June 5, 2025
Morgantown, WV – Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) is pleased to announce 109 scholarships totaling $303,000 have been awarded for the 2025-26 academic year. Applications were evaluated by scholarship committees with over 120 volunteers from across North Central West Virginia.
YCF currently manages over 40 scholarship funds. New scholarship endowments 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 choose a name for the fund. Scholarship endowments are often named in honor or memory of a loved one.
The following scholarships made inaugural awards this year:
- Barbara Ann Kercheval Scholarship provides awards to graduating seniors from Preston High School pursuing postsecondary education at a vocational school or community college. The inaugural recipients are Marcus Elliott and Brooke Snyder.
- Jarrett E. Loar Scholarship provides an award to a graduate of Clay-Battelle High School, Morgantown High School, or University High School in Monongalia County. The recipient must enroll as a full-time student at West Virginia University, pursuing a degree in engineering. Additionally, students must reside in Monongalia County and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. The inaugural recipient is Belicia McKendall.
- West Virginia Black Heritage/Kelly Miller Scholarship provides two annual awards to graduating seniors of African American descent residing in West Virginia. Recipients must be pursuing post-secondary education (four year or vocational/technical/community college) and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Preference is given to those with demonstrated financial need. Additionally, preference will also be for one male and one female recipient. The inaugural recipients are Nyssa Baker and Demarcus Bandy.
“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.”
The following are YCF’s new scholarship recipients for the 2025-26 academic year:
Angela Scotchel Memorial Basketball Scholarship – Hannah Stemple, University High School
Angela Shahan Memorial Scholarship – Kenzie Clark, Preston High School
Barbara Ann Kercheval Scholarship – Marcus Elliott, Preston High School; Brooke Snyder, Preston High School
Bobby Lee Secret Memorial Scholarship – Jack Gould, Bridgeport High School
Brandi Kay Bowen Scholarship – Catherine Cottrill, Doddridge County High School; Cassidy Cumberledge, Doddridge County High School
Catherine Flynn Morrison Memorial Scholarship – Addison Sturm, Robert C. Byrd High School
Charlotte and Mary Gail Koen Scholarship – Kenzie Ammons, North Marion High School; Kayleigh Zemerick, North Marion High School
Demetry Walker Memorial Scholarship – Faizal Oyesiga, Laurel College of Technology
Dorothy, Lewis, Anthony, and Hilde Betonte Scholarship – Reese Simon, Fairmont State University
Dr. Leo Kotchek Memorial Scholarship – Kenzie Clark, Preston High School
Dr. William E. Phillips, Jr. Leadership Marion Scholarship – Kayleigh Zemerick, North Marion High School
Erin Marie Keener Nursing Scholarship – Bella Bock, West Virginia University
Ernest Daniel Conaway, Raymond Guy Baker, and Everett Reece Baker Memorial Scholarship – Hayley Harman, West Virginia University; Abigale Stewart, Bridgeport High School
Flora O. Corpening Scholarship – Laurianna SanJulian, Bridgeport High School; Chloe Sizemore, Bridgeport High School
Frances Scarcelli Tyler Scholarship – Molly Korn, Notre Dame High School
George E. and Joanne R. Davis Memorial Scholarship – Gabriel Watson, Morgantown High School; Kayleigh Zemerick, North Marion High School
J. Cecil Jarvis Memorial Scholarship – Logan Peck, West Virginia University
Jacob David Bower “Bower Power” Memorial Scholarship – Adriana Bond, East Fairmont High School; Kayleigh Zemerick, North Marion High School
James A. Womeldorff Vocational Development Scholarship – Bryar Huff, West Virginia University
Jean and Laurence S. DeLynn Scholarship – Demarcus Bandy, Morgantown High School; Jacob Eddy, Fairmont Senior High School; Zachary Gyorko, Mapletown Junior/Senior High School; Maggie Jordan, Lewis County High School; Meredith Odell, North Marion High School; Dylan Puderbaugh, Morgantown High School; Lauren Rossi, Washington High School; Hannah Zuchowski, Preston High School
Jim Dunn Memorial Scholarship – Catherine Cottrill, Doddridge County High School; Samantha Shreve, Buckhannon-Upshur High School; Hallie Simmons, Preston High School
John C. and Joann T. Wills Music Educators Scholarship – Emily Bucklew, West Virginia University
Joycelyn A. and Robert A. Ayersman Sr. Memorial Scholarship – Zoey DeBerry, Preston High School
KHS Class of ’59 Scholarship – Annalyse White, Preston High School
Lillian A. Devison Scholarship – Joshua Peterson, West Virginia University
Margaret L. Spencer Health Career Education Scholarship – James Gantle, Mapletown Junior/Senior High School
Matthew “Biggie” Wolfe Memorial Scholarship – Daya Dolinar, University High School; Meghan Knisely, University High School
Micah Wilson Memorial Scholarship – Sabrina Cottrell, University High School
Mountain Loggers Group, Inc. Scholarship – Abigail Messenger, East Fairmont High School
Nathan Cunningham Memorial Scholarship – Cassidy Cumberledge, Doddridge County High School
North Elementary Scholarship – Methag Abdalla, Morgantown High School
PFC Andrew Martin “Bo” Harper Memorial Scholarship – Eden Ashcraft, Lincoln High School; Sabrina Cottrell, University High School
Roy and Frances Valentine Family Scholarship – Bryer Mallow, Elkins High School
Rusty Mazzie and Seth Nicholson Memorial Scholarship – Dominick Bombardiere, Notre Dame High School
Sam McLaughlin Scholarship for the Arts – Lillian Tomana, Fairmont Senior High School
Seth Burton Memorial Scholarship – Lillian Tomana, Fairmont Senior High School
Soundra K. Poling – Brookhaven Elementary Scholarship – Tyler Travis, Morgantown High School
West Virginia Black Heritage/Kelly Miller Scholarship – Nyssa Baker, Morgantown High School; Demarcus Bandy, Morgantown High School
William Charles Davis and Dorcas Regina Davis Educational Scholarship – Brea Presley, Fairmont State University
William “Will” Charleton Bridges Scholarship – William Jones, Fairmont Senior High School
Woodrow W. Woods Scholarship – Cheyenne Batton, Fairmont State University; Nevaeh Brinkley, Bridgeport High School; Bryar Huff, West Virginia University; Molly Korn, Notre Dame High School; Keilana Kriner, Robert C. Byrd High School; Cameron Martin, Bridgeport High School; Cianna McKenna, Robert C. Byrd High School; Audrie Minigh, Fairmont State University; Logan Peck, West Virginia University; Dominick Robinson, Bridgeport High School; Laurianna SanJulian, Bridgeport High School; Anjellica Scott, Concord University; Sarah Sellers, West Virginia University; Ryan Shriver, Robert C. Byrd High School; Chloe Sizemore, Bridgeport High School
YCF is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of North Central West Virginia to manage multi-generational endowments. YCF enables local people with philanthropic interests to easily and effectively support the issues they care about.
For more information, visit www.ycfwv.org or call 304-296-3433.
