West Virginia family endows scholarship for students in healthcare and accounting majors

A second-generation Fairmont State alumnus and his wife have created a new scholarship supporting first-generation students studying for careers in health sciences, nursing, or accounting at Fairmont State University. John and Kat Guido have established The Dr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Guido Memorial Scholarship in honor of his parents – Joseph and Therese.

“John and Kat Guido have made an enduring commitment through their gift to first-generation students,” said Dr. Anne Bolyard, Fairmont State Foundation President. “The scholarships honor John’s parents and their legacy of unfailing support to their community. These scholarships will empower Fairmont State University students to realize their aspirations to help others by entering these professions.”

 Joseph Guido attended Fairmont State for two years before enlisting in the armed forces to fight for his country during World War II. Upon his return, Joseph completed his undergraduate degree at Fairmont State and went on to earn a doctorate in dentistry from the University of Maryland. He returned to Fairmont with his wife Therese, of Baltimore, Maryland, and he served the Fairmont community as a dentist from 1951 until the mid-1980s. 

Joseph and Therese raised five children, each attending classes at Fairmont State. John graduated magna cum laude in 1982 with an accounting-focused business degree and a love for economics. John’s brothers chose advanced education in medicine and pharmacy at West Virginia University after their time at Fairmont State, and his sister earned degrees in nursing and psychology at Fairmont State before pursuing a degree in education from Virginia Tech.

John credits his father with instilling his ambition and drive, while his mother demonstrated the importance of patience. He has carried these qualities with him through his educational pursuits and into his successful career as a Certified Public Accountant. John’s wife Kat is a skilled homemaker and community volunteer, and he credits her role as a caregiver for his continued professional success and the successes of their daughter Josilyn.

When asked why they chose to support first-generation students pursuing healthcare and accounting degrees, John said “I am inspired by ambition, and I believe those who pursue challenging careers in these fields should be supported. Kat and I hope that the students who receive this scholarship are highly ambitious and can achieve the success that my siblings and I have achieved because of our time at Fairmont State.”

“We are grateful for John and Kat Guido’s generous gift. As a first-generation student myself, I know from experience that being the first in your family to go to college presents obstacles. The Dr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Guido Memorial Scholarship will help more first-generation students overcome those obstacles and succeed,” said Dr. Mike Davis, president of Fairmont State University. “On top of financial obstacles first-generation students face, accounting and healthcare are challenging majors. This generous scholarship will allow students in these fields to focus on academic success on their way to becoming exceptional accounting and healthcare professionals.”

John Guido serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Fairmont State Foundation. Josilyn, a third-generation Falcon and the daughter of John and Kat, is currently enrolled at Fairmont State and will graduate this year with a degree in studio art and a minor in digital technology and design.

The Dr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Guido Memorial Scholarship will be available to first-generation college students in their sophomore, junior, or senior years who study for degrees in the areas of health sciences, nursing, or accounting. Preference will be given to students expressing interest in becoming a physician, pharmacist, nurse, or certified public accountant in public practice. Recipients must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better.