Lima Reporter

The Ohio State University at Lima issued the following announcement on January 26.

The first and only pronoun Violet I. Meek uses to describe The Ohio State University at Lima community is “we.” She doesn’t think about. It just naturally flows out. The faculty and staff are like family, as are the students, who have always inspired her with their work ethics, tenacity and grit.

Meek fought hard as dean and director from 1992-2003 to keep Ohio State in Lima and to bring the best of the university back to the community by adding programs and resources. The campus found a place in her heart and has never left.

“Ohio State Lima was an enormous part of my life,” Meek said. “When you fight for something, you will still care for it,” Meek said. “I cared about it then and I do now. It’s one of the places my heart will always be.”

Not surprisingly, when the campus was part of the pilot program for the 2021 Lima Scholarship Challenge and needed a push to reach the goal of $200,000, Meek didn’t hesitate. She followed her heart and made a substantial donation that put the campaign over the top.

“I didn’t really think about it. I just did it and the reason was simply the campus needed something,” Meek said. “The goal of scholarships was one that I absolutely support. And I could, so I did.”

The Lima Scholarship Challenge funds will help students who face additional barriers to earning a degree, such as being a first-generation college student, or who are pursuing majors that address workforce challenges for the region.

Meek and her husband are both first generation students and could not have managed college without scholarship aid. Now she is happy to help those who need it today.

“Certainly, without going to college, I could not have done the things I’ve done or been the person I have been,” Meek said. “I want that for other people who are first generation or who just need the money in order to get to college.”

Many people in the world like to tell young people, or those not so young, what they can’t do. Meek always wants to be one who tells them they can soar. Scholarships are a big vote of confidence.

“It isn’t very often in a life that you get a chance to do something where you can see the result and see that it made a difference,” Meek said. “I’ve talked to young people who are graduates and I can say that we all, all of us together, we gave this person the opportunity to become the person they became and are continuing to become.”

Watching that potential grow and mature gives Meek so much hope for the students who walk through the doors of Ohio State Lima looking for a place that can open up their worlds.

“I hope for them that they are helped to become the best person they can become. I hope that that means that somewhere, we develop leaders that many people can follow. People with a clear vision -- a true vision. One that shows kindness and clarity,” Meek said. “The goal is to help people understand what their gifts are and make sure that, so much that we can, they use all the gifts they have. If that’s what’s in their life, that’s a good life.”

Original source can be found here.