Foundation awards over $64,000 scholarships to area students

The Tucker Community Foundation recently awarded over $64,000 in scholarships to 39 area students in seven counties. Funds for the awards are generated by endowed funds, pass-through donations, and unrestricted income managed by the Foundation.

The top scholarship awards went to Tucker County High School graduates Nathaniel Rader and Carleigh Bolyard and Preston County High School graduates Sidney Harsh and Erika Ritchey.

Rader is the recipient of a $2,000 four-year renewable Elliott Kepler and Alice Mae Degler Smith Scholarship award. He plans to attend West Virginia University to study immunology and medical microbiology. Rader is the son of Ed and Diane Rader of Davis.

Bolyard is the recipient of $4,000 from the Rebecca Ann Chenoweth Memorial Scholarship Fund. She plans to attend West Virginia Wesleyan College to study nursing. She is the daughter of Todd Bolyard and Michele Crosten of Parsons.

Harsh is the recipient of a $4,350 scholarship from the P.L. & Elizabeth Cook Milkint Scholarship Fund. She plans to attend West Virginia University to study nursing. Harsh is the daughter of Doyle and Catherine Harsh of Eglon.

Ritchey is the recipient of a $4,350 scholarship from the P.L. & Elizabeth Cook Milkint Scholarship Fund. She plans to attend Potomac State College to study pre-veterinary medicine. She is the daughter of Tommy and Candy Ritchey of Eglon.

Other students receiving scholarship awards include:

Keeton Taylor of Oakland is a recipient of $3,000 from the H. Max Price Scholarship Fund. He is in his third year of college at the University of Maryland University College and is majoring in network security. Taylor is the son of Steve and Greta Taylor.

Madeline Graham, of Preston County High School, is a recipient of $2,500 from the Preston High School American Legion Scholarship Fund. She plans to attend West Virginia University to study business hospitality and tourism management. Graham is the daughter of Denzil and Shelley Graham of Albright.

Courtnie Fultz, of Preston County High School, is a recipient of $2,500 from the Preston High School American Legion Scholarship Fund. Fultz plans to attend Fairmont State University to study psychology. She is daughter of Rodney and Kelley Fultz of Terra Alta.

Andrew Nelson, of Marshall University, is a recipient of $2,100 from the Dr. Mary Alice Klein Scholarship Fund. He is in his second year in the Education Leadership Doctoral Program. Nelson lives in Aurora with his wife and three children.

Natalie Josimovich of Coalton is a recipient of $2,100 from the Crimson Shamrock Fund. Josimovich plans to attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati to pursue a Master’s of Art in Art Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from Davis & Elkins College in 2015. During the past two years Josimovich has been teaching art in Randolph County schools.

Destiny Meador, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $2,000 from the Harry L. & Elizabeth A. Boyce Scholarship Fund. Meador plans to attend Cornell University to study plant biology. She is the daughter of Andrew and Vaia Meador.

Katelyn Gnegy of Oakland is a recipient of $2,000 from the Joyce Colbert Veterinary Scholarship Fund. She is in her third year of veterinary school at Purdue University. She is the daughter of Daniel and Mary Gnegy.

Cecily Strawderman, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,800 from the Michael Shahan Scholarship Fund. Strawderman plans to attend Fairmont State University to study elementary education. She is the daughter of Randal and Julie Strawderman.

Jordan Moss, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,500 from the Enos, Delbert H. & Shirley W. Carr Scholarship Fund. Moss plans to attend West Virginia University to study elementary education. She is the daughter of Dale and Danielle Moore.

Lucas Berg, of Petersburg High School, is the first recipient of $1,500 from the Randall H. Alt Memorial Scholarship Fund. Berg plans to attend the West Virginia Institute of Technology in Beckley to pursue a degree in civil engineering. He is the son of Marty and Amy Berg of Petersburg.

Trenton Helmick, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,350 from the Parsons High School Alumni Scholarship Fund. Helmick plans to attend Fairmont State University to study nursing. He is the son of JR and Tammy Helmick.

Sydney Nestor, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,350 from the Parsons High School Alumni Scholarship Fund. Nestor plans to attend Fairmont State University to study physical therapy. She is the daughter of Randall and Robyn Nestor.

Jack Melnick, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,200 from the Doug & Betty Preble Scholarship Fund. Melnick plans to attend West Virginia University to study engineering. He is the son of Jeff and Ruth Melnick.

Bayli Helmick, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,200 from the Orr Family Fund. Helmick plans to attend Davis & Elkins College to study English. She is the daughter of Kevin and Donna Helmick.

Kristin Wolfe, of Union Educational Complex, is a recipient of $1,200 from the Kline, Evans, Allison Scholarship Fund. Wolfe plans to attend West Virginia University to pursue a degree in physics and political science. She is daughter of Jeremy and Michelle Wolfe of Mount Storm.

