MARIETTA, OHIO — The Washington State College of Ohio Foundation honored alumnae Sondra Holbert and Jill Deming as the 2025 WSCO Distinguished Alumni at its annual reception Tuesday afternoon. Holbert received the Outstanding Volunteerism and Service to the Community Award, while Deming was recognized with the Outstanding Professionalism and Achievement in a Chosen Field Award.
Presented annually, these awards celebrate graduates whose careers and community involvement exemplify the values of service, leadership, and lifelong learning reflected in the college’s mission.
Holbert began her Washington State journey in 2000 at 43 working full time and attending classes two nights a week. She did not qualify for Pell Grants, so she applied for scholarships and was awarded $33,000 to offset her college expenses. She was an active Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) member and volunteered at various community organizations such as EVE Inc. and Toys for Tots.
In 2005, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Associate Degree in Business Management and was selected as a graduation speaker for her class. She went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor in Technical Management from DeVry University in 2007.
She wanted to impact students’ lives by maintaining her connection to the college and the PTK chapter after graduation. She served on the Foundation Board from 2011-2017 to help support the mission of the college and provide financial assistance through scholarships for student success.
She is a long-time member of the Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee, responsible for selecting awardees. In 2017, she wanted to pay it forward by becoming a Foundation scholarship donor.
Her role as an alumna to the chapter was to mentor current students and volunteer at community service projects such as chapter Team Captain for Relay for Life. From 2011-2013, the chapter was recognized in the top 10 fundraising chapters in PTK under her leadership, reaching top two in 2013. Her passion for Relay took on a deeper meaning when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2025, and is currently cancer free.
She currently works part-time at First Lutheran Church as the church administrator. She is a member of the church choir, prayer shawl ministry, and food pantry donor. She serves on the Bread of Life Committee who awards grants to nonprofits and scholarships to high school and college students annually. She has been providing Christmas gifts to nursing home residents in Belpre, Ohio for twelve years.
Deming graduated cum laude from Washington Technical College (now Washington State College of Ohio) in 1983 with an Associate Degree in Data Processing, building the technical foundation for her work in data management and prospect research.
After beginning her career in the business sector, Jill discovered her passion for philanthropy and nonprofit work. For more than 25 years, she has worked in prospect research and database management, supporting strategic fundraising and donor engagement.
She spent 19 years at Marietta College in the Advancement Department as a prospect researcher and database administrator, supporting the college’s fundraising efforts through data analysis, research, and strategic insight that helped guide major gift development. After retiring from Marietta College in 2023, she joined Memorial Health Foundation as Prospect Research and Data Specialist.
In this role, Jill supports philanthropic initiatives that expand healthcare access and improve patient outcomes throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley. Her work focuses on prospect identification, data strategy, and reporting that help guide philanthropic investment in healthcare and community well-being across the region.
In addition to her professional career, Jill has been active in community organizations for many years. She has served on the Board of Directors for EVE, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and support services for survivors of domestic violence in Washington County, since 2006 and currently serves as Board President.
