Three High School Students Awarded Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship

For the seventh 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 2015 scholarship winners:

• Kelsy Eaton of Vienna, the daughter of Richard and Julie Eaton, is a student at Parkersburg High School in Wood County. She plans to major in Psychology at FSU.
• Kristen Hill of Walker, daughter of Matthew and Gretchen Hill, is a student at Parkersburg South High School in Wood County. She plans to major in Business/Marketing at FSU.
• Anna Westfall of Follansbee in Brooke County, the daughter of Richard and Jill Westfall, is a student at Weirton Madonna High School in Hancock County. She plans to major in Computer Science at FSU.

“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 includes tuition, room and board and a book stipend. 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 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.   

To compete for the Presidential Scholarship, named by the FSU Board of Governors in honor of Dr. Charles J. McClain who served as FSU’s interim president from 2008-2009, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be a West Virginia student who is a member of the Class of 2015.
• Be a PROMISE Scholarship recipient.
• Submit a Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship application and essay.
• Complete an FSU admissions file (general application, high school transcript, test scores) prior to Feb. 2, 2015.
• Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher or SAT composite score of 1190 or higher (excluding writing score).
• Participate in on-campus interviews.

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

Students from across West Virginia who participated in interviews on campus were named finalists for FSU’s most prestigious scholarship. Each finalist will receive the Charles J. McClain Presidential Finalist Scholarship, which is valued at $1,500 per year and is a four-year scholarship.

The following students were named as finalists:

• Brock Acord of Cross Lanes, the son of Timothy and Sherry Acord, attends Nitro High School in Kanawha County.
• Emily Burke of Walton, the daughter of Henry and Angela Burke, attends Roane County High School in Roane County.
• Molly Clingan of Harpers Ferry, the daughter of Christopher and Melanie Clingan, attends Washington High School in Jefferson County.
• Samantha Cole of Scott Depot, the daughter of Kerry and Anna Cole, attends Winfield High School in Putnam County.
• Courtney Conley of Washington, the daughter of Harlan Conley Jr., attends Parkersburg South High School in Wood County.
• Nathan England Jr. of Mullens, the son of Nathan and Amie England, attends Wyoming East High School in Wyoming County.
• Hannah Evans of Kermit, the daughter of Hubert and Carolyn Brewer, attends Tug Valley High School in Mingo County.
• Jonathon Fedoush of Weirton, the son of Robert and Roberta Fedoush, attends Weir High School in Hancock County.
• Jordan Gray of Wheeling, the daughter of Richard and Becky Gray, attends Wheeling Park High School in Ohio County.
• Kira Guier of Kearneysville, the daughter of Steve and Linda Guier, attends Jefferson High School in Jefferson County.
• Yasmine Harrison of Morgantown, the daughter of Kenneth and Dagmar Harrison, attends University High School in Monongalia County.
• Halley McCartey of Apple Grove, the daughter of Larry and Lisa McCartey, attends Hannan Junior/Senior High School in Mason County.
• Allison Moore of Fairmont, the daughter of Henry and Jane Moore, attends East Fairmont High School in Marion County.
• Katalin Moore of Parsons, the daughter of Keith and Sheila Lipscomb, attends Tucker County High School in Tucker County.
• Ian Perry of Belle, the son of Dr. Eric and Tamara Perry, attends Riverside High School in Kanawha County.
• Sean Riggleman of Fairmont, the son of Michael and Laura Riggleman, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.
• Krista Robinson of Belington, the daughter of Tina Robinson, attends Philip Barbour High School in Barbour County.
• James Shafer of Charleston, the son of Clarence and Patricia Shafer, attends Sissonville High School in Kanawha County.
• Jacob Shockley of Morgantown, the son of Darryl and Katherine Shockley, attends Morgantown High School in Monongalia County.
• Morgan Snodgress of Spencer, the daughter of Cindy Sergeon, attends Roane County High School in Roane County.
• Matthew Strand of Fairmont, the son of Donald and Terri Strand, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.
• Carly Suplita of Fairmont, the daughter of Todd and Tiffiney Suplita, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.
• Megan Talbott of Lost Creek, the daughter of Christopher and Sharon Talbott, attends South Harrison High School in Harrison County.
• Samantha Tate of Weirton, the daughter of J. Scott and Gwen Tate, attends Weir High School in Hancock County.
• Savannah Toler of Meadow Bridge, the daughter of Steven and Kelley Fox, attends Meadow Bridge High School in Fayette County.
• Samantha Wolfe of Terra Alta, the daughter of Gary and Beth Ann Wolfe, attends Preston High School in Preston County.

All PROMISE Scholars also are eligible to participate in the Honors Program, which provides students with the opportunity to deepen their academic experience through smaller classes taught by some of the University’s finest faculty, field trips in the United States and abroad and extracurricular activities on and off campus.

“Honors students find that studying and socializing with other like-minded students helps them to make the most of their university experience,” said Dr. J. Robert Baker, Director of the Honors Program.

With an enrollment of more than 4,200, FSU offers six associate degrees, more than 80 baccalaureate degrees, as well as graduate programs in architecture, business, criminal justice and education. Unique programs include National Security and Intelligence and a minor in Folklore Studies. With approximately 200 full-time faculty, the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. The institution is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

The mission of Fairmont State University is to provide opportunities for individuals to achieve their professional and personal goals and discover roles for responsible citizenship that promote the common good. In its overarching desire to help transform lives, Fairmont State University values scholarship, opportunity, achievement and responsibility.

For more information, call (800) 641-5678 or (304) 367-4010 or visit www.fairmontstate.edu. For more information about scholarship opportunities at FSU, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/finaid/funding/scholarships. Spring Campus Visitation Day for FSU is March 28, 2015.

Charles J. McClain Presidential ScholarshipAmie FazalareJ. Robert BakerMaria RoseOffice of Admissions and RecruitmentFinancial Aidscholarships