Levi Brake on the Columbus campus.
When Levi Brake began his Buckeye journey as an undergraduate studying early childhood education at The Ohio State University at Lima, he never imagined that 14 years later, he’d be graduating with a Master of Arts in Public Policy and a JD. And yet, in May of 2026, he did just that, with support from donors along the way.
For Levi, affordability was always key, which is why he remains thankful to have received scholarship support during both his undergraduate and graduate studies. The support allowed him to focus on his studies without the weight of financial pressures.
“A scholarship isn’t just money. It's peace of mind. It’s a tool belt toward graduation. I’m grateful to all the donors who helped give me mine.”
Between his undergraduate and graduate degrees, Levi worked for five years as a middle school math teacher with Lima City Schools. Most math problems have solutions, but what he couldn’t solve then was the feeling of being unequipped for the issues his students brought with them each day.
“I was a counselor, mentor, nurse, parent — sometimes even a vending machine. I did everything I could to meet the kids’ needs when they were in my class,” he shares. “But my influence — my reach — in their lives only extended so far. To make a greater impact, I needed to be out of the school building.”
Levi decided to try a new path. He shifted his focus to becoming an advocate to help more students. He applied to The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, receiving a donor-funded full scholarship that opened up learning opportunities around public policy.
You can share congratulations with Levi right after his walk across the commencement stage. Let him know you’re cheering on his new steps toward helping more Ohioans.
“When I started, my goal was to be involved in education, legislation and regulation,” Levi explains. “But then, you get to law school and realize: It’s housing, health care, employment, labor law, taxes, even zoning — all these things feed into education outcomes. So, the scope of what I want to do broadened.”
Part of that expanding scope came from field experience with the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C. His scholarships freed him to pursue this exciting summer internship focused on employment and labor law. “I'll shout this from the rooftops,” exclaims Levi. “I’m a huge believer in experiential learning.”
In three short years, Levi has worked hard to complete a rigorous dual degree within Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, advancing his commitment to helping others in the community. He looks forward to working alongside, or within, the Ohio Statehouse. “I want to be in a position to contribute ideas and have them make a difference — anything to make the lives of Ohioans better.”
From a Lima classroom to the Statehouse steps, Levi’s journey is a powerful one. It’s the perfect illustration of what’s possible when generous scholarship support meets with a Buckeye committed to the greater good.
