D&E, Citizens Bank, WDTV partner for new scholarship

Elkins – Davis & Elkins College, Citizens Bank of West Virginia and WDTV today announced a partnership to offer a unique scholarship for West Virginia students. The new Citizens Bank of West Virginia Emerging Leaders Scholarship to Davis & Elkins College will provide four years of tuition, room and board with an approximate value of $160,000.

All 2022 West Virginia high school graduates, whether attending a public, private or homeschool, with a 3.25 or higher GPA are eligible to apply. Applicants will be required to submit an essay of between 500 and 1,500 words based on the topic, “If you receive this scholarship, how will you pay it forward to the state of West Virginia?” A list of high school and community involvement activities will also be included in the application. Submissions, accepted through November 15, can be made at www.wdtv.com and clicking on Emerging Leaders.

From the beginning of the partnership, organizers emphasized that the scholarship selection would focus on a student who exemplifies leadership and motivation, and who would have a clear idea of how they would use the scholarship opportunity to pay it forward to their home state of West Virginia. The scholarship will be added to D&E’s current annual investment of $5.4 million in West Virginia students.

“Keeping West Virginia’s best and brightest students in West Virginia is the goal of the Emerging Leader’s Scholarship, and D&E is proud to be partnering with Citizens Bank of West Virginia and WDTV,” said D&E President Chris A. Wood. “This scholarship, along with our present investment of more than $5 million in West Virginia students, is the tangible proof of our belief and commitment that the high-quality education that is the hallmark of D&E will produce the leaders this state needs for the decades ahead.”

In addition to community ties, Davis & Elkins College and Citizens Bank of West Virginia share a common bond that makes their scholarship partnership a natural choice. Citizens Bank President and Chief Executive Office Nathaniel Bonnell is a 2003 graduate of D&E. A native West Virginian, he has used the experience he gained at D&E to benefit the local community.

“Citizens Bank is excited to sponsor the Emerging Leaders Scholarship which we view as an investment in future entrepreneurs and leaders of our state,” said Bonnell. “We look forward to partnering with Davis & Elkins College and WDTV as West Virginia students are given this exciting opportunity to pursue their education and have it paid in full.” A committee of scholarship partners will score the applications and top candidates will be invited for an interview in early December.