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Cardinal Stritch Valedictorian Finds Affordable, Faster Path to Career Goals at Owens

Cardinal Stritch valedictorian Eden Tipton will study psychology and law enforcement at Owens.

When Eden Tipton announced her plans to attend Owens Community College in the fall, her decision was met by a few surprised reactions. After all, as the valedictorian at Cardinal Stritch High School in Oregon, Tipton could have had plenty of more traditionally prestigious options to choose from.

So why Owens? According to Tipton, it provides her a quicker and more affordable path to her dreams of working in law enforcement while still providing a high-quality education.

“I looked into Owens and realized I could double major and had a transfer pathway for psychology. If I started at Owens and did the psychology and law enforcement programs, I could then get a job as a police officer and get in a tuition reimbursement program and have the rest of my bachelor’s degree without paying for it all myself,” Tipton said.

“For me, it’s about what you’re going to get out of college not where you’re at. … I don’t think people should overlook Owens.”

Tipton isn’t the only high-achieving student arriving directly from high school in the fall 2026 semester. The valedictorian and salutatorian from Fayette High School have enrolled at Owens along with the valedictorian from Delta. Half of the top-10 ranked students from Eastwood High School have enrolled as have three more from Lake and two from Otsego.

Also applying to Owens as of early July are students from the top-10 at Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo, Bowsher, Clyde, Elmwood, Evergreen, Gibsonburg, Hilltop, Hopewell-Loudon, Horizon Science Academy, Jones Leadership Academy, Lakota, Miller City, North Baltimore, North Central, Northwest Ohio Classical Academy, Northwood, Rogers, Scott, Springfield, Swanton and Toledo Pre-Med and Health Science Academy.

Owens Director of Admissions Erin Kramer has seen a change in public perception about community colleges during her nearly 20-year career at Owens. Whether students are interested in completing a two-year associate degree and entering the workforce or transferring their credits to a four-year university, more and more are finding the value — both figuratively and literally — in Owens.

“I think students and their parents are starting to think a little more that this is an affordable option, but it’s also college. It’s just as rigorous as it would be somewhere else. They’re getting the same high-quality education that they would get if they were spending way more money somewhere else,” Kramer said.

Many faculty members at Owens continue to work in their field while staying current with professional organizations, licensures or continuing education, ensuring students are receiving relevant and real education. Additionally, the Ohio transfer system, specifically the Ohio Transfer Assurance Guides and Ohio Transfer 36, guarantees transfer credit from Owens to other public colleges and universities.

High-achieving students enrolling directly from high school are now benefitting from the Presidential Scholarship at Owens, which awards $1,000 for each of the first two semesters of enrollment and is applicable toward tuition, fees or other approved educational costs. Students must be a direct-from-high school enrollee, graduate in the top 10 of their class, have a minimum high school GPA of 2.5 and complete the FAFSA.

As of July 1, 22 students have applied for the scholarship with six already being awarded. According to David Shaffer, Owens Executive Director of Student Services, the college is anticipating scholarship applications coming in through August.

“We always want high-achieving students to come to Owens because they have a higher completion rate and are more apt to complete in a shorter amount of time,” Kramer said. “I think it also shows that these students who are high achieving and highly intelligent are starting to see the value in coming to Owens. They can come to Owens for two years, not go into debt and either have a really good career when they graduate or transfer to a four-year university.”

Tipton said she’s always wanted to solve mysteries and help people, which led her into police work. By coming to Owens, it puts her on a faster track to starting her professional life in law enforcement. Instead of getting a degree then enrolling in peace officer training, she will major in both the Professional Law Enforcement Program and Psychology Transfer Pathway at Owens.

“I hadn’t been used to being treated like a person and not a number,” Tipton said. “My advisor also emailed me when new scholarships became available. I wasn’t even a student yet and they looked at me as someone who could benefit from the scholarship.”

Solving mysteries and helping people drew Tipton into law enforcement. This fall, she starts working toward that goal at Owens.