This scholarship was established in 2023 by Dr. Shannon McNally-Velasquez and Dr. Meredythe “Mimi” McNally in honor of their father, Michael “Mickey” McNally. Michael, born in Youngstown on April 11, 1945, was a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School and of Youngstown State University. Over his lifetime, Mickey was an accomplished local business professional. A military veteran during the Vietnam War, he started his career at Youngstown Sheet and Tube. Over time, he realized his passion was being an entrepreneur and started his first company, Bayberry Flowers and Photography, with his wife, Eileen McNally, and his sisters. He then moved on to own and operate McNally’s Loretta Fitch Flowers in Youngstown and Coitsville, while also starting an innovative nationwide florist directory. He then shifted his attention to the growing telecommunications industry and began his own businesses, known as Key Communications, LLC, and Telecommunications Marketing Associates, Inc., which became one of the region’s largest telecommunications sub-agents and won multiple local, regional, and national awards.

An eligible student for this scholarship must be enrolled full-time with a major in the Williamson College of Business Administration and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preference will go to a graduate of a Catholic high school who is interested in earning a minor in Entrepreneurship.