The West Virginia University Alumni Association welcomed its latest Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund (LPEF) full scholarship recipients to campus during a special reception Aug. 21. This years recipients are: Virginia Joyce Daphne OHara of Oak Hill; Sean Michael Wallace of Daniels; and Michael Anthony Deasy of Fairmont.

The recipients each received a full, four-year scholarship valued at more than $40,000. The award entitles the student to tuition, room and board, fees and books. In addition, the awards also provide a $2,000 stipend for each student that can be used for academic enhancement, including travel, study abroad and internship programs.

This years recipients of the Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund scholarships represent the very best and brightest at WVU ,said LPEF chairman and trustee General Earl Anderson, USMC , Ret.We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of this years winners, and we are pleased to provide them with scholarships that will enable them to expand their knowledge and achieve their dreams at WVU .

OHara is the recipient of the 2005 Margaret E. Delforge Distinguished Scholarship. She is the daughter of Diarmuid and Agnes OHara of Oak Hill. She was valedictorian at Oak Hill High School, where she maintained a 4.0 grade point average. She was president of the National Honor Society, as well as vice president of the Language Club. She was captain of the girls varsity soccer team and a member of the marching band. OHara is majoring in pre-pharmacy and is a member ofThe Pride of West VirginiaMountaineer Marching Band.

Deasy is the recipient of the 2005 Robert C. and Erma O. Byrd Distinguished Scholarship. He is the son of Gia Deasy of Fairmont. An honor student at Fairmont Senior High School, Deasy graduated with a 4.0 grade point average. He was a member of the of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish and Chess clubs. Deasy was a letterman for the football team and a member of the mens choir. He is majoring in engineering.

Wallace is the recipient of the 2005 Harry L. Lantz U.S. Army ROTC Distinguished Scholarship. He is the son of James Wallace of Daniels. Wallace was an honor student at Shady Spring High School, and a member of the National Honor Society, Chess and Science clubs. He was captain of the varsity soccer team and was a member of the varsity track team. He is majoring in biology.

We are pleased to officially welcome our future alumni to the Mountaineer family,said Stephen Douglas, executive secretary of the LPEF and president and chief executive officer of the WVU Alumni Association.These exceptional students have excelled inside and outside of the classroom and are very deserving of these awards.

In addition to the full scholarships, the LPEF distributed nearly $300,000 in scholarships to more than 350 students attending WVU during the reception.

Trustees of the LPEF include: General Anderson, James R. McCartney, and James H.BuckHarless.

The WVU Alumni Association, chartered in 1873, represents more than 165,000 university graduates residing in every county in West Virginia, every state in the union and approximately 60 foreign nations. With nearly 100 registered chapters and constituent groups, the associations 26,000 dues-paying members support Homecoming Weekend, the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni, and dozens of other social and philanthropic programs.