Blackwater Falls State Park was the site of the 3rd annual Tucker Community Foundation (TCF) Scholarship Reception, an event that connects scholarship recipients with other students from around the region, their parents and guests, TCF board members, and donors who have established or support scholarship endowments.
The TCF Class of 2016 includes students from six counties and two states (West Virginia and Maryland). Competition for the awards was at an all-time high; out of the one hundred forty nine applicants only forty one students received awards ranging from $300 to $8,000.
The program is an opportunity for each student to introduce themselves and talk about their educational and career plans. Preston County graduate Kayla Ringer plans to study Radiology at Pierpont Community and Technical College. Emilea Warnick, Preston County, and Catherine A. VanMeter of Grant County both plan to pursue biomedical engineering at WVU. Katelyn Gnegy of Garrett County has been accepted into the Veterinary Medicine program at Purdue University. Mitchell Mason will continue studies in biology at Wheeling Jesuit where he is entering his junior year. Younger brother Marcus Mason is enrolled in healthy sciences at Alderson Broaddus University. David Ratzer of Randolph County plans to pursue exercise physiology at WVU. Zoe Sypolt of Tucker County will attend Potomac State to study business administration.
Elva Bible, age six and the youngest scholarship recipient, is a Tucker County resident who is home schooled. Her studies employ Christian educational principles and values qualifying her for the Gary Wilson Scholarship.
Lou Sponaugle, former TCF board member, who is fund advisor for the Martha C. Sponaugle Fund and proud grandmother of Marcus and Mitchell Mason, was in attendance along with the boy’s mother Brenda. Marcus received the Herbert W. Clarkson Scholarship and Mitchell received the Michael Shahan Scholarship. Mitchell shared his experiences and commitment to community service that followed him from Tucker County to communities in the southern part of the state.
Since the Foundation formed in 1989, it has awarded more than six million dollars in scholarship and grant awards. For more information on Tucker Community Foundation, call the main office at 304-478-2930 or the TCF Development Office at 304-259-5008.
