Three Students Awarded FSU Charles J. McClain Scholarship

Three West Virginia high school seniors have been named as recipients of Fairmont State University’s premier academic scholarship, the Charles J. McClain Scholarship.

The following students have been selected as scholarship winners:

Daniel Fernandes

• Daniel Fernandes, the son of Ricardo and Mirian Fernandes, is a student at Jefferson High School in Harpers Ferry. He has not yet decided his major at FSU.

Samuel "Miles" Smith

• Samuel “Miles” Smith, the son of Glenn and Lisa Smith, is a student at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley. He intends to major in Political Science at FSU.

Kelsey Whitt

• Kelsey Whitt, the daughter of Michael and Melissa Whitt, is a student at Independence High School in Beckley. She intends to major in Pre-Nursing at FSU.

Students from more than 20 of West Virginia’s 55 counties applied for FSU’s most prestigious scholarship.

“Fairmont State University offers many opportunities for high-achieving students, including our three scholarship winners. I look forward to welcoming them to our campus community. The university focuses on providing a high quality undergraduate experience in foundational disciplines such as education, nursing, business, engineering and technology, fine arts and the liberal arts,” said Dr. Quentin Johnson, Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services.

The competitive scholarship covers tuition and fees, room and board and a $1,000 textbook stipend. This is the third year that the scholarship has been offered. The three scholarship winners will be honored at various FSU Academic Awards Celebrations. The high school of each of the winners will be presented with a plaque featuring their student during the school’s spring awards assembly.

The McClain Scholars will have the opportunity to attend the inaugural Orientation program at FSU and be extended an offer for membership in the Honors program. FSU’s Honors program provides a place for students to increase their ability to think critically and to communicate effectively, as well as travel in the U.S. and abroad.

“We were pleased with the response to this opportunity and the academic quality of all the scholarship applicants,” said Lori Schoonmaker, Interim Associate Director of Recruiting. “We would like to offer thanks to all who participated in the process.”

To qualify, students must be current high school seniors who live in West Virginia, have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5, and an ACT composite of 26 or SAT composite of 1190. They must also be PROMISE Scholarship recipients.

Charles J. McClain Scholars were chosen based on their academic qualifications, community service activities, leadership involvement, a 450-word essay, admissions counselor recommendation and personal interview. Students who receive the Scholarship must maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and must maintain their PROMISE Scholarship eligibility. FSU awards are renewable for three years.

For more information, visit www.fairmontstate.eduor call (800) 641-5678 or (304) 367-4892.

Charles J. McClain Scholarship 2011Kelsey WhittSamuelDaniel FernandesLori Schoonmaker