Twenty of West Virginia’s top high school seniors have been offered Bucklew Scholarships to attend West Virginia University in the fall.
Bucklew Scholarships, valued at $21,000, provide students with more than $5,000 toward educational costs per year for four years. Bucklew Scholars are also permitted to use state PROMISE Scholarships in addition to their Bucklew awards.
The awards are named for former WVU President Neil S. Bucklew, who established the WVU Scholars Program during his tenure as the University’s 20 th president.
The University continues to attract top-notch students with high academic achievement and leadership potential,said Brian Hoover, coordinator of the Undergraduate Scholarship Office.The 2006 class of Bucklew Scholars represents some of the most academically talented students in the state.
The 2006 recipients are: Liz Banta , Morgantown High School, Morgantown, Monongalia County; Laurel Beatty , Pendleton County High School, Upper Tract, Pendleton County; Brandon Benchoff , University High School, Morgantown, Monongalia County; Steven Brooks , Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, Wood County; Whitney Burns , Moorefield High School, Fisher, Hardy County; Andrea Garton , Lewis County High School, Jane Lew, Lewis County; Elizabeth Godown , Wheeling Park High School, Wheeling, Ohio County; R.J. Jacobs , Parkersburg High School, Vienna, Wood County; Jennifer Knipe , Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg, Berkeley County; George Lovegrove III * , the Academy at Mountain State University, Daniels, Raleigh County; *Anne Mallow , Pendleton County High School, Upper Tract, Pendleton County; Lydia McDowell , Tucker County High School, Davis, Tucker County; Anthony Palma , Wheeling Park High School, Wheeling, Ohio County; Shilpa Ramesh , Hurricane High School, Hurricane, Putnam County; Derek Rhodes , Ripley High School, Statts Mills, Jackson County; Isaiah Richie , Tyler Consolidated High School, Middlebourne, Tyler County; A.B. Stump III * , Parkersburg South High School, Parkersburg, Wood County; *Joseph Widmeyer , Hedgesville High School, Martinsburg, Berkeley County; Allison Willingham , Keyser High School, New Creek, Mineral County; and Colin Wood , George Washington High School, Charleston, Kanawha County.
The scholarships are supported, in part, by the WVU Foundation Inc. and are part of the University’s comprehensive awards program.
These 20 students will now compete for WVU ’s top academic award, the Foundation Scholarship, which is valued at approximately $50,000. University officials, along with Gov. Joe Manchin, will announce the five recipients in May during a ceremony at the Charleston Capitol Complex.
Bucklew Scholars
Liz Banta, of Morgantown , plans to major in biology.
At Morgantown High School , she has racked up an impressive list of academic credentials. She has taken five out of 10 Advanced Placement courses offered and ranks first in her graduating class of about 350.
Banta is a section leader in the marching band, an honor she has held for two years; president of Hi-Y, a youth leadership program based on service-learning principles; and chair of the National Honor Society.
Other activities include the Science Honor, Social Studies Club, Youth in Government and Camp Horseshoe Leadership Summit. Banta is also a competitive hunter jumper.
Besides making the honor roll every year, she has received the President’s Volunteer Service and Band Director’s awards. Last year, she was named the MHS Symphonic Outstanding Junior Musician, selected for the Model United Nations delegation and WVU Math Symposium, and honored with theI Make a DifferenceAward.
Banta is also a community volunteer, caring for dogs at a pet adoption center, filling backpacks for the needy through the United Way and helping in the kitchen of a volunteer fire department.
As a counselor at the Youth Opportunity Camp for underprivileged children, she was in charge of 17 girls age 7-12.
If selected for the Foundation Scholarship, she plans to use her academic enhancement stipend to travel oversees and immerse herself in a different culture.
Her parents are Larry and Connie Banta.
Laurel Beatty , of Upper Tract, plans to major in secondary math education.
On track to finish first or second in her graduating class at Pendleton County High School , she has successfully completed eight honors classes and is currently enrolled in an Advanced Placement calculus class as well as two college-level classes.
Throughout high school, she has taken on many leadership roles. She is president of the National Honor Society and 4-H Club and first saxophone in the band.
In addition, she previously served as sophomore class president and junior and freshman class vice president. In these positions, she was responsible for fund-raising and coordinating events such as homecoming and prom.
An accomplished musician, Beatty plays the piano at her church and has performed in recitals since 1994. She is also a talented athlete and holds school records in the girls 800-meter dash and 4�800-meter relay team.
Her honors include being selected to attend the Governor’s Honors Academy (11 th grade) and School for the Arts (10 th grade). She took second place in the 2004-05 state
Voice of Democracy essay contest, made the National Honor Roll four years and was
chosen to participate in the regional Math Field Day three years.
Inspired by her parents’service in the Peace Corps, she would like to take a service trip overseaspossibly through a program called Global Work Crews that assists with restoration and construction projects.
