Paul D. Thomas founded the annual
scholarship in 2004 in memory of Lesley Harper Sr. the late
Harper was a local general contractor who employed, trained
and mentored many young men and women from the central city
area of Toledo, many of them went on to become very
successful in business and construction.
Thomas was one of those lucky individuals
that Harper trained and mentored. Thomas has been a member
of the Carpenters Union for 32 years and is currently a
retired Senior Representative/Business manager from the
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters. Thomas
sits on the Board of Directors for YMCA Storer Camps and is
also a member of the YMCA Storer Camps Scholarship
Committee.
Thomas chose Ella P. Stewart Academy for
girls because he attended Ella P. Stewart before it became
an all-girls school. He chose third graders because it is a
great entry age for summer camp at Storer and his first
experience at Storer summer camp was as a third grader.
The selection was made based on academics,
citizenship, attendance and an essay contest.
This year’s full sponsors are Laborers’
Local 500 and John Tharp, Lucas County Sheriff
The contributors include the Ella P. Stewart
Alumni Association, the Burroughs Democratic Women’s Club,
Howards-N-Company, Wesley Harper, Glenn Perryman, Kelly
Westmoreland, Robin Lambright, Patricia Hicks and Lucas
County Treasurer Lindsay Webb