HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Ten students from West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky were selected in Marshall University’s 40th group of Yeager Scholars.
The Society of Yeager Scholars selects “high-achieving” high school students each year and supports them financially with a scholarship package. This year’s class was revealed in a release this week. Those students will begin their college education in Huntington this fall.
Marshall officials expressed excitement about the students set to come to Huntington. Honors College assistant dean Cara Bailey also serves as the director of the Society of Yeager Scholars.
“The students in our new class demonstrate that Marshall University continues to attract and support the best scholars in the country,” Bailey said. “As we celebrate this 40th cohort, we not only honor the legacy of the program but also anticipate the meaningful ways these students will shape the future.”
The university said the students will log community service hours, study abroad, and experience interdisciplinary coursework. The Yeager Scholars will be mentored by faculty and program alumni as well, in addition to becoming members of Marshall University’s Honors College.
Dean Brian Hoey leads the Honors College. He expressed enthusiasm for these students to get started.
“These students have already distinguished themselves through exceptional achievement, but the true promise of the Society of Yeager Scholars lies in how its students choose to use their gifts,” Hoey said. “As we welcome this 40th cohort, we celebrate not only their accomplishments, but the knowledge, empathy and sense of responsibility they will bring to a world that abundantly needs thoughtful and principled leaders.”
The incoming class of Yeager Scholars is named to honor Lt. General Anthony (Tony) and Kimberly Crutchfield. Both are alumni of Marshall University and have supported the Yeager Scholars program for years.
Tony Crutchfield graduated from Marshall in 1982, and went on to serve for three decades in the U.S. Army. Kimberly also graduated in 1982, and taught for many years connected to the military at many different levels: middle, high school, college, and adult education.
The Class of 2030 includes six West Virginians:
– Cabell Midland High School graduate Taelor Jones, who plans to major in History.
– Winfield High School graduate Rachel Lawson, who plans to major in Biology.
– Logan High School graduate Trinity McDevitt, who plans to major in English.
– Hampshire High School graduate Ariel Smith, who plans to major in Civil Engineering.
– Hurricane High School graduate Ashton Warner, who plans to major in Biochemistry.
– Huntington High School graduate Bennett Weimer, who plans to major in Finance.
There are four other members of the class, three from Ohio and another from Kentucky:
– Wheelersburg (Ohio) High School’s Elijah Brown, who plans to major in Biology.
– Fairland (Ohio) High School’s Emily Ferguson, who plans to major in Biology.
– Frankfort (Kentucky) High School’s Alana Victoria Romero Lozano, who plans to major in Health Sciences
– St. Joseph Central Catholic (Ohio) High School’s Gavin Simpson, who plans to major in Biochemistry.