Since its launch in 2013, the Aspire Scholarship has empowered nearly 50 dependents of Covia employees in the U.S. to pursue a postsecondary education. Administered by the Cleveland Foundation in partnership with College Now, the program supports and inspires the children of full-time Covia team members as they take the next step in their academic journeys.

In 2025, the program received a strong pool of applications. After a thorough review by an independent selection committee, six exceptional students were awarded scholarships: Alexandria Nevison, Alexa Feicks, Dominic Ricciardi, Daniele Nazario Jr., Madison Hutson, and Abigail Michels. Each recipient received a meaningful financial award to offset tuition costs and support their educational goals.

This year also marks an exciting milestone—the launch of the Covia Canada Aspire Scholarship. In partnership with ScholarTree, based in Burlington, Ontario, Covia expanded its scholarship program to support dependents of full-time employees at its Canadian facilities. Modeled after the U.S. program, the Canadian initiative awarded scholarships to five inaugural recipients: Braydon Wayne Cooper, Chloe Cooper, Elizabeth Cox, Isabelle Cox, and Hrish Dave. This furthers Covia’s commitment to community investment for Covia Canada dependents.

Aspire Scholarship Winner (US)

• Alexandria Nevison – Attending Ursinus College, majoring in Biology (Premed) and Spanish. Alexandria is excited to begin her junior year this fall, prepare for the MCATs in the spring, and continue pursuing her goal of becoming an Emergency Room doctor.
• Alexa Feicks – Attending Purdue University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Alexa is excited to explore new experiences and deepen her knowledge in a field she’s passionate about.
• Dominic Ricciardi – Enrolled at Kent State University for Construction Management. Dominic values the recognition and support the scholarship represents.
• Daniele Nazario, Jr. – Studying Pastoral Ministry at Highlands College. Daniele is grateful for the opportunity to pursue his calling and future as a pastor.
• Madison Hutson – A sophomore at the University of Alabama majoring in English. Madison looks forward to diving into major-specific courses like Creative Writing and American Literature.
• Abigail Michels – Heading to Illinois State University to study Early Childhood and Bilingual Education. Abigail is eager to apply her learning in clinicals and student teaching.

Covia Canada Aspire Scholarship Winners

• Braydon Cooper – Attending Trent University, to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Braydon is looking forward to a new beginning as he starts this next chapter of his life at Trent University.
• Chloe Cooper – Attending Trent University, to earn a Bachelor of Education degree. Chloe is looking forward to being in the classroom and doing what she loves most – teaching.
• Elizabeth Cox – Heading to Carleton University, majoring in Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering. Elizabeth is looking forward to meeting like-minded people and expanding her understanding of how we can make our built environment more sustainable.
• Isabelle Cox – Isabelle is studying biomedical engineering technology at Durham College. She is looking forward to engaging in hands-on learning and understanding how life-saving machines work as she enters this new chapter.
• Hrish Dave – Enrolled at McMaster University, concentrating on Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences. Hrish is excited to take a more active role in his learning and implement what he studies in his community.

Covia

Covia

At Covia, we are committed to being more than just a leading provider of high-performance mineral and material solutions – we believe that our company can make a positive difference in the world. This belief is what drives our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, which is influenced by both our journey as an organization and the events in the world around us.

Our commitment to operating as a responsible corporate citizen has been embedded into every aspect of our business for decades and serves as the foundation for Covia’s ESG initiatives. From our operations to our Team Members and the communities in which we live and work, we continue to define WHAT WE’RE MADE OF as more than the materials we produce, but the impact we can make in every interaction.

In 2021, we enhanced our approach toward accelerating ESG performance by developing our formal GOALS THAT INSPIRE: ESG 2030. These 10 goals, broken into our three core areas - Environmental Stewardship, Positive Social Impact and Responsible Governance & Ethics - were developed by Covia Team members across the company and are designed to drive tangible and measurable progress in areas where we can make the most impact.

We have the commitment and strategy in place to drive meaningful progress and we are pledging to make a positive differences for our people, our planet and our communities.

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