A new scholarship in the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences will honor the memory of Francis E. Stevens and benefit students from Mason, Jackson and Cabell counties.

Helen Stevens made a donation of $49,000 to establish an endowed fund to support the Frances E. Stevens Memorial Scholarship and also donated $1,000 to be used for the first year’s scholarship award.

The award, up to 50 percent of full in_state tuition and fees for an academic year, is open to undergraduate and graduate students in the WVU college, with preference given to students in an agricultural discipline.

Recipients must be graduates of high schools in Mason, Jackson or Cabell counties with preference given to Mason County students. Selection of recipients will be conducted by a committee that includes the three WVU Extension agents from those areas. Awards will be

made based on academic merit and financial need.

The scholarship was created through a gift made to the WVU Foundation, a private non-profit organization, which is the designated agency to receive and administer gifts from private individuals and organizations for the benefit of West Virginia University and its affiliated organizations.