CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Applications are now being accepted from high school juniors in West Virginia who would one day like to go to college at West Virginia Wesleyan — all expenses paid.
The 2015 MVB Bank West Virginia Scholar Program launched Wednesday.
Coming up in June, a four-year, $125,000 scholarship for undergraduate study at West Virginia Wesleyan, located in Buckhannon, that includes tuition, fees, room and board will be awarded to a current 11th grade student.
The winning scholar must enroll for the Fall 2016 semester.
“We hear from students all the time, the ones that win this award or are finalists for this award, they say, ‘I never thought I had a chance to get something like that and someone encouraged me to do it,'” said John Waltz, director of admissions at West Virginia Wesleyan.
“We certainly would tell peers, friends, parents, guidance counselors, everyone to encourage students statewide to fill out this application.”
Beyond the grand prize, there are additional scholarship awards for finalists. The second prize is a four-year, $5,000 scholarship at West Virginia Wesleyan, while the third prize is a four-year, $2,500 scholarship at West Virginia Wesleyan.
Applications can be submitted through Apr. 10 here.
“The earlier they can do that the better. They get it out of the way,” Waltz said. “It’s a free program. It’s not something that costs the student any money. They’re also getting a free application to West Virginia Wesleyan.”
Those applications will be reviewed and up to 15 semifinalists will be announced on Apr. 24. An interview process will follow that announcement. Up to 10 finalists will then be introduced on May 24. Between then and June 14, votes for the finalists will be cast online.
On June 16, the winner will be announced during a luncheon at West Virginia Wesleyan.
“It’s amazing. It’s inspirational. It makes me excited for the future of West Virginia,” Aly Goodwin Gregg, chief marketing officer for MVB Bank, said of past scholarship applicants. “To keep the caliber of the kids who are applying for this scholarship in the state of West Virginia at a premier institution like West Virginia Wesleyan College is fantastic.”
In addition to MVB Bank, West Virginia Wesleyan and MetroNews, the sponsors for the 2015 West Virginia Scholar Program, now in its 7th year, are the West Virginia Homebuilders Association, West Virginia Forestry Association, the West Virginia Hospital Association and Friends of Coal.