Unlocking Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to the WVU Bucklew Scholarship

The Neil S. Bucklew Scholarship, named after the 20th WVU president, stands as a beacon of opportunity for high-achieving West Virginia students aspiring to pursue higher education at West Virginia University (WVU). Awarded annually to 20 exceptional students, this prestigious scholarship not only provides substantial financial assistance but also recognizes and celebrates the academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to service demonstrated by its recipients.

Understanding the Bucklew Scholarship

The Bucklew Scholarship is valued at $40,000, providing its recipients with $10,000 per year over four years to be used toward educational costs. The Neil S. Bucklew Scholarship is named for a former WVU president and is valued at $60,000, providing its recipients with $15,000 per year over four years to be used toward educational costs.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the WVU Bucklew Scholarship, students must:

Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.80
Graduate from a West Virginia high school or have been home-schooled for at least their senior year in West Virginia
Be admitted to WVU as a first-time freshman by March 1st

All students who have submitted an application and all supporting documents by the listed deadline are evaluated holistically, based upon academic and non-academic information provided on their admission application. Academic components considered include high school GPA and academic honors. Non-academic items include leadership experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, employment and non-academic honors.

Application Process

To apply for the Bucklew Scholarship, students must first be admitted to WVU as a first-time freshman by March 1st. All students who have submitted an application and all supporting documents by the listed deadline are evaluated holistically, based upon academic and non-academic information provided on their admission application. Academic components considered include high school GPA and academic honors. Non-academic items include leadership experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, employment and non-academic honors.

Spotlight on Bucklew Scholars: A Diverse Tapestry of Talent

Each year, the Bucklew Scholarship welcomes a diverse cohort of talented individuals, each with unique passions, aspirations, and stories to tell. These scholars represent a wide range of academic disciplines, extracurricular activities, and personal backgrounds, united by their commitment to excellence and their desire to make a positive impact on the world.

Here are a few examples of recent Bucklew Scholars and their diverse interests:

Lane: President of his FFA team and a goat farmer who is minoring in biomedical engineering, has keen interests in chemistry and medicine, including the use of synthetic molecules in drug discovery and development.
Addie: A trumpet player and Esports enthusiast who enjoys deconstructing and rebuilding things to make them function more efficiently, including used Nerf guns.
Chen: An aspiring information security analyst, is the co-president of her high school’s Girl Up organization and a four-year tennis team member.
Honecker: A violinist and member of her cross country and track teams who has a passion for robotics, shared fond memories of driving around campus with her father to collect and repair “junk” left behind by students. Although she is unsure about her career, she is confident it will bridge her love for computers and art.
Ngo: Senior class president and an all-around athlete who plays keyboard and guitar, said he believes computer science and cybersecurity experts will play a crucial role in ensuring a safe and secure future for generations to come.
Ackon-Annan: A soccer player and track and field athlete who grew up attending STEM camps facilitated by her engineer mother, decided at the age of 4 that she wanted to work in the health care industry.
Lorimer: A unicyclist and pianist who had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, longtime interests in medicine and technology were solidified last summer while participating in the Health Careers Academy.
Bhanushali: A Mountaineer Area Robotics and high school tennis team member who plays the piano and guitar in his spare time, solidified his passion to study neurogenerative disorders last year while attending Brain Camp.
Jenna Casto: A swimmer and alto saxophone player from East Fairmont High School will major in nursing.
Sierra Menendez: President of her high school’s DECA Club and a Career Technical Education business student from Lincoln High School will major in dental hygiene.
Rachel Edinger: A talented artist and multi-winner of the Stifel Fine Arts Center Regional Student Art Exhibition from Linsly School will major in art and design with an emphasis in painting.
Kathryn Grace Frame: A French Club and theater tech crew member from Charleston Catholic High School will major in fashion, dress and merchandising and business.
Riley Moore: With a passion for telling untold stories, from Fairmont Senior High School, who has participated in musical theatre since sixth grade, will major in journalism and theatre. Cast in back-to-back lead roles her senior year, including Liesel in “The Sound of Music,” she hopes to become a producer-director for a broadcasting or musical theater company.
Isaac Brown: An avid coin collector and badminton player from Clay County High School, plans to major in mathematics and political science, a passion he discovered while volunteering his time to local political campaigns.
Connor Dorsey: From John Marshall High School, who believes he possesses the academic ability and skills needed to become a successful data scientist focused on technological innovation and artificial intelligence, will major in data science.
Max Williams: An aspiring FBI forensic pathologist, also from John Marshall High School, will major in immunology and medical microbiology, bridging his passions for forensics and medicine.
Paige Herfurth: A four-year varsity soccer player, is a biochemistry major from Washington High School who found her niche in research last summer while participating in the Werner Student Internship Program at the National Cancer Institute. She plans to work as a doctorate-level research scientist.
Sophia Bell: A cross country runner, is also planning to major in exercise physiology.
Tyson Watson: From Roane County High School, a future animal and nutritional sciences major minoring in business who lives on a farm and handles show cattle.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities for West Virginia Students

