ELKINS – Anna Ruf of Belington has been chosen to receive a full, four-year scholarship to Davis & Elkins College.
A senior at Philip Barbour High School, Ruf was selected from a group of 84 high achieving high school seniors participating in Senator Leadership & Scholarship Day on the College campus.
Students vying for the scholarship submitted essays and participated in interviews with a panel made up of a Davis & Elkins alumnus or alumna, a current student and a faculty member.
To be eligible to compete, students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and received acceptance to attend Davis & Elkins. Students were also required to submit a list of outstanding leadership honors or awards they have received and describe three skills that have strengthened them as a leader.
The essay of no more than 500 words consisted of a personal statement outlining the student’s interests, life experiences, goals and commitment to leadership.
Ruf is the daughter of Eric and Jana Ruf. Her grandparents, the late Robert C. Donaldson and Joan Goode Donaldson, graduated from D&E in 1951. She hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother to pursue a career in teaching.
“School has been, and always will be, one of the biggest priorities in my life,” Ruf said. “I believe that having a sturdy educational background and an optimistic outlook on every situation is a necessity to succeeding in life.”
At PBHS, Ruf has achieved the Principal’s Honor Roll all four years, is a member of the National Honor Society and received the Freshman Colt Character Award in 2016 and the Young Writer’s Award for three consecutive years. She also attended Rhododendron Girls State at Davis & Elkins College in 2018 and was a 2015 Golden Horseshoe winner.
In addition to academics, Ruf has excelled in leadership roles and extracurricular activities at PBHS. She served as class president and student council representative all four years, and Key Club president in her junior and senior years. She also is a member of the Natural Helpers Club and a four-year member of the Philip Barbour High School Marching Band where she is performing as a majorette.
Outside of school, Ruf is a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church where she participates in the choir and volunteers for Vacation Bible School. She also volunteers for Belington Middle School’s after-school program, Kids JAM.
Throughout her life, Ruf has performed with her family vocal trio and sings for various community events.
Ruf will begin her college career at D&E in the 2019 fall semester.
