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. The guidance counselors will also have copies of the application in their office at that time. Please call (304) 872-0202 or email [email protected] if you have any questions about our scholarship application or selection process.
Scholarship Terms & Conditions
The Nicholas County Community Foundation will award the following scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year. They are:
Seelinger Family Foundation Fund Entrepreneurial Scholarship– this 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 for up to four years (contingent on eligibility). Students applying for this scholarship should focus their essay on the topic: “How will your entrepreneurship experience, work experience or volunteer experience benefit you in your education and future career?”
Paul Nettles Memorial Scholarship -this scholarship will be awarded to a student from Richwood High School, who has participated in at least one school sponsored sport for at least three consecutive seasons. Eligible programs include full time, two or four year degree programs. 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?” This scholarship will become payable after successfully completing one semester in the post secondary program with at least a 2.5 GPA.
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 scholarship will become payable after successfully completing one semester in the post secondary program with at least a 2.5 GPA. This scholarship is for one year.
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 scholarship is for one year. No essay requirement.
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 scholarship is for one year. Essay: Should highlight the students educational goals and career plans as well as why receiving a scholarship is important
Bertha Fitzwater and Mary Lunter Memorial Scholarship – 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 scholarship is for one year and will be awarded to a student who is not eligible for the Promise Scholarship. Essay: Should highlight the students educational goals and career plans as well as why receiving a scholarship is important.
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.
2023 McClung Scholarship Application
Ivy & Stone Council for the Arts Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to a student from Nicholas County, WV enrolling in an Arts or Arts Education Program at a 2 or 4 year college or university in WV. This scholarship award is for one year and renewable up to eight (8) semesters; provided eligibility criteria are maintained.
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.
John Gary Tomsho Memorial Scholarship- A scholarship in memorial of Dr. Mark Tomsho’s brother, John Gary Tomsho. The award is for one year and renewable. 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.
2023 Tomsho Scholarship Application
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.
2023 Reed Expanding Horizons Scholarship Application
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 scholarship is for one year. Essay: Should highlight educational and career goals, as well as how financial assistance is vital in receiving a post-secondary education.
Walter “Lee” Hornsby Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior or nontraditional student residing in Nicholas County. 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.