In addition to the Bucklew Scholarship, West Virginia students have access to a wide array of other scholarship opportunities to help finance their college education. These scholarships cater to various academic interests, career aspirations, and backgrounds, providing valuable financial support to deserving students.

Here are some notable scholarships available to West Virginia students:

Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement Scholarship: Awards ten $10,000 scholarships to students planning to pursue a career in agriculture, and must reside within Berkeley, Brooke, Hancock, Jefferson, Marshall, Morgan, or Ohio counties.
Ford Built Tough - $1,000 Scholarship: Students who are members of the FFA and are pursuing a two-year or four-year degree, trade school, or a vocational certificate in any major are eligible to apply.
WVU Foundation Scholarship: Covers cost of attendance as determined by Student Financial Services for up to four undergraduate years or completion of a bachelor’s degree - whichever comes first, plus a one-time $4,500 stipend for study abroad or academic enhancement. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.80 and graduate from a West Virginia high school or have been home-schooled for at least their senior year in West Virginia.
The Dream.US Opportunity Scholarship: Created for undocumented students who live in states where they effectively have no access to college - either because they face paying out-of-state tuition or because their state will simply not admit them into its universities.
Southern Coal Providers Association Scholarship: Awards six $1000 grants to full-time students who have a family member who currently or previously worked in the coal industry in southern West Virginia.
West Virginia PTA Scholarship: Awards $500 to graduating seniors in public high schools in West Virginia. The GPA requirement is a 2.0 and the application must be submitted in 12 point Times New Roman font.
The Roothbert Fund Scholarship: Supports fellows’ graduate or undergraduate study at an accredited institution based in the United States. Preference is given to candidates who reside in or attend schools in these states: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
Claire M. LaPlante Engineering Scholarship: A need-blind award of $50,000.00 to one (1) West Virginia resident completing high school and attending West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering. Applicants must have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.8 and a minimum SAT score of 1400 or a minimum ACT score of 32.
West Virginia Promise Scholarship: A merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia high school graduates planning to attend one of the state’s public or independent two- or four-year institutions. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible.
WV State Fair Junior Livestock Show Scholarships: Are five, four-year scholarships for up to $1,000 a year will be awarded to individuals who have participated in one or more of the following areas at the State Fair.
West Virginia STEM Scholarship: A student financial aid program of rewards up to $3000 designed to enable and encourage academically talented individuals to pursue careers in the fields of engineering, science, and technology in West Virginia. A 3.0 GPA is required and the student must.
WVWC Scholarship: Offers various awards for incoming students who have been accepted into West Virginia Wesleyan College. The scholarship is automatically applied after submitting an application.
Hyma & McLaughlin Chemistry Scholarship: Awards up to $3,000 of financial aid to several outstanding chemistry students, and may be renewed for up to four years of full-time study provided that the student continues to fulfill chemistry major requirements, maintains a minimum 3.5 GPA in the chemistry major and maintains a 3.25 overall GPA.
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Scholarship: Provides a $5,000 per year ($2,500 per semester) scholarship to current high school seniors who are children or grandchildren of 1) Mylan Pharmaceuticals employees who were employed full-time at the Morgantown, West Virginia location as of December 11, 2020, or 2) retired full-time employees of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Morgantown, West Virginia location.
Tucker Community Foundation Scholarships: Are a collection of various scholarships ranging in value from $500 to $8000 for high school seniors, students attending technical schools, Tucker County students attending a Christian elementary, middle or high school or being home schooled employing Christian educational principles and values, college students and other non-traditional students (e.g. adults returning to school) are encouraged to apply regardless of their field of study.
Mon Health Medical Center Foundation Scholarships: Are available to area students who have chosen to go into selected health care professions and meet scholastic and financial need requirements.
WV Invests Grant: Is a state-funded grant program that pays toward the full cost of basic tuition, mandatory fees and academic program fees for select certificate and associate degree programs at a West Virginia public two- or four-year institution.
EWV Traditional Student Scholarship: Will be awarded to a graduating high school senior; or someone earning a TASC certificate or a home-school diploma in the form of a waiver for tuition and fees associated with attendance at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
Epilepsy Reach Education Scholarship: Provides $1000 in education scholarships to assist with related expenses for trade school, college or graduate programs for people living with epilepsy.
WVU Leadership Scholarship: Is valued at $500 per academic year (fall and spring) and is awarded to incoming first-time freshmen who have achieved the highest levels of honor or leadership within certain nationally acclaimed organizations.
Michael Moore Scholarship: Consists of various amounts that will be awarded to students qualified to enroll in Early Entrance classes while attending their junior or senior year of high school in Hardy, Hampshire, or Grant County.
Harold K. Michael Scholarship: Will be awarded to one returning student of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
Albert & Nellie Heavener Nelson Scholarship: Will be awarded to five nursing students of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship: Offers a $2,500 scholarship for students and professionals changing others’ lives through wellness and beauty.
SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM: A great opportunity for Minnesota students - a week in Washington D.C. and a $10,000 scholarship.
VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship: Selects 27,000 high school students to compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives.
Hagan Scholarship: Is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients “regardless of nationality” with the opportunity to achieve their goals and graduate college debt-free.
Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholarship: Is a competitive scholarship for recent high school graduates with a passion for teaching and a history of high academic achievement, community service, and active involvement in extracurricular activities while in high school.

