Athena Scholarship winner Eva Miller to study sustainable agriculture at Ohio State

• Alliance High School senior Eva Miller, 18, is planning to study sustainable agriculture in college. She was awarded $1,000 scholarship on Wednesday night.

ALLIANCE ‒ Alliance High School senior Eva Miller sees her future in horticulture or sustainable farming.

The 18-year-old daughter of Amy and Kirk Miller graduates Sunday, and is planning to study sustainable agriculture at The Ohio State University's Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster in the fall.

Miller was awarded a $1,000 Athena Scholarship from the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night. The scholarship is funded by the Greater Alliance Foundation, the chamber and community donations.

Athena Scholarships go annually to female high school seniors from the Greater Alliance area. Recipients participate in community service and have shown they are leaders who also have achieved academically.

The award was the marquee activity during the chamber's annual meeting Wednesday at Alliance Country Club. The event drew government and educational leaders, as well as business leaders.

"I'm so grateful for this opportunity," Miller told those on hand for the event.

Miller said she has a passion for biological concepts, ornithology and sustainable gardening. She said she first became interested in gardening and birds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Alliance High, Miller said she has been involved in the school's horticulture program and experimenting with hydroponics. "That has led me to all other kinds of sustainable methods of growing things. I'm working at Molesky Farms."

"I love gardening," she added.

Chamber president: Event gives people a chance to socialize and network

The annual event also included live music, cash bar and a buffet of hors d'oeuvres, such as crab cakes and vegetable spring rolls. Local band Rock Salt & Nails provided the night's soundtrack.

There also was a putting contest to win a raffle basket from Servpro of South & East Stark County. Other sponsors included Robertson Heating Supply, Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, the University of Mount Union and KWGD law firm.

Chamber president Rick Baxter said the event gives guests a chance to socialize and network.

"It's a time for everybody to get together with people that you maybe don't get a chance to talk to as much," he said.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP.