Ravenswood student named next West Virginia Scholar, receives full-ride scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College

News Release
June 24, 2021

Buckhannon, W.Va. – Today, on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Julia McCoy, of Ravenswood, was announced as the winner of the 14th annual West Virginia Scholar Program.

McCoy plans to pursue nursing and will receive a full four-year tuition, fees, room and board scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College upon her enrollment for the Fall 2022 semester. She was selected from a group of 15 finalists and over 60 total applicants, representing 28 counties in West Virginia.

“We are excited to honor Julia McCoy as 2021 West Virginia Scholar awardee. We are thrilled to offer her a full four-year scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan,” said Joel Thierstein, J.D., Ph.D., President of West Virginia Wesleyan. “I want to congratulate all of the West Virginia Scholar participants for all the amazing work they have done.”

Entering her senior year at Ravenswood High School, McCoy is a member of the National Honor Society, active in 4-H where she has served as president for the past three years and been named 4-H Member of the Year. McCoy is also a four-year member of the school’s volleyball team, and a two-year member of the tennis team where she is also captain. An honor roll student, she has been student council secretary for three years.

“I feel really blessed that I have been able to get this,” McCoy shared just moments after she learned she had won this year’s WV Scholar Program. “I know I will make the most of it and it will be an amazing opportunity.”

WVWC will also award $5,000 and $2,500 scholarships to Keely Gregory, of Bruceton Mills, and Danica Propst, of Martinsburg, as the first and second runner-up, respectively. Gregory will serve as vice president of the National Honors Society in her senior year and has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll the last three years. Propst is a member of the West Virginia Kids COUNT Youth Advisory Program, a tutor, a Lady of the Golden Horseshoe Society and a member of the Berkeley County Leadership Council.

The average GPA of this year’s finalists was 3.9. In addition to the three winners, all 15 finalists qualify to receive the Presidential Scholarship, the top academic scholarship for new students, to attend WVWC in Fall 2022. Over the previous 13 years of the West Virginia Scholar Program, approximately two-thirds of finalists have gone on to attend WVWC. Previous winners and finalists are now enjoying successful careers in health care, law, business and education.

West Virginia Scholar applications were open online at wvmetronews.com from Feb. 15 through April 30. All West Virginia high school juniors were eligible to apply with a transcript and an essay. The SAT/ACT requirement was waived this year due to COVID-19. WVWC released the names of the 15 finalists on May 17, which can be viewed here. Ranking of the finalists is determined by WVWC, sponsors of the West Virginia Scholar Program and online voting. The West Virginia Scholar Program will begin accepting next year’s applications in February 2022.

In addition to WVWC and West Virginia MetroNews, the West Virginia Scholar Program is sponsored by Friends of Coal, High Technology Foundation, Lou Wendell Marine Sales, West Virginia Farm Bureau, West Virginia Hospital Association and ZMM Architects & Engineers.