bible school volunteer.

After high school, Kaufman plans to study mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University.

He is son of Jill Kaufman, manager of research and development for Cooper's Global Technical Center in Findlay, and her husband, Glenn.

Established in recognition of the tire maker's 100th anniversary in 2014, the Cooper Centennial Scholarships, worth $1,000 each, are awarded to students of Cooper employees working in the U.S. Its recipients intend to pursue a degree at a technical school, college or university.

This year's Cooper Centennial Scholarship winners are:

• William Bloomfield, a graduate of Findlay High School in Findlay, who plans to study environmental health science at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.During his high school career, Bloomfield was a four-year member of the varsity track and field team, and was named a Scholar Athlete all four years. In addition to holding a part-time job and participating in indoor track and soccer, Bloomfield received Academic Excellence recognition and was named to the honor roll. He volunteers at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.

He is the son of Anthony Bloomfield, Cooper Findlay manufacturing plant maintenance foreman, and his wife, Susan.

• Julia Fulk, who plans to study physical therapy at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

At Findlay High School, Fulk was a four-year member and two-year letter winner in soccer, who served with the Student Athletic Leadership Team. She also was Scholar Athlete, and a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll and National Honor Society.

Outside of the classroom, Fulk participated in youth mission trips, and volunteered for Relay for Life and the International Rett Syndrome Foundation Run/Walk.She is the daughter of Beth Fulk, Cooper senior manufacturing engineer of the Findlay manufacturing plant, and her husband, Josh.

• Julie Jones, a graduate of Pine Grove High School in Ripley, Miss., who plans to attend the University of Mississippi to study chemical engineering.

A varsity cheerleader who received the Captain's Award and Spirit Award, she gave back to her school and community through participation in the Random Acts of Kindness Club, her church and area nonprofit Together for Tippah.

Jones also participated in the National Beta Club, the Math and Science Team, and was named a STAR student.

She is the daughter of Roy Jones, a Z-calendar loader at Cooper's Tupelo manufacturing plant, and his wife, Janet.

• Jessica Kreais, who intends to pursue a degree in pharmacy at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, following her graduation from Hopewell-Louden High School in Bascom, Ohio. There, she maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was her class' valedictorian.

Kreais was a four-year member and letter winner of her school's volleyball team, and also participated in club volleyball. She also took part in Student Council, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), National Honor Society, Spanish Club and Quiz Bowl.

In addition, Kreais has volunteered as a math tutor, scoreboard operator, and as part of Glamour Gals, a program to provide manicures to long-term care residents.

She is the daughter of Kevin Kreais, Cooper mechanical engineer, and Kimberly Kreais.

• Taylor McCutcheon is a graduate of Findlay High School, where she was named to the Distinguished Honor Roll and recognized as a Scholar Musician.

McCutcheon was active in Findlay First Edition show choir, Hancock Youth Leadership, National Honor Society and Honors Career Mentorship. Outside of school, she took part in her church youth group, assisted with vacation bible school, attended Young Life church camp and participated in a Mission Possible mission trip to Haiti.

She intends to study early childhood education at Hope College in Holland, Mich.

McCutcheon is the daughter of Paul McCutcheon, Cooper manufacturing strategy manager in Findlay, and his wife, Denise.