2013-08-30
Since 2008, the Jean and Laurence S. DeLynn endowment fund has awarded $200,000 in scholarships to students in North Central West Virginia. Each year, current and new recipients are honored with a recognition brunch held this year at the Waterfront Hotel Regatta Grill in Morgantown.
The DeLynn Scholarship Fund was created in 2007 to provide 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. Recipients are awarded $5,000 a year and can receive scholarship assistance for up to four years for a total of $20,000 if they remain in school and continue to demonstrate academic achievement.
A total of 15 students who received scholarships this year and five others who are currently receiving DeLynn grants were recognized at the scholarship brunch hosted by Mrs. DeLynn, who met with the 53 students and family members who attended the event. She congratulated the students and spoke with them about their respective fields of study. She called the brunch a time for everyone to come together to get to know each other.
Your Community Foundation (YCF) manages the endowment, which is the largest administered by the non-profit organization. “It becomes very personal for me to get to know these students and welcome them into our foundation family,” said Beth Fuller, president of YCF. “This annual brunch gives the students and their family members an opportunity to say thank you for the generosity of the DeLynn family. Their expressions of heartfelt gratitude bring tears to many people’s eyes.”
Each of the new recipients spoke briefly, announcing their schools of choice and their diverse fields of study, which ranged from engineering to nursing, public relations, pre-medicine, exercise physiology and agriculture.
Bobbi Neal, a long-time Mylan employee and executive director of the Medical Unit, encouraged the students to “work hard and make us proud.” She also shared with the students a quote from former WVU and NFL quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who told the Trinity Christian School Class of 2013 to “know who you are and whose you are.”
Bill Ogden, personnel director of Operations and another long-time Mylan employee, impressed on the students the importance of a quality education in today’s world.
Three students were recognized, each of whom received the scholarship for the full four years. They are Heather (McLean) McLaughlin, Bryce Cumpston and Jamie Vankirk.
This year’s recipients are: Megan DeBastiani, Taylor Scudiere, Todd Funkhouser, Yamini Anantula and Clay Chipps, Morgantown High School; Johnathon Berry and Makayla Wilkins, Clay-Battelle High School; Kerrie Davis, University High School; Aimee Zorik, North Marion High School; Mary Jane Braham and Brandon Thomas, Preston High School; Sara Bennett, Chestnut Ridge Academy; Bailey Haller, Fairmont Senior High School; Madison Muilenburg, Maple Senior High School; and Jessica Church, Lewis County High School.
Students continuing to receive DeLynn scholarships are Adrianna Barbato, Travis Howard, Anna Reitsma, Marilyn DeSantis and Sarah Riffon.
Pictured:
Left to right back row: Jonathon Berry, Sarah Riffon, Todd Funkhouser, Madison Muilenburg, Marilyn DeSantis, Makayla Wilkins, Heather (McLean) McLaughlin, Brandon Thomas, Jessica Church, Clay Chipps, and Taylor Scudiere
Left to right front row: Aimee Zorik, Yamini Anantula, Kerrie Davis, Adrianna Barbato and Megan DeBastiani
Scholarship recipients not shown: Travis Howard, Anna Reitsma, Mary Jane Braham, Sara Bennett and Bailey Haller