Western & Southern Financial Group expanded its support for University of Cincinnati students, announcing on May 8 the celebration of ten recipients in the Western & Southern Scholars Program.
The program is part of a broader effort to help students prepare for professional careers by offering scholarships and hands-on work experiences. The initiative aims to provide financial support and practical opportunities, helping students gain skills needed for long-term career success.
Launched in 2024 alongside the Western & Southern Accelerated Career Program, the scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated strong academic engagement, leadership, and involvement in extracurricular activities. The UC College for Cooperative Education and Professional Studies facilitates more than 8,000 co-op experiences each year with over 1,700 employer partners. These co-ops give students valuable workplace experience while earning $94 million annually.
“With co-ops, UC students are contributing to real workplaces, building confidence and lifelong skills. Co-op now spans numerous disciplines, creating a broader and more flexible talent pipeline,” said Annie Straka, PhD, associate dean of the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. “This couldn’t have been possible without the support of companies like Western & Southern who have been a standout partner, hiring dozens of UC students each year and more than 40 UC students this past summer.”
Jill McGruder, senior vice president and enterprise chief marketing officer at Western & Southern Financial Group as well as vice chair of the UC Board of Trustees said: “Western & Southern is proud to invest in emerging talent in our region through our partnership with the University of Cincinnati. The Western & Southern Financial Group Scholars Program and Accelerated Career Program helps give students the support needed to gain real-world experiences, professional coaching and industry credentials. Together, these efforts reflect our shared commitment to opening doors for students and supporting Cincinnati in building a brighter future.”
Students like Grace Nunn say that receiving a scholarship has allowed them greater flexibility on campus: “The scholarship I received through Western & Southern allowed me to get more involved on campus because—on the semesters when I’m not on co-op—I can stay focused on classes and extracurriculars without financial strain.” Lauren Stueve also described how her award enabled her to study abroad as well as participate in an out-of-state co-op experience: “I am incredibly grateful for the scholarship I received through Western & Southern and the support it has provided throughout my college journey… It has had a meaningful impact on my experiences this past semester as I was able to use the scholarship during my study abroad and my out-of-state co-op experience… which was an invaluable opportunity for both my personal and academic growth.”
