June 2, 2023
Morgantown, WV – Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) is pleased to announce 86 scholarships totaling $236,850 have been awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year. Applications were evaluated by scholarship committees of more than 100 volunteers from across the North Central West Virginia region.
YCF currently manages over 40 scholarship funds. New scholarship endowment funds may be established with a minimum donation of $20,000 which donors may pledge over three years. The principal is invested, and the earnings provide scholarship dollars – forever. Donors may suggest award criteria, and the funds may be named in honor or memory of loved ones.
The following new scholarships made inaugural awards this year:
- Angie and Abir Majumdar Scholarship provides an award for a WV resident with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who has spent time in foster care or as a ward of the state. The inaugural recipient is Chloe Shoemaker of Glenville State University.
- William E. Phillips, Jr. Leadership Marion Scholarship provides an award to a graduating senior of a Marion County high school. Recipients must be enrolled in a private or public vocational training program, apprenticeship, technical, two-year, or for-year institution in West Virginia, and must demonstrate participation in leadership development and community service organizations and activities. The inaugural recipient is Zoe Boyles of East Fairmont High School.
- James A. Womeldorff Vocational Development Scholarship provides an award to a West Virginia resident with a documented disability who displays financial need and is seeking post-secondary education at a trade, vocational, two-year or traditional four-year college or university. The inaugural recipient is Bryar Huff of West Virginia University.
“We are grateful for the generosity of our donors, and the commitment of our scholarship committee volunteers who donate their time to review applications and recommend scholarship recipients,” said YCF President Patty Showers Ryan. “Their thoughtful contribution makes higher education more accessible to students in our community.”
Following are YCF’s new scholarship recipients for the 2023-24 academic year:
Angela Scotchel Memorial Basketball Scholarship – Emily Sharkey, University High School
Angela Shahan Memorial Scholarship – Chayce Andrew, Preston High School
Angie and Abir Majumdar Scholarship- Chloe Shoemaker, Glenville State University
Brandi Kay Bowen Scholarship – Shelby Dolly, Doddridge County High School; Nora Sias, Doddridge County High School
Brenda B. Hellwig Vocational Development Scholarship – Katie Spohn, Morgantown High School
Catherine Flynn Morrison Memorial Scholarship – Sydney Foster, Lincoln High School
Charlotte and Mary Gail Koen Scholarship – Katelyn Carper, North Marion High School; Abigail Smith, North Marion High School
Dr. Leo Kotchek Memorial Scholarship – Maura Strahin, Preston County High School
Dr. William E. Phillips, Jr. Leadership Marion Scholarship- Zoe Boyles, East Fairmont High School
Erin Marie Keener Nursing Scholarship – Aiden Slusser, West Virginia University
George E. and Joanne R. Davis Memorial Scholarship – Nathaniel Flower, Fairmont Senior High School; Lydia Wright, East Fairmont High School
HopeWorks Scholarship – Katie Spohn, Morgantown High School
J. Cecil Jarvis Memorial Scholarship – Emily Ogden, West Virginia University; Logan Peck, West Virginia University
James A. Womeldorff Vocational Development Scholarship– Bryar Huff, West Virginia University
Jean and Laurence S. DeLynn Scholarship – Landon Boone, North Marion High School; Jaeden Hammack, University High School; Alexis Herndon, Lincoln High School; Brooklyn Rodamer, Morgantown High School; Seth Springsteen, Albert Gallatin High school; Sophia Toothman, East Fairmont High School
Jim Dunn Memorial Scholarship – Alexis Lamb, Doddridge County High School; Irene Riggs, Morgantown High School; Amelia Summers, Morgantown High School
Joycelyn A. and Robert A. Ayersman Sr. Memorial Scholarship – Abriel DeBerry, Preston High School
Lillian A. Devison Scholarship – Philip Smith, West Virginia University
Margaret L. Spencer Health Career Education Scholarship – Rayelle Huey, Laurel College of Technology
Micah Wilson Memorial Scholarship –Miranda Miller, University High School
Mountain Loggers Group, Inc. Scholarship – Kensey Harper, West Virginia University
North Elementary Scholarship –Colin Street, Morgantown High School
PFC Andrew Martin “Bo” Harper Memorial Scholarship –Lillian Lazzell, University High School; Alexis Tyson, Robert C. Byrd High School
Roy and Frances Valentine Family Scholarship – Megan Barr, Morgantown High School
Rusty Mazzie and Seth Nicholson Memorial Scholarship – Mathew McAra, Notre Dame High School
Scott Argabrite Memorial Scholarship – Morgan Mann, Socastee High School
Seth Burton Memorial Scholarship – Gage Willis, North Marion High School
Sgt. Christopher Dalton Memorial Scholarship- Jettson Husty, Morgantown High School
Soundra K. Poling – Brookhaven Elementary Scholarship – Katie Spohn, Morgantown High School
Timbuck Shields Legion Scholarship– Andrew Bell, Bridgeport High School; Olivia Lowther, Robert C. Byrd High School
William Charles Davis and Dorcas Regina Davis Educational Scholarship – Bryar Huff, West Virginia University
William “Will” Charleton Bridges Scholarship – Hanns “Cyrus” von Schmidt, Fairmont Senior High School
Woodrow W. Woods Scholarship – Bryar Huff, West Virginia University; Chloe Shoemaker, Glenville State University
YCF’s mission is to promote philanthropy and build endowment funds to benefit our communities. Through financial resources, YCF extends assistance to qualified people, programs and projects in the form of grants and scholarships. Primarily serving North Central West Virginia, YCF’s underlying goal is always to enhance the quality of life for those the organization serves.