A Marion County Now report says longtime Marion residents Paul and Ellen Messenger have created a scholarship fund at Marion Technical College. The award will favor a graduate of a career technical school who intends to work in an agriculture-related field. The first Paul and Ellen Messenger Scholarship is set to be awarded in fall 2027.
The article describes Paul as a farmer and Ellen as a communications specialist. They have been married 43 years and met while showing sheep at the Ohio State Fair. Paul grew up on a family farm in Marion; Ellen grew up on one in Fredericktown. Ellen earned animal science and communications degrees from Ohio State University with help from scholarships, and Paul studied animal science at Morehead State University before returning to Marion to raise crops, beef cattle and sheep.
Their son Mitch earned MTC credits in high school and Marion Community Foundation scholarships before attending the University of Cincinnati, where he became a mechanical engineer.
Ellen retired after 34 years as communications director at Tri-Rivers Career Center and also taught as an adjunct MTC faculty member. She is president of the Marion Technical College Foundation Board. Foundation director Mike Stuckey thanked the couple, saying one scholarship can matter greatly in difficult economic times. MTC President Ryan McCall also expressed gratitude and noted farming’s growing demands. MTC reports serving more than 4,000 students over 56 years and offers certificates, associate degrees and a nursing bachelor’s degree.