(L-R)Catherine Jinnings, Samuel Adler, and Jada McClendon

The Farmer School Department of Entrepreneurship has announced its latest cohort of Ryan Family Scholars for 2021-2022. Funded by a $1 million gift from Jim Ryan ’80 and his wife Michelle, the program takes a holistic approach to supporting student success.

Recipients receive tuition, room & board and fees up to $20,000 annually. Students may major in any discipline, provided they are minoring or co-majoring in entrepreneurship.

“The program also provides access to the Farmer School’s unique Passport Program and ensures a spot in the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship’s Altman Summer Scholars Internship program, a program that annually places more than fifty entrepreneurship co-majors and minors on internships at startups and social ventures, angel groups and venture capital firms, startup accelerators, and companies across the nation,” John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship director Tim Holcomb explained. “It makes a Miami entrepreneurship education possible for students with high financial needs.”

The 2021-22 Ryan Scholars are:

• Samuel Adler, first-year marketing major from Cleveland, Ohio
• Jada McClendon, first-year kinesiology major from Lima, Ohio
• Catherine (Cat) Jinnings, first-year biology major from Cleveland, Ohio

“I got the call informing me that I was a Ryan Scholar and my jaw dropped and my mom’s looking at me like ‘What’s wrong?’ and I told her and she was so excited for me. We pulled over in a parking lot and had a mini celebration,” Jinnings recalled. “It was like a sign to attend Miami because at that time I didn’t know what school to choose and the deadline was quickly approaching.”

“When I was deciding what college to go to, it was a very hard decision, because I wanted to come to a school that felt like home. I was originally planning on going to Ohio State University, because they offered me a full ride scholarship. One day I was on my way back from a visit to OSU when I got the call letting me know I was a Ryan Scholar. The best way I can explain the feeling of receiving this information is overwhelmed,” McClendon said. “Honestly I hated Ohio State due to the size of the school, but at the time I felt like that is what would be best for my future. I am extremely grateful that I received another full ride academic scholarship and when I visited the campus I knew this would be my new home away from home.”

“My initial reaction of becoming a Ryan Scholar was shock and disbelief. ‘Just another endless scam call,’ I thought to myself. After speaking to Michelle Thomas about what it means to be a Ryan Scholar, I was beyond grateful. I knew the hard work I have been demanding of myself through my youth was finally paying off,” Adler said. “Being named a Ryan Scholar has changed my life, giving me a whole new sense of motivation to not only work incredibly hard for the opportunity that I have been given, but also pay it forward later on in life just as the Ryan family has done for me.”

Jenny Darroch, dean of the Farmer School, added, “We are delighted to have these talented students at the Farmer School and are so very thankful for the gift from the Ryans that made it possible.”

Starting with last year’s cohort, the scholarship will be given to 16 students over a seven-year period.