Monongalia, Preston scholarships awarded
Seventeen students in Monongalia and Preston counties will share more than $102,000 in academic scholarship assistance distributed this year by Your Community Foundation (YCF).
"We're excited again this year to make these grants on behalf of our generous donors who created these scholarship endowments," said Beth Fuller, president of YCF. "All of the winning students presented excellent qualifications for the various awards. We are pleased that we can assist them with the cost of their education and wish them great success in their chosen fields of study."
The following scholarships were presented:
Monongalia County
Morgantown High School
Rachel Hewitt one of three Jim Dunn Scholarships, created to provide financial assistance to support running sports in West Virginia. Its long-term goal is to see collegiate men's running teams reinstated at West Virginia University. She plans to attend WVU and pursue a degree in medicine.
Paulina Elmo the PFC Andrew Martin "Bo" Harper Memorial Fund Scholarship, which provides a one-time scholarship for a Monongalia or Harrison county student to attend an accredited higher education institution. She plans to attend WVU and major in elementary education
Sara Guidi one of two four-year Hopeworks Scholarships awarded to Monongalia County high school graduates who have demonstrated a need for financial assistance due to loss of parental support from death, divorce or loss of family income due to special circumstances. She plans to attend Fairmont State University and pursue a nursing degree.
A. J. Bartlett the Soundra K. Poling Brookhaven Scholarship given to a high school graduate who completed the fifth grade at Brookhaven Elementary School. He plans to attend WVU and pursue a degree in aerospace & mechanical engineering.
University High School
Jordan Brown-Stobbe one of three Jim Dunn Scholarships, created to provide financial assistance to support running sports in West Virginia. Its long-term goal is to see collegiate men's running teams reinstated at West Virginia University. He plans to attend Marshall University and pursue a degree in athletic training.
Marilyn DeSantis a Jean and Laurence S. Delynn Scholarship that provides financial assistance to high school graduates who are children or grandchildren of current or retired full-time employees of Mylan Pharmaceuticals living or working in the greater Morgantown area. She plans to attend WVU and pursue a biology degree.
Sarah Riffon a Jean and Laurence S. Delynn Scholarship. She plans to study theology.
Clay Battelle High School
Mariah Dawson the Baker Memorial Scholarship awarded to students in medicine or undergraduate students in engineering as full-time students at West Virginia University. She plans to attend WVU and pursue a degree in exercise physiology.
Travis Howard both a Hopeworks Scholarship and a Jean and Laurence S. Delynn Scholarship. The Hopeworks Scholarship is awarded to a Monongalia County high school graduate who has demonstrated a need for financial assistance due to loss of parental support from death, divorce or loss of family income due to special circumstances. The DeLynn Scholarship provides a renewable scholarship to high school graduates who are children or grandchildren of current or retired full-time employees of Mylan Pharmaceuticals living or working in the greater Morgantown area. He plans to attend WVU and pursue an engineering degree.
Preston County
Preston High School
Bethany Cale a Jean and Laurence S. Delynn Scholarship that provides a renewable scholarship to high school graduates who are children or grandchildren of current or retired full-time employees of Mylan Pharmaceuticals living or working in the greater Morgantown area. She plans to attend WVU and study nursing.
Nicholas Robertson one of three Jim Dunn Scholarships, created to provide financial assistance to support running sports in West Virginia. Its long-term goal is to see collegiate men's running teams reinstated at West Virginia University. He plans to attend Wheeling Jesuit University and pursue a degree in athletic training with pre-physical therapy.
Kelly Guthrie the Dr. Leo Kotchek Memorial Scholarship that provides financial assistance to a Preston High School graduate who is regularly enrolled as an undergraduate student in pre-veterinary medicine. She plans to attend West Virginia University.
Renae Kuhn the KHS Class of '59 Scholarship awarded to a Preston County high school graduate who is pursuing studies in science, technology, education or mathematics. She plans to attend WVU and pursue a degree in education.
Matthew Clark the Adler and Helen Spotte Memorial Scholarship that provides assistance to a Preston High School graduate who plans to pursue a degree in education, science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Special consideration is given to applicants who are the first generation in their immediate family to pursue a college education and to minority students. He plans to attend WVU and pursue a nursing degree.
Kayla Sisler the Joycelyn A. Ayersman Memorial Scholarship given to a four-year resident of the Rowlesburg area and a graduate of Preston County High School. She plans to attend Fairmont State University and study national security and intelligence.
Chelsea Bishop the John C. and Joann T. Wills Music Scholarship given to a Preston County high school graduate pursuing a course of study in music education, instrumental or choral/vocal music. She plans to attend West Liberty University and pursue a degree in music education.
Travis Petak the Angelia Shahan Memorial Scholarship that assists a Preston County high school graduate pursuing studies in the areas of agriculture, engineering, construction, electrical or related trades. He plans to attend WVU and study electrical technology.
YCF is a charitable, non-profit organization created in 2011 by the merger of the Greater Morgantown Community Trust and the Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia. It encourages, develops and manages endowment funds and uses the net proceeds to support a long list of community programs and scholarships. The merged foundation manages assets and pledged assets of approximately $7 million and administers more than 140 separate funds.
YCF actively encourages the creation of new endowments as well as contributions to existing funds. Any individual, organization or business can establish a donor fund, or contribute any amount of money to one or more existing funds, by contacting the foundation at (304) 296-3433. Information about the foundation and a description of its endowment funds is available at www.ycfwv.org.
