May 28, 2020
Morgantown, WV – YCF is pleased to announce $255,850 in scholarships have been awarded to 100 local students for the 2020-21 academic year. Applications were evaluated by scholarship committees comprised of more than 100 local community members across North Central West Virginia.
“We are thankful to the donors who provide these important scholarship funds, as well as, the volunteers who invest their time to review so many outstanding student applications,” shared YCF President, Patty Showers Ryan. “The pandemic has interfered with our in-person award presentations, but we will celebrate the outstanding achievements of these students regardless, and wish them continued success with their educational goals.”
Scholarship endowments require a minimum donation of $20,000 which may be achieved over a two-year period. The principal is invested and the earnings provide scholarship dollars – forever. Donors may suggest award criteria, and the funds are often named in honor or memory of loved ones.
In 2020, YCF received more than 300 applications through its online process. Graduating high school seniors and students currently enrolled in post-secondary education are able to apply. An additional 37 students are receiving renewable scholarships – funds donors have provided to help students complete their education over multiple years.
Two new scholarships for Marion County students made inaugural awards this year, the EQT Scholarship, and the Sam McLaughlin Scholarship for the Arts.
The EQT Scholarship was established by the EQT Foundation to recognize high-performing students residing in the areas served by the company. This scholarship fund awards five $1,000 one-time scholarships and one full-ride, renewable scholarship with an annual value of up to $18,000. This year’s $1,000 scholarships recipients for Marion County are Aiden Cloutier, Fairmont Senior High School; Michael Garrett, North Marion High School; Aaron Gorman, East Fairmont High School; Lance Payton, Fairmont Senior High School; and Christian Sabatino, Fairmont Senior High School. The full-ride EQT Scholarship for Marion County was awarded to Lauren Pyles, North Marion High School.
The Sam McLaughlin Scholarship for the Arts was established by the family of the late William “Sam” McLaughlin III, to honor Sam’s lifelong commitment to and passion for the arts. This fund provides a scholarship to a graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, pursuing post-secondary education in fine arts. The inaugural recipient is Caitlynn Buckler, Fairmont Senior High School.
YCF congratulates all of its scholarship recipients throughout North Central West Virginia. Following are the 71 new scholarship recipients for the 2020-21 academic year:
Scott Argabrite Memorial Scholarship – Madison Hancheck, St. James High School
Joycelyn A. and Robert A. Ayersman Sr. Memorial Scholarship – Laurel Williams, Preston High School
Ernest Daniel Conaway, Raymond Guy Baker and Everett Reece Baker Memorial Scholarship – Leigha Jordan, Fairmont Senior High School; Ethan Wimer, Preston High School
Brandi Kay Bowen Scholarship – Maci Britton, Doddridge County High School; Trinity Neely, Doddridge County High School
Jacob David Bower “Bower Power” Memorial Scholarship – Aiden Slusser, East Fairmont High School; Mark Webb, East Fairmont High School
William “Will” Charleton Bridges Scholarship – Juliana Summers, Fairmont Senior High School
Seth Burton Memorial Scholarship – Amara Mason, North Marion High School
Flora O. Corpening Scholarship – Hannah Price, Bridgeport High School; Brooke Wagner, Bridgeport High School
Sgt. Christopher Dalton Memorial Scholarship – Tallan Embrey, West Virginia University
The William Charles Davis and Dorcas Regina Davis Educational Scholarship – Abigail Boggs, Fairmont State University
The Jean and Laurence S. DeLynn Scholarship – Preston Brock, Morgantown High School; Jadyn Davis, Morgantown High School; Kambreigha Dudas, Jefferson-Morgan High School (PA); Alexander Imperial, Bridgeport High School; Chesney Manko, Preston High School; Benjamin Pell, Preston High School; Christian Sabatino, Fairmont Senior High School
Lillian A. Devison Scholarship – Anna Malone, West Liberty University
Jim Dunn Memorial Scholarship – Michael Garrett, North Marion High School; Zoe Shetty, University High School; Trey Smith-Tatham, Preston High School; Mackenzie Stanley, Fairmont Senior High School
EQT Scholarship – Lauren Pyles (full ride scholarship), North Marion High School; Aiden Cloutier, Fairmont Senior High School; Michael Garrett, North Marion High School; Aaron Gorman, East Fairmont High School; Lance Payton, Fairmont Senior High School; Christian Sabatino, Fairmont Senior High School
Catherine Flynn Morrison Memorial Scholarship – Hannah Price, Bridgeport High School
PFC Andrew Martin “Bo” Harper Memorial Scholarship – Sophia Fazzini, Notre Dame High School; Hannah Nieman, University High School
Brenda B. Hellwig Vocational Development Scholarship – Kaylee Elsey, Fairmont Senior High School
HopeWorks Scholarship – Olivia Groves, Morgantown High School
J. Cecil Jarvis Memorial Scholarship – Nicholas Strogen, Michigan State College of Law
Erin Marie Keener Nursing Scholarship – Hannah Parrish, West Virginia University
KHS Class of ’59 Scholarship – Emily Passerby, Preston High School
Charlotte and Mary Gail Koen Scholarship – Shane Humphreys, North Marion High School; Gable Kolb, North Marion High School
Dr. Leo Kotchek Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Robinson, Preston High School
Rusty Mazzie Memorial Scholarship – Matthew Ellis, Notre Dame High School
Sam McLaughlin Scholarship for the Arts – Caitlynn Buckler, Fairmont Senior High School
Mountain Loggers Cooperative Association (MLCA) Scholarship – Lauren Cox, homeschooled
North Elementary Scholarship – Camila Romero, Morgantown High School
Soundra K. Poling — Brookhaven Elementary Scholarship – Grace McCusker, Morgantown High School
Frances Scarcelli Tyler Scholarship – Bethany Knight, Notre Dame High School
Angela Scotchel Memorial Basketball Scholarship – Ashten Boggs, University High School
Bobby Lee Secret Memorial Scholarship – Alessandro Cava, Notre Dame High School
Angela Shahan Memorial Scholarship – Ethan Wimer, Preston High School
Margaret L. Spencer Health Career Education Scholarship – Tyler Ray, West Virginia University
Roy and Frances Valentine Family Scholarship – Audrey Chapman, Berkeley Springs High School
Micah Wilson Memorial Scholarship – Madison Shuttlesworth, University High School
Matthew “Biggie” Wolfe Memorial Scholarship – Marriah Straub, West Virginia University
Woodrow W. Woods Scholarship – Jessica Blizzard, United Technical Center; Charles Davisson, West Virginia University; Matthew Ellis, Notre Dame High School; Madeline Griffith, West Virginia University; Luke Hatfield, Bridgeport High School; Halli Toothman, Lincoln High School; Gabriel Howe, Pierpont Community & Technical College; Matthew Howe, Robert C. Byrd High School; Miya Lantz, Liberty High School; Anna Malone, West Liberty University; Seth Plaugher, West Virginia University; Jack Ray, Marshall University; Wyatt Ray, Marshall University; Mackenzie Steele, West Virginia University; Sarah Wright, Bridgeport High School
For more information please call (304) 296-3433 or visit YCF’s website at: http://ycfwv.org.
Updated 6.18.20