Scholarships
Nicholas County residents are generous and committed to helping others succeed in life through education. Our donors entrust us with the management of their scholarship funds. We in turn find the best candidates to fit the criteria they designate and we manage the selection process. Amounts vary from year to year and some scholarships may be renewable for up to four years.
Apply for a Scholarship
The application deadline for high school scholarship applications is annually April 1st. The Reed Expanding Horizons Scholarship is due April 1st.
Most of the scholarships are on the main application, listed as the NCCF Scholarship link, only Tomsho, McClung and Reed have separate application links. Please call (304) 872-0202 or email [email protected] if you have any questions about our scholarship application or selection process.
Scholarship Terms & Conditions
2024 Fred Reed Expanding Horizons Scholarship Application
2024 Margaret Pennington Memorial Scholarship
The Nicholas County Community Foundation will award the following scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year. They are:
Belinda Luzia McClung Trade Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to a student from Nicholas County, WV currently enrolled as a full time student in a post-secondary training, certification or a degree program designed to teach the student a skill for a specific trade or segment of employment.. It is designed to assist a hard working student from a working class family. Criteria which may be considered include the applicant’s desire and capacity to learn and work in the chosen field. This scholarship is for one year.
Bertha Fitzwater and Mary Lunter Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship is available to students who are graduates of Nicholas County High School in Nicholas County, WV or its successor with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, who are not eligible for the Promise Scholarship. The scholarship is applicable to tuition in a full time, post-secondary education. Eligible programs include two or four-year degree programs or trade or certificate programs. Criteria include the student’s desire and capacity to learn and work the chosen field as well as the student’s range of school and community activities. This is a one time scholarship, payable in the spring semester, after successfully completing one semester in the post secondary program with at least a 2.5 GPA. Essay: Should highlight the student’s educational goals and career plans as well as why receiving a scholarship is important.
Christopher Yagel Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to a student from Nicholas County High School who participated in band or soccer for at least one year. Eligible programs include full time, two or four-year degree programs. This is a one time scholarship, payable in the spring semester, after successfully completing one semester in the post secondary program with at least a 2.5 GPA. No essay requirement. No essay requirement.
Expanding Horizons Fund, Created by Fred and Barbara Reed – The scholarship is open to all children residing in Nicholas County, West Virginia, who are thirteen (13) through eighteen (18) years of age in support of residential camping or learning experiences that will enhance or improve the students’ educational capacity, skill, talent or appreciation for cultural diversity. Eligible activities include but are not limited to programs such as educational camps, youth leadership programs and sports camps, with preference given to non sectarian programs.
HC White Family Fund – This scholarship will be awarded to a student from Nicholas County High School. Eligible programs include full time, two or four-year degree programs. This is a one time scholarship, payable in the spring semester, after successfully completing one semester in the post secondary program with at least a 2.5 GPA.
Essay: Should highlight the student’s educational goals and career plans as well as why receiving a scholarship is important.
Ivy & Stone Council for the Arts Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to up to two (2) students residing in Nicholas County entering a WV post-secondary school. Applicants must have a cumulative high school (or equivalent) GPA of NO less than 2.5 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better for any Fine or Performing Arts classes taken during their high school career. Eligible programs include full time, two or four-year degree programs with a major in an Arts or Arts Education Program. This is a one-time scholarship, may be eligible to reapply up to four years, renewal contingent upon re-application and funding availability.
Essay: One page typed expressing the intent to further their education in the arts and showing clear evidence of the quality and quantity of their artistic endeavors. This essay should also clearly communicate the student’s passion for the arts and highlight a strong work ethic and financial need.
James and Elizabeth Skidmore Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to a student from Richwood High School. Eligible programs include full time, two or four-year degree programs. This is a one time scholarship, payable in the spring semester, after successfully completing one semester in the post secondary program with at least a 2.5 GPA. No essay requirement.
John Gary Tomsho Memorial Scholarship – A scholarship in memorial of Dr. Mark Tomsho’s brother, John Gary Tomsho. This is a one-time scholarship, eligible to reapply for up to four years, with renewal contingent upon re-application and funding availability. This scholarship is intended for a student or perspective student who left high school for whatever reason, then returned to school to obtain his or her diploma or completed a GED or TASK program. The student may attend a 2 or 4 year degree program, trade or certificate program. Applicants will be required to complete and application and personal essay.
Lavy Family Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to two students from Richwood High School (one male and one female) with a 2.0 GPA or greater with a strong desire to complete a post-secondary education. Eligible programs include full-time two or four-year degree programs and full-time diploma or certificate programs. This is a one-time scholarship payment. Essay: Should highlight educational and career goals, as well as how financial assistance is vital in receiving a post-secondary education.
Margaret Pennington Memorial Scholarship – This fund will provide a scholarship annually to a deserving student from Fayette County to further their education in any two-year, four-year or trade program in West Virginia. The scholarship should first go to a Fayette County student. If none apply, then Greenbrier County Student, if none apply then Nicholas County student. The student must show evidence prior to scholarship payment that they have been accepted into their program/school of continuing education prior to scholarship payment being made. This is a one-time scholarship, payable in the fall semester. A short essay with the student’s educational and career goals must be included.
Paul Nettles Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship is open to graduates of Richwood High School, in Nicholas County, West Virginia, or its successor. Applicants must have participated in three consecutive seasons of the same school sponsored and SSAC sanctioned sport, excluding cheerleading and competitive dance. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent GPA. Applicant will pursue full-time, post-secondary education in a major that will prepare the student for a career in the health care or STEM related field. Eligible programs include two- or four-year degrees and /or certification programs in a health care or STEM related discipline. Students applying for this scholarship should focus their essay on the topic: “What life lessons have you learned through your participation in sports and how will it influence your life going forward?” Other criteria which may be considered include the student’s desire and capacity to learn and work in the chosen field as well as the student’s range of school and community activities; however, the Paul Nettles Memorial Scholarship is primarily an athletic scholarship for dedicated high school athletes. Financial need and the amount of financial aid and scholarships offered to the applicant may be taken into consideration. This is a one time scholarship, payable in the spring semester, after proof of registration and fall semester grades are provided to the NCCF. If funds are available, previous recipients of the Paul Nettles Memorial Scholarship who are in graduate studies are invited to apply for a second award.
Seelinger Family Foundation Fund Entrepreneurial Scholarship –Tthis scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from both Richwood High School and Nicholas County High School who demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit through his or her enterprising ideas for raising money for education, family and/or charities. This scholarship is currently valued at $1000/year for up to four years (contingent on eligibility).
Essay: How will your entrepreneurship experience, work experience or volunteer experience benefit you in your education and future career?
Walter “Lee” Hornsby Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior from Nicholas County High School. Eligibility includes majoring in a full time 4-year Engineering Program in West Virginia and a cumulative high school GPA of no less than 2.5 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for any Engineering classes in high school. Essay: Should express intent to further their education in engineering, communicating student’s passion for engineering and highlighting strong work ethic and financial need.
Help Students Succeed
Some scholarships were started by families or individuals; others by businesses, organizations or groups of individuals with a common vision. All scholarships share one goal: helping young people reach their educational goals. Each scholarship is distinct and recipients are selected in accordance with criteria established by the donor. Scholarship funds may be established outright with a gift of $20,000 or they may be built over a period of five years starting with a donation of $4,000. Contact us to learn how we can help you, help local students achieve their dreams.