Belmont College Students Awarded St. Clairsville American Legion Citizenship Scholarship

St. Clairsville, OH (September 30, 2026) – Belmont College is proud to announce that students Justin Hall, of Bridgeport, Ohio, and Michele Johnston, of Belmont, Ohio have been selected as the recipients of the St. Clairsville American Legion Citizenship Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Hall is currently enrolled in Belmont’s Business Administration and Leadership program. He is a 5-year United States Marine Corps veteran serving from 1999-2003.

Johnston is enrolled in Medical Coding. Her husband, Kevin Johnston, was in the United States Marine Corps from 1988-1992 and fought in the Desert Storm Conflict.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a first-year, full-time student enrolled in an associate degree or certificate program at Belmont College. This year, each student received a $1,000 scholarship. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. Armed Forces veteran or a family member of a U.S. Armed Forces veteran.

“I would like to sincerely thank the American Legion Post 159 for selecting me for this scholarship to support my education at Belmont College,” said Hall. “As a United States Marine Corps veteran, I am honored to receive this support from an organization that does so much for veterans and our local community. I am deeply grateful for their generosity and investment in my education.”

“I am so thankful for this generous scholarship,” said Johnston. “I truly believe, as a veteran’s wife, that our veterans deserve great recognition for their dedication to our country. I am extremely proud of my husband, Kevin, for the sacrifices he made.”

Founded in 1919, the American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization. It is dedicated to mentoring youth, promoting patriotism, advocating for strong national security, and supporting veterans and their families.

“The sacrifices made by our service members and their families are truly deserving of our gratitude and support,” said Dr. Paul Gasparro, President of Belmont College. “We are grateful to the St. Clairsville American Legion for recognizing the importance of supporting students from veteran families through this scholarship. Their generosity helps make a Belmont College education more accessible and allows students like Justin and Michele to focus on achieving their educational and career goals.”

For more information about scholarships, including eligibility criteria and application details, visit our scholarship page.

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