Beatty’s career ambition is to become a high school principal in West Virginia or work with the state’s governor’s schools.
Her parents are Bill and Janette Beatty.
Brandon Benchoff , of Morgantown , wants to study sport management at WVU .
During his time at University High School , the National Merit finalist has amassed a long list of honors and awards, including being named to The Dominion Post Honor Student Program, National Honor Roll, National Society of High School Scholars and the Mu Alpha Theta math honors society.
In addition, Benchoff was selected to participate in American Legion Mountaineer Boys State (11 th grade), and he was 25 th in the national Junior Engineering Technical Society Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science Competition.
He is vice president of the National Honor Society, secretary of the Science Club and vice president of his church youth group.
When he isn’t focusing on academics and extracurricular activities, he devotes a few hours each month to the Greater Morgantown Youth Commission, an appointed group of local teen-agers who work on community planning to make the city a better place for youth. The commission is currently lobbying for the construction of a new youth center.
He also helps feed the homeless and prepare care packages for needy families with this church youth group and serves on a parish relations committee.
First in his class of nearly 300, Benchoff has completed six Advanced Placement courses.
If he receives the Foundation Scholarship, he plans to use his academic enhancement stipend to travel to Europe, South America, Africa or Asia .
His parents are J. Bryan and Karen Benchoff.
Steven Brooks , of Parkersburg, wants to major in biochemistry.
Ranked fourth out of more than 400 in his graduating class, the Parkersburg High School senior has taken four Advanced Placement classes. He is a National Merit finalist and Eagle Scout.
A standout in both academics and athletics, Brooks holds the highest grade-point average among PHS scholar-athletes.
He is the varsity goalkeeper for his school’s soccer team that took home the state championship this year and a member of the All-Conference Soccer second team.
As the result of his efforts on and off the field, he received the Gerald H. Stoltz
Sportsmanship Award and was nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman.
Also a gifted musician, he plays the trombone. He was selected for the WVU Honor Band and West Virginia All-State Band, and he received a superior rating at the regional solo and ensemble festival three times.
Brooks’other honors include earning a spot at American Legion Boys State (11 th grade).
Among his leadership positions are section leader in the concert band, captain of the regional Science Bowl championship team, vice president of the National Honor Society, co-captain of the Quiz Bowl team and delegate to the Model United Nations.
Of all the service activities he has participated in, he says his Eagle Scout project was the most important. This involved constructing a place to store boats for Adventure Pursuit, a nonprofit organization that provides adventure clinics and camps for special-needs children and adults.
If named a Foundation Scholar, Brooks intends to use the academic enhancement stipend to travel to Europe . One of his lifelong dreams is to spend a semester studying at the University of Cambridge .
His parents are Lori and David Brooks.
Whitney Burns , of Fisher, wants to study biology at WVU .
She has juggled three Advanced Placement and three college-level courses and is first in her graduating class at Moorefield High School .
Although her studies take much of her time, Burns says volunteering at Grant Memorial Hospital has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. She spent a summer with the elderly in extended care in preparation for a possible career in medicine.
Besides hospital volunteer work, Burns has been active in student government as junior class president (ninth and 11 th grades); RAZE , a state teen-led anti-tobacco movement (11 th and 12 th grades); and Future Farmers of America (ninth grade).
Furthermore, she is president of the National Honor Society, a pageant participant and former track statistician (ninth and 10 th grades).
Last year, Burns was a National Merit semifinalist, Bausch&Lomb chemistry award winner and Governor’s Honors Academy participant.
She has also received the Girl Scouts Silver Award for four consecutive years.
If she receives the Foundation Scholarship, Burns plans to use the academic enhancement stipend to study in Spain .
Her parents are JoAnna and Patrick Burns.
Andrea Garton , of Jane Lew, plans to study animal and veterinary sciences at WVU .
A senior at Lewis County High School, she is president of the National Honor Society and 4-H Club and vice president of the Foreign Language Club.
She is also active in her church choir, school marching band, Vandalia Dance Group and Scoil Damhsa-Irish School of Danceand previously served as vice president of the Interact Club (11 th grade) and junior class.
For the past four years, Garton has been dedicated to causes such as the 30-hour Famine, an event to raise money for World Hunger, and National Honor Society fund-raisers for medical patients and hurricane victims.
Ranked first in her graduating class of about 200, Garton has completed three Advanced Placement courses.
She was selected to participate in the Governor’s Honors Academy , National 4-H Congress and WVU Honors Band. Her other honors include the Augusta Youth (10 th grade) and 4-H (12 th grade) scholarships. Garton was also named a U.S. Senate Youth Program semifinalist.
If she is a recipient of a Foundation Scholarship, she would use her academic enhancement stipend to visit Africa and observe the exotic wildlife as a step toward a possible veterinary career.
Garton is also considering pursuing a degree in zoology.
Her parents are Rock and Dorothy Garton.
