BLUFFTON, Ohio – Bluffton University has been awarded a Choose Ohio First (COF) grant by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to support students in critical STEM fields. The four-year $43,255 grant will support students majoring in biology, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, environmental science, information technology, mathematics, mathematics education, medical laboratory science, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, pre-engineering, pre-occupational therapy and pre-physical therapy. “At Bluffton University, we are committed to providing transformative educational opportunities for all students,” said Dr. Alex Sider, president of Bluffton University. Students eligible for the scholarship must be:Applied and admitted as a first-year studentEnrolled full timeU.S. and Ohio resident and graduate of an Ohio high schoolEnrolled in an approved program through Bluffton UniversityThis is the third time Bluffton University has been awarded a Choose Ohio First grant. Provided by the State of Ohio to bolster a workforce trained in STEM areas, the grants are intended to strengthen the state’s economy.