WHEELING - A total of 116 Ohio Valley students are sharing $151,814 in scholarships awarded Monday by the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley.
The foundation held its annual scholarship luncheon Monday at Oglebay Park's Wilson Lodge to honor recipients and thank donors. Terry Wallace, a longtime educator and senior fellow at West Liberty University, served as the guest speaker.
The Community Foundation administers 51 scholarship funds for a variety of opportunities. Scholarships ranging in amounts from $200 to $10,000 were awarded this year to students from 17 different high schools in Ohio and West Virginia.
According to foundation Executive Director Susie Nelson, the scholarships awarded Monday were as unique as the individual donor. Scholarships were awarded for specific areas of study, such as engineering, business, nursing, teaching, coaching, communications, and music. Others were specific to the high school from which the student graduates or for the college they plan to attend.
Many of the Community Foundation's scholarships were established in memory of loved ones who were committed to their community and to the future of the young people in it.
"In this challenging economy it is extremely important to support our local students as they continue their education," Nelson said. "Scholarships of any size help our students attain their goal of higher education.
"Scholarships are a large part of the work that we do every year. The staff at the CFOV works diligently on the administration of scholarships and it is our goal to make the process as simple as possible for the donors. We work to publicize each scholarship with the proper schools, to evaluate applications, and to assist the donors in making their philanthropic wishes come to life."
Monday's event also served as an opportunity for donors to meet the students who were awarded their scholarships and celebrate their success.
The local 2012 Community Foundation Scholars include:
Beulah Meyer Scholarship
Katherine Padden, Weir High School West Virginia University
Megan Lamp, Weirton Madonna High School West Virginia University
Italian Festival Foundation Scholarship
Nicole Cheek West Virginia Northern Community College
Jennifer Ferguson, Oak Glen High School West Liberty University
Kaylee LaPosta, Weir High School Chatham University
Joshua Marosi, Brooke High School West Virginia University
Michael Mastromichalis, Weir High School Ohio State University
Megan Salatino, Brooke High School West Virginia University
Bethany Tinstman, Buckeye Local High School Waynesburg College
Casey Wiltshire, Buckeye Local High School Waynesburg College
AAUW Beulah Boyd Scholarship
Alan Didion West Virginia University
Joseph Zollars Berklee College of Music
Bryson Waller Belmont College
Chad Rothermund
Eric Knuth Wheeling Jesuit University
Travis Clark Ohio State University
Vanessa DeBlasis Wheeling Jesuit University
Dana Holmstrand William & Mary College
Chelsea Jorden West Virginia University
Daniel Knight West Virginia University
Stephen Knight Pennsylvania State University
Mallory Morris West Virginia University
Matthew Nguyen Marshall University
Brandon Polanski West Liberty University
Matthew Saseen West Virginia University
Rebecca Torsell Belmont College
Richard Heagin Memorial Scholarship
Mary Ann Stephens Belmont College
Rachael Worby Scholarship
Harrison Loh West Virginia University
