LEWISBURG, W.Va. – Twenty West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) students will worry a little less about the financial burden of medical school because of three organizations who have provided scholarships through the WVSOM Foundation, the school’s nonprofit office responsible for charitable and philanthropic efforts.
The WVSOM Foundation hosted a reception on Aug. 4 on the Lewisburg, W.Va., campus celebrating the Maier Foundation, the Encova Foundation and the Stephen C. Shy, D.O., MBA, Memorial Scholarship recipients.
A total of $89,500 was awarded for the 2025-26 academic year through the three organizations.
Donette Mizia, WVSOM’s executive director of foundation relations, said it’s heartwarming to witness the gratitude students have for easing their school debt, which can only be accomplished through generous donors who understand the importance of investing in future physicians.
“We’re grateful to the Maier Foundation, Encova Foundation and Dr. Stephen Shy Sr.’s family and partners for their commitment to our students and their futures. These donors represent the best kind of partnership — one where philanthropy, community impact and education intersect,” Mizia said. “Their generosity not only alleviates some of the financial pressures of medical school but reinforces the value of investing in physicians who will serve our region and areas across the country that are seeing physician shortages similar to West Virginia’s.”
Since 2021, the Maier Foundation — a private, nonprofit charitable corporation based in Charleston, W.Va., that focuses on higher education — has challenged the WVSOM Foundation with an escalating scholarship match. The challenge grant requires the foundation to raise funds for scholarship endowments or for current use. Upon completion of each challenge, a matching contribution is made to the Dr. Olen E. Jones Jr. Scholarship to benefit WVSOM students.
Maier Foundation scholarship recipients for the current academic year were Kevin Arguelles Dominguez, Logan Boggs, Juanita Brand, Alexandra Brehm, David Brooks, Colby Eilerman, Megan McCullough, Hunter McWilliams and Abigail Ross, all from the Class of 2029.
The Encova Foundation created scholarships funded by an endowment at WVSOM in 2016, when the organization was known as the BrickStreet Foundation. The Encova Foundation of West Virginia is a charitable arm of the Columbus-based Encova Insurance, which also funds the Encova Foundation of Ohio.
Encova Foundation scholarship recipients for the current academic year were Class of 2026 students Patrick Michael Farry II and Sierra Wright; Class of 2027 students Jacob Bartlett, Jacqueline Cole, Barbara Pridemore and Leya Zarrelli; Class of 2028 student Evan Ballard; and Class of 2029 students Abigail Paul, Japneet Sarai and Jonathan Sweeney.
The Stephen C. Shy, D.O., MBA, Memorial Scholarship endowment was established in honor of WVSOM alumnus Stephen C. Shy, D.O., who passed away in 2020 but left behind a legacy of health care service that extended far beyond his Huntington, W.Va., home base. His son, Stephen Shy II, D.O., a WVSOM Class of 2001 graduate, business partner Robert Hess, M.D., and other OVP Health administrators, including his other son Stacey, were the impetus behind the scholarship.
This was the second year the scholarship was awarded. This year’s recipient was Ethan Hahn, a member of WVSOM’s Class of 2029 and a Cabell County, W.Va., resident.
He said he was interested to learn that WVSOM provided a scholarship opportunity to Cabell County students to help offset the cost of medical school.
“The opportunities WVSOM provides are huge, especially for scholarships,” Hahn said. “It’s not cheap to get through medical school, and this school wants everyone to be able to get through it. They don’t want money to hold students back. Even with things like club memberships or books, this school always provides a way for students to get what they need.”
WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said financial gifts by nonprofits and businesses are important to ensure that tomorrow’s health care leaders can provide exceptional patient care.
“Our financial partners are the driving force behind the WVSOM Foundation. Their generosity keeps us motivated and inspires us to continue providing a quality medical education to future physicians,” he said. “The impact these scholarship dollars have on students is profound. Some people may not realize how costly medical school in the U.S. has become, but for the supporters and donors who do, we want to celebrate their kindness. This reception is a small way to acknowledge the positive impact donations make for our students.”
WVSOM is a national leader in educating osteopathic physicians for primary care medicine in rural areas. Visit WVSOM online at www.wvsom.edu.