Two weeks ago, students from Ohio State stepped up in a way that made me proud.

Our students participated in BuckeyeThon, an annual dance marathon that benefits the Hematology/Oncology Department of Nationwide Children's Hospital with the ultimate goal of ending childhood cancer. This is the most worthy of efforts in my mind, because working to ensure that young people have a bright future is something that is part of my life's mission.

Ohio State students made a major impact through BuckeyeThon. They raised $609,000, a record total that will enable the team at Nationwide to make significant strides in their work.

Of course, BuckeyeThon is far from the only place where I see Buckeyes paying forward. I'm proud of the Alumni Association staff for having 100 percent participation in Ohio State's Campus Campaign in all years that I have been here. And I am most certainly proud of the scholarship fundraising work done by alumni clubs and societies.

We probably don't say thank you to our alumni groups nearly enough for this important work. Through the years, thousands of students have been able to attend Ohio State because their local alumni groups helped make it happen. These groups are making good on their responsibilities as Buckeyes, and I am grateful for their essential work.

I am also excited about a new initiative that will enhance existing club fundraising in the state of Ohio. The Ohio Scholarship Challenge launched earlier this month, and has the goal of raising $100 million to benefit students in all 88 Ohio counties. Any financial gift to an alumni club scholarship fund will count toward the Challenge total.

In my mind, it is imperative that we take our scholarship fundraising to a new level. More scholarships mean more opportunities for our young people. It's paying forward at it's finest.