This Scholarship Represents An Exceptional Person

The Kelly Joan Hood-Reynolds Memorial Scholarship represents strength, commitment , kindness, and the desire to make the world a better place for young children, as Kelly did.

Kelly’s family and Ohio University friends established this scholarship fund knowing that it would have pleased her immensely to support other dedicated young college students who share her commitment to providing high quality early childhood education services. (The $25,000 that established this fund was added to this crowdfunding campaign on September 25 to more accurately share the impact the scholarship will have on current students.)

This scholarship was created to not only honor Kelly’s professional commitments but also to remember her as an exceptional person, one who left us way too soon but who left her mark on many lives.

Kelly graduated from Notre Dame Academy, Toledo, Ohio, and went on to study early childhood education at Ohio University. After she graduated, she embarked on the career that brought her so much joy and touched the lives of countless children and their families. She loved her work positively impacting children and watching them thrive. She dreamed of starting her own high quality childcare center someday.

Kelly was passionate about her career, but her family was her pride and joy. She adored her husband Pete and her young son Liam. As she took a break from her career to raise Liam, she taught him to be kind, curious and adventurous. Kelly’s parents, Carol and Paul , and her siblings Kevin, Kathleen, Karen, Colleen, and Connie supported Kelly’s dreams at every turn; she felt their love and support, which only made her a stronger person. In addition, her nieces and nephews enriched Kelly’s life. The strong commitment to faith and family instilled in her upbringing provided direction and guidance for Kelly’s path in life.

As a friend, Kelly was the best anyone could wish for. She followed up and she followed through. She cared about relationships. She was thoughtful and supported her friends. She was hilarious and a jokester, making for lots of funny memories. She accumulated many friends within Phi Mu at Ohio University. Following graduation, the bonds of friendship grew deeper via phone calls, visits, and weekend gatherings. And as weddings, marriages and children entered everyone’s lives Kelly remained committed to her friends and the lives they were newly creating. Fiercely loyal Kelly provided laughter, encouragement for friends near and afar.

When Kelly got sick, those who knew her were devastated. But as Kelly battled her illness, we learned a lot from her. We learned how short life is. We learned that your friends are also your family. We learned how precious every single second is and the gift of time. We learned how to face adversity with grace and courage. All the people in Kelly’s life learned to appreciate their own blessings—our families, our friends, finding careers we loved, our health.

This scholarship represents an exceptional person. One who loved her family and friends and who was deeply loved in return. It is our most sincere desire that the recipients of this scholarship not only look to Kelly as an example of a dedicated and gifted professional, but also as an exemplary woman, wife, mother, and friend. Kelly’s legacy inspires us and we hope that it will inspire you, too.

If you'd like to donate to the Kelly Joan Hood-Reynolds Memorial Scholarship by check, with a QCD, or by using a DAF, please contact Maggi Karagosian '22 for assistance.

The memorial bench in the marquee photo is in Ohio University's Emeriti Park (Athens, Ohio) and honors Kelly's legacy.