2013 Winners of Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship Announced

For the fifth consecutive year, three West Virginia high school seniors have been named as recipients of Fairmont State University’s premier academic scholarship, the Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship.

The following students have been selected as scholarship winners:

Jacob Buckland

James Jesmer

Kyndra Lantz

• Jacob Buckland, the son of Michael and Pamela Buckland, is a student at Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County. He plans to major in Pre-Pharmacy at FSU.
• James Jesmer, the son of Mark and Anita Jesmer, is a student at Bridgeport High School in Harrison County. He plans to major in Architecture at FSU.
• Kyndra Lantz, the daughter of Donnie and Sherry Lantz, is a student at Robert C. Byrd High School in Harrison County.  She plans to major in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Math at FSU.

Students from 19 counties in West Virginia were selected as finalists for FSU’s most prestigious scholarship:

• Matthew Hunter of Philippi, who attends Philip Barbour High School in Barbour County;
• Michael Keller of Bunker Hill, who attends Musselman High School in Berkeley County;
• Bethany Buckner of Madison, who attends Scott High School in Boone County;
• Jonathan Collins of Millstone, who attends Calhoun County Middle/High School in Calhoun County;
• Alexis Cayton of West Union, who attends Doddridge County High School in Doddridge County;
• Nicole Sheaves of Meadow Bridge, who attends Meadow Bridge High School in Fayette County;
• Jessica Jones of Glenville, who attends Gilmer County High School in Gilmer County;
• Brooke Shockey of Moorefield, who attends Moorefield High School in Hardy County;
• Emily Buchanan of Bridgeport, who attends Grafton High School in Taylor County;
• Francis Kingston of Bristol, who attends Liberty High School in Harrison County;
• Amanda Stoner of Harpers Ferry, who attends Jefferson High School in Jefferson County;
• Andrew Edwards of Fairmont, who attends East Fairmont High School in Marion County;
• Rachel Van Osdol of Fairmont, who is homeschooled in Marion County;
• David Klug of Cameron, who attends Cameron High School in Marshall County;
• Hannah Roberts of Wheeling, who attends Wheeling Park High School in Ohio County;
• Kelsey Claypool of Buckhannon, who attends Buckhannon-Upshur High School in Upshur County;
• Ashley Hawkins of Buckhannon, who attends Buckhannon-Upshur High School in Upshur County;
• Daniel Henever of Franklin, who attends Pendleton County High School in Pendleton County;
• Tyler Groves of Bruceton Mills, who attends Preston High School in Preston County;
• Haley Rocha of Aurora, who attends Preston High School in Preston County;
• Justin Robson of Hurricane, who attends Winfield High School in Putnam County;
• Ruby Morris of Reader, who attends Valley (Wetzel) High School in Wetzel County;
• Andrew Cook of Pineville, who attends Wyoming County East High School in Wyoming County.

“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,” said Dr. Maria Rose, FSU President. “At FSU, we take seriously our commitment to give our students exactly what they need to be successful in our changing global economy. Fairmont State University is a place where teaching and learning matter and every student can ‘be First.’ By ‘be First,’ we mean FSU provides students with chances to create their own ‘firsts’ based on their personal goals. All students should have the chance to expand their horizons.”

The competitive scholarship covers tuition and fees, room and board and a $1,000 textbook stipend. This is the fifth 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 its student during the school’s spring awards assembly.

The McClain Scholars will receive priority registration for Orientation and will 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.

“The Office of Admissions and Recruitment is very pleased with the highly qualified candidates this year who interviewed for the Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship, our top scholarship,” said Amie Fazalare, Director of Admissions and Recruitment.  “I would like to personally thank Deidre Dillon with the organization of the interview process for each candidate and all of the faculty, staff and admissions counselors who assisted with the interviews.” 

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 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. The deadline to apply for the Charles J. McClain Scholarship is in February each year.

For more information, call (800) 641-5678 or (304) 367-4892. For more information about scholarship opportunities at FSU, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/finaid/funding/scholarships.

 

Charles J. McClain Presidential ScholarshipJames JesmerKyndra LantzJacob BucklandAlexis CaytonMatthew HunterMichael KellerBethany BucknerJonathan CollinsNicole SheavesJessica JonesBrooke ShockeyEmily BuchananFrancis KingstonAmanda StonerAndrew EdwardsRachel VanOsdolDavid KlugHannah RobertsDaniel HeneverTyler GrovesHaley RochaJustin RobsonKelsey ClaypoolAshley HawkinsRuby MorrisAndrew Cook