Sydney Moore, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,100 from the W. Denzel & Ernestine A. Kee Scholarship Fund. Moore plans to attend Fairmont State University to study nursing. She is the daughter of Robert and Rebecca Moore.

Matthew Allen, of Preston County High School, is a recipient of $1,100 from the Knights of Pythias Brown Lodge #32. Allen will attend West Virginia Wesleyan College to study applied physics. Allen is the son of Jim and Kathy Allen of Newburg.

Talan Schoonover, of Elkins High School, is a recipient of $1,000 from the Mark Hutchison / David Cosner Scholarship Fund. Schoonover plans to attend the Robert C. Byrd Institute to pursue a degree in the Machinist Technology/CNC program. He is son of Timothy and Leslie Schoonover.

Elizabeth King, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,000 from the Bradley J. Ramsey Memorial Scholarship Fund. King plans to attend West Virginia University to study graphic design and minor in business. She is the daughter of Robert and Kathy King.

Angela Bohon, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $1,000 from the Margaret Ann & James A. Grafton Fund. Bohon plans to pursue a doctorate of nursing practitioner at West Virginia University. She is the daughter of Marvin and Sandra Bohon.

Allison Harman, of Petersburg High School, is a recipient of $1,000 from the Crimson Shamrock Scholarship Fund. Harman plans to attend Marshall University to study exercise science. She is daughter of Brent and Becky Harman.

Nikki Cannon, of Frankfort High School, is the recipient of $1,000 scholarship from the Tucker Community Foundation Directors’ General Scholarship Fund. Cannon plans to attend West Virginia University to study pre-medicine and music performance. Her parents are Christopher and Shannon Cannon.

Olivia Ferguson, of Elkins High School, is a recipient of $800 from the Joseph R. Steffl Scholarship Fund. Ferguson plans to attend West Virginia University to study pharmacy. She is daughter of Jeff and Julie Ferguson.

Shaina Morgan, of Elkins High School, is a recipient of $800 from Joseph R. Steffl Scholarship Fund. Morgan plans to attend West Virginia University to study elementary education and mathematics. She is daughter of Mark and Ruth Morgan.

Cora Hedrick, of Pocahontas High School, is the recipient of $800 scholarship from the Joseph R. Steffl Scholarship Fund. Hedrick plans to attend Glenville State College to study forest technology. Her parents are Charles and Sarah Hedrick.

Luck Poling, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $750 from the Herbert W. Clarkson Scholarship. Poling plans to attend West Virginia University to study exercise physiology. He is the son of Matt and Becky Poling.

Abigail Long, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $750 from the Herbert W. Clarkson Scholarship. Long plans to attend Shepherd University to study biochemistry. She is the daughter of John and Karen Long.

Dominique Meadows, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $700 from the Martha C. Sponaugle Scholarship. Meadows plans to attend West Virginia Wesleyan College to study psychology. She is the daughter of Rachel Aker.

Emily Crosten, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $700 from the Jillian Roberts & Matilde Villalobos Millennium Scholarship. Crosten plans to attend Fairmont State University to study nursing. She is the daughter of Greg and Kellie Crosten.

Jacob Beavers, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $650 from the Harold W. & Ruth F. Shaffer Scholarship. Beavers plans to attend Potomac State College to study wildlife and fisheries resource. He is the son of John and Judy Beavers.

Natalie Evans, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $650 from the Harold W. & Ruth F. Shaffer Scholarship. Evans plans to attend Fairmont State University to study elementary education. She is the daughter of Chopper and Barbie Evans.

David Kines, of Tucker County High School, is a recipient of $600 from the Walter & Mary Shaffer Helmick Scholarship. Kines plans to attend West Virginia University to study dentistry. He is the son of Dr. Don and Sheryl Kines.

Paityn Clower of Parsons is the recipient of $600 from the Gary E. Wilson Fund. Clower is homeschooled and uses the Christian Light Education Publications program. She is the daughter of Daniel and Heather Clower.

Seth Dotson, of Tucker County High School, is the recipient of $500 from the Forrest G. Clark Scholarship. Dotson plans to attend West Virginia University to study physics. He is the son of Frank and Christina Dotson.

Kaylin Arbaugh, of Petersburg High School, is a recipient of $500 from the Madeline R. & Lester E. Miller Scholarship Fund. Arbaugh plans to attend West Virginia University to study exercise physiology. She is daughter of Steven and Kim Arbaugh of Seneca Rocks.

A complete list of 2018 scholarship recipients can be found www.tuckerfoundation.net/scholarships/2018-scholarship-awards/. Scholarships are awarded based on a competitive application process. The Foundation received over 180 applications during the 2018 scholarship cycle.

The Tucker Community Foundation manages more than 120 endowed funds providing annual scholarships and grants to nonprofits and charitable causes throughout the eight-county service area. Inspired by the flood of 1985, the mission of the Foundation is to create opportunities for the communities we serve. For more information on scholarship program or to learn about the foundation, visit www.tuckerfoundation.net.