Knox Public Health has initiated its Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program, designed to aid teenagers who cannot afford driver's education training. The agency is currently accepting applications.
According to a press release from the county agency, income-eligible teens will be granted a scholarship by Knox Public Health. This initiative is made possible through a $142,000 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The funding will be available from May 2004 to June 30, 2026.
As per another press release from Knox County Public Health, applicants must be between ages 15 and 17. A newly turned 15-year-old can apply but must be at least 15 years and five months old to commence the driving class. High school students aged 18 will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants must attend a Knox County public school, including the Knox County Career Center or be a home-schooled student residing in the county.
The same press release also stipulates that applicants cannot already hold a driver's license, have previously taken a driver's education course or currently be enrolled in one. They are required to demonstrate financial eligibility with documentation through one of the following programs: school reduced/free lunch; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); or Medicaid recipient.
In addition to these requirements, students must provide a letter of recommendation from a non-family member as per the guidelines provided by Knox County Public Health. The program encourages recommendation letters from teachers, coaches or other school employees that address attendance, accountability and character of the student scholarship applicant. Application reviews will take place within two weeks of submission.
Applications can be emailed to Suzanne Dapprich at sdapprich@knoxhealth.com or mailed/dropped off at Knox Public Health, ATTN Suzanne Dapprich, 11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. After a student has been selected for a scholarship and notified by Dapprich, the student, parent or guardian will schedule the driving education course through Coshocton Driver Training School, which provides classes in Mount Vernon. A mandatory $25 deposit from the student to the school will be used for their driving test, according to the Knox Public Health press release.
