Paras Naresh Shah of Nitro and Vernon Fitzgerald Scott of Farrell, Pa., have been awarded West Virginia Universitys Multicultural Scholarships for the 2000-2001 academic year. Both are incoming freshman at WVU .

Awarded by WVUs Housing and Residence Life Office and the Multicultural Scholarship Committee, the scholarshipsvalued at $2,576 eachprovide one half of the yearly cost of a double room and a full meal plan. The Multicultural Scholarships were established in the mid 1980s to encourage diversity in residential living. Recipients are chosen based on leadership potential, community service and financial need.

“As with past Multicultural Scholars, I believe this years recipients have excellent potential to excel and become leaders not only in the residence halls, but campus-wide,”commented Beverly Taylor, assistant director of housing administration.

A graduate of Nitro High School, Shah served as president of the National Honor Society and District Lieutenant Governor of Key Club International. He also attended American Legion Mountaineer Boys State and the Hugh OBrien Youth Foundation Leadership Seminar. His community involvement includes volunteering for the Salvation Army and the Childrens Miracle Network and tutoring elementary school students.

Shah plans to major in political science and finance.

Scott, a graduate of Farrell High School, is a National Merit Scholar and was a member of Chorus and the National Honor Society. He was elected Student Council president and served as student delegate to the Pennsylvania School Board Association. Scott was also an American Red Cross volunteer and taught water safety as a Special Olympics lifeguard.

Scott intends to pursue a career in elementary education.