Maintaining Eligibility and Scholarship Renewal

To maintain eligibility for the Bucklew Scholarship and ensure renewal for subsequent years, recipients must meet certain academic requirements and adhere to WVU's policies. While specific criteria may vary, general guidelines often include:

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Maintaining a minimum GPA: Scholarship recipients are typically required to maintain a minimum overall GPA to remain eligible for renewal.
Completing a minimum number of credit hours: Students may need to complete a certain number of credit hours each semester or academic year to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.
Full-time enrollment: Enrollment as a full-time student is generally a requirement for scholarship renewal.
Adherence to WVU's code of conduct: Scholarship recipients are expected to abide by WVU's code of conduct and maintain good standing with the university.

It's important to note that specific renewal requirements can vary depending on the scholarship program. Recipients should carefully review the terms and conditions of their scholarship and consult with WVU's financial aid office for clarification.

Impact of Repeating Courses on Earned Credit Hours

Repeating courses can impact a student's earned credit hours and potentially affect scholarship renewal. While policies may vary, here are some general considerations:

Credited hours: If a student passes a course, they will receive credit hours for that course.
Withdrawals: If a student withdraws from a course after the add/drop period, they will receive a "W" on their transcript, but they will not receive credit hours for the course.
Repeating courses: Students may be able to repeat courses to improve their grades. However, the original grade and credit hours may still be factored into their GPA and earned credit hours, depending on WVU's policies.

Scholarship Deferral and Reinstatement

In certain circumstances, students may need to defer their Bucklew Scholarship for a semester or academic year. Common reasons for deferral include:

Medical leave: Students who need to take a leave of absence for medical reasons may be eligible to defer their scholarship.
Military service: Students who are called to active military duty may be able to defer their scholarship until their service is completed.
Study abroad: While study abroad experiences can be enriching, they may require a temporary deferral of the scholarship if the program is not credit-worthy or if it affects full-time enrollment status.

To defer a scholarship, students typically need to submit a Scholarship Exception Request Form with appropriate supporting documentation. The approval of deferral requests is not guaranteed and is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Circumstances Leading to Scholarship Loss

While the Bucklew Scholarship is a valuable resource, there are circumstances that can lead to its loss. These may include:

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Failure to meet renewal requirements: Not maintaining the minimum GPA or completing the required credit hours can result in the loss of the scholarship.
Violation of WVU's code of conduct: Engaging in misconduct or violating university policies can lead to scholarship revocation.
Transferring to another institution: The Bucklew Scholarship is typically only applicable to WVU and may be lost if a student transfers to another college or university.
Pursuing a second bachelor's degree or graduate studies: The scholarship is generally intended for the completion of a first bachelor's degree and may not be used for subsequent degrees.

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