For the 2025-26 academic year, LEAF is forging new partnerships with three area high schools: Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (Geauga County), Olmsted Falls (Cuyahoga County) and Westlake (Cuyahoga County). LEAF is looking forward to helping students and families within these communities as they plan for their next step after high school graduation.

Dr. Joe Glavan, Director of Workforce Development at Mentor Public Schools, joined LEAF's Board of Directors on February 28, 2025. Joe's passion for helping students gain the skills and work-based learning experiences necessary to be college, career, and life ready will help LEAF further its mission within the schools we serve.

LEAF’s newly-updated Scholarship Search database contains local and statewide opportunities for high schoolers along with a few opportunities for college students and/or adult learners. Students can filter opportunities by their high school and grade level or by a keyword search.

The vast majority of local scholarships are posted in the December-March timeframe with late-winter/spring deadlines. LEAF’s scholarships database will be updated as new opportunities become available so check back often. Students should also check with their high school counselor’s office for scholarship opportunities that are exclusive to their high school or the city in which they reside.

Changes in workforce demands and the rising cost of college has led many students to seek alternatives to a four-year degree. Thanks to grant funding from The Harriet B. Storrs Fund at The Cleveland Foundation's support, LEAF has developed a Technical Career Toolkit that profiles 26 careers across healthcare, public safety, construction trades, manufacturing and the service industries.

This Toolkit was designed to help students begin their exploration of high-demand technical careers and learn about local options to gain the training and education that will lead to an entry-level job in their career of choice.

eiLEAF’s Board of Directors is committed to our mission of empowering learners to plan for their future. Our 2024-25 Board Officers were appointed at our August meeting:

President: Megan Krippel, Director of Regional Recruitment for Kent State University
Vice President: Brandon Robinson, Senior IT Engineer at The Sherwin-Williams Company
Secretary: Jacqueline Sherry, Director, Operations and Clinical Services at University Hospitals Tripoint Medical Center
Treasurer: Hallie Pallante, Assurance Senior Manager, RSM US, LLP

LEAF also welcomes our newest Board Member, Amy Seifert of Cardinal Local School District.

LEAF is excited to team up with Lakeland Community College, The University of Akron, and Ursuline College as charter members to our 2024-25 University Partners program. Through this program, partner institutions are provided opportunities to connect with more students while enabling LEAF to continue our important work of empowering learners to plan for their future.