Three High School Seniors Awarded 2016 McClain Presidential Scholarship

For the eighth 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 2016 scholarship winners:

• Elizabeth Chaney of Martinsburg, the daughter of Laura Chaney, is a student at Spring Mills High School in Berkeley County. She plans to major in Elementary Education at FSU.
• Mattison Johnson of Cairo, the daughter of Richard and Candy Johnson, is a student at Ritchie County High School in Ritchie County. She plans to major in Pre-Secondary Education-Mathematics at FSU.
• Tyler Keller of Moundsville, the son of David and Leanne Keller, is a student at John Marshall High School in Marshall County. He plans to major in Political 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 2016.
• 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. 12, 2016.
• 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:

Barbour County

• Jenna Burnett of Belington, the daughter of Jeffrey and Kimberly Burnett, attends Philip Barbour High School in Barbour County.
• Corrine McDaniel of Moatsville, the daughter of Roger and Angela McDaniel, attends Philip Barbour High School in Barbour County.

Boone County

• Rebecca Rutherford of Nellis, the daughter of Glen and Terry Rutherford, attends Sherman Senior High School in Boone County.

Braxton County

• Makila Carr of Frametown, the daughter of Julie Carr, attends Braxton County High School in Braxton County.
• Brooke Fincham of Burnsville, the daughter of Scottie and Angela Fincham, attends Braxton County High School in Braxton County.

Brooke County

• Kaylee Johnson of Wellsburg, the daughter of Joseph Johnson and April Boyd, attends Brooke High School in Brooke County.

Clay County

• Ruth Hundley of Ivydale, the daughter of Daniel and Susan Hundley, attends Clay County High School in Clay County.

Doddridge County

• Garrett Devericks of Salem, the son of Todd and Roberta Devericks, attends Doddridge County High School in Doddridge County.

Hancock County

• Sabrina Cheuvront of Chester, the daughter of Herb Cheuvront and Charla Keranen, attends Oak Glen High School in Hancock County.

Harrison County

• Hunter Davis of Clarksburg, the son of James and Lynn Davis, attends Liberty High School in Harrison County.
• Sydney Leatherman of Mount Clare, the daughter of Bryan and Mikki Leatherman, attends Bridgeport High School in Harrison County.

Jackson County

• Darby Peterson of Ripley, the daughter of Matt and Tiffany Peterson, attends Ripley High School in Jackson County.

Logan County

• Corey France of Logan, the son of Freddie and Kimberly France, attends Logan High School in Logan County.
• Hannah Workman of Verdunville, the daughter of Brian and Lois Workman, attends Logan High School in Logan County.

Marion County

• Caleb Anselene of Fairmont, the son of Rodney and Cindy Anselene, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.
• Matthias Baur of Fairmont, the son of Andreas and Alexandria Baur, is homeschooled in Marion County.
• Laura Morris of Fairmont, the daughter of Tony and Lisa Morris, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.
• Jordan Rogers of Fairmont, the daughter of Larry and Barbara Clouser, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.
• Steven Swiger of Rivesville, the son of William and Michelle Swiger, attends Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County.

Marshall County

• Roger McDiffitt of Glen Easton, the son of Steven and Lisa McDiffit, attends Cameron High School in Marshall County.
• Jared Neehouse of Cameron, the son of Brian and Mary Ann Neehouse, attends Cameron High School in Marshall County.
• Sara Quigley of Cameron, the daughter of Lawrence Quigley and Stephanie White, attends Cameron High School in Marshall County.

Mineral County

• Devon Alt of Keyser, the son of Donald Alt and Donna Brooke-Alt, attends Ridgeley High School in Mineral County.
• Julianna Butcher of Ridgeley, the daughter of Thomas and Amber Butcher, attends Frankfort High School in Mineral County.

Monongalia County

• Colby Gresak of Morgantown, the son of Martin and Elizabeth Gresak, attends Morgantown High School in Monongalia County.

Monroe County

• Dominique Cuccaro of Peterstown, the daughter of William and Ruth Cuccaro, attends James Monroe High School in Monroe County.
• Jasmine Ogle of Peterstown, the daughter of Ronald Shultz and Melissa Ogle, attends James Monroe High School in Monroe County.

Ohio County

• Rachel Bugaj of Wheeling, the daughter of Walter and Stephanie Bugaj, attends Wheeling Park High School in Ohio County.

Preston County

• Brooke Quinn of Bruceton Mills, the daughter of Robert and Teresa Quinn, attends Preston High School in Preston County.
• Sabrina Spiker of Tunnelton, the daughter of John and Jalinda Spiker, attends Preston High School in Preston County.

Raleigh County

• Jenna Meador of Daniels, the daughter of David and Amy Meador, attends Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County.
• Lily Peterson of Beckley, the daughter of Glen and Rebecca Peterson, attends Woodrow Wilson High School in Raleigh County.

Taylor County

• Brittany Bagwell of Rosemont, the daughter of Jay and Reva Bagwell, attends Grafton High School in Taylor County.

Tucker County

• Amanda Harper of Parsons, the daughter of Harold and Kimberly Harper, attends Tucker County High School in Tucker County.

Wayne County

• Shelby Adams of Huntington, the daughter of George Adams Jr. and Rhonda Napier, attends Wayne High School in Wayne County.

Webster County

• Ashley Heck of Camden on Gauley, the daughter of David and Rose Heck, attends Webster County High School in Webster County.
• Courtney King of Hacker Valley, the daughter of William David and Lori Anna King attends Webster County High School in Webster County.

Wetzel County

• Cedar Sands of New Martinsville, the daughter of Terry and Donna Sands, attends Magnolia High School in Wetzel 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 about 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 minors in Folklore Studies and Museum 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. Maroon & White Day Fall Campus Visitation for FSU is Nov. 12, 2016.

Charles J. McClain Presidential ScholarshipOffice of Admissions and RecruitmentDr. Maria RoseAmie FazalareElizabeth ChaneyMatison JohnsonTyler Keller