Elizabeth Godown , of Wheeling , would like to major in political science.
The National Merit finalist ranks in the top 10 percent of her graduating class at Wheeling Park High School , where she has finished three Advanced Placement courses.
Godown has also successfully completed two college-level courses.
To complement her WVU studies, she hopes to get an internship with a British government official.
Godown is involved in varsity speech and debate team, National Forensic League, WPHS Young Patriots choir, Park Players drama group, and Key and Writing clubs.
She is an All-State Chorus candidate, Judicial Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.
She took first place in the regional Junior Engineering Technical Society Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science Competition (11 th grade) and was chosen for the Governor’s School for the Arts (11 th grade).
Community service is a high priority for Godown, who serves on the American Cancer Society Youth Board, does fund-raising for Habitat for Humanity and serves as a teacher assistant.
She says her most important service activity has been working with the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Wheeling Youth Program, a program bringing students and leaders together from city and county government, law enforcement, academia and business for the purpose of educating future community leaders.
Godown is considering a career in either law or politics.
Her parents are David and Annette Godown.
R.J. Jacobs , of Vienna, would like to major in chemical engineering at WVU .
First in his graduating class of about 400, he has taken six of the nine Advanced
Placement courses available at Parkersburg High School .
Jacobs was inducted into the National Honor and National Latin Honor societies and is a National Merit finalist.
He is co-captain of his school’s Science Bowl team that took first at the state competition this year.
Other honors and awards include selection to the Governor’s Honors Academy, first place individual at the American Mathematics Competition (10 th grade), first place team in the AAA division of the state Academic Quiz Bowl (11 th grade) and three-time Math Field Day winner.
Jacobs is vice president of the Key Club, treasurer of the National Honor Society, team captain of the American Cancer Society Relay High, president and treasurer of the
Teen-age Republicans and a member of his school’s recycling committee.
On top of that, he tutors students in math, volunteers in the radiology department
at St. Joseph’s Hospital, works as a librarian assistant and volunteers in his hometown church.
Jacobs would like to spend a semester studying engineering in his mother’s homeland, the Philippines , if he wins the Foundation Scholarship.
His parents are Michael and Leonor Jacobs.
Jennifer Knipe , of Martinsburg, would like to pursue chemical engineering at WVU .
She is ranked eighth out of nearly 300 students in her senior class. By the time she dons her cap and gown, she will have completed three Advanced Placement courses and five college-level courses.
Since her freshman year at Martinsburg High School, Knipe has accepted many leadership roles: president of Key Club, math team captain for the Academic Competition for Excellence and co-anchor of theBulldog Bytetelevision broadcast, just to name a few.
As student council president, she helped plan a school-wide benefit concert for hurricane relief, raising more than $2,300.
Of all her activities, though, 4-H has had the greatest impact. Through this organization, she has participated in activities ranging from camp and educational projects to volunteer work at the local fairgrounds.
Knipe’s talents extend into music and sports. She plays in the concert, jazz, marching and show choir bands and was a member of the varsity tennis team for three years.
If she is awarded the Foundation Scholarship, Knipe plans to apply the academic enhancement stipend toward research.
Her parents are Ernest and Rosemary Knipe.
George Lovegrove III * , of Daniels, plans to study biology.
An Academy at Mountain State University student, he is second in his class. By
the time he graduates, he will have taken five college-level courses.
Lovegrove has participated in numerous organizations: the Outdoor, Spanish, Math, Chess, Red Cross, Drama and Pep clubs as well as the Student Government Association.
His athletic skills have landed him spots on the tennis (No. 2 seed for three years) and basketball teams (11 th grade).
Lovegrove has also been known to dabble in music and theater. He plays the piano and has participated in productions ofVampireandThe Nutcracker.
One of the activities he is most proud of is a mission trip he took with his church youth group to Chicago . The trip entailed staying at a community center, giving away food, playing games with children and waxing a gym floor.
Lovegrove’s honors have included first place in Mole Day (12 th grade), an award of distinction in a Martin Luther King essay contest (10 th grade), and honorable mentions in both an art contest (10 th grade) and science fair (ninth grade).
If awarded the Foundation Scholarship, he will use the academic enhancement stipend to study in Europepossibly Italy , Spain or Greece.
After graduating from WVU , Lovegrove would like to attend medical school.
His parents are Dr. George and Amy Lovegrove.
*Anne Mallow , of Upper Tract, plans to major in engineering.
She is in the top two percent of her class and has taken three college-level courses to jump-start her studies at WVU .
Mallow has accumulated numerous accolades during her time at Pendleton County High School . This year, she placed in the top 25 of regional participants at Math Field Day, made the National Honor Roll, was a 21 st Century Learning Representative and was nominated for Who’s Who Among American High School Students.
During the past two summers, she has made it her mission to help others, preparing and serving meals at a soup kitchen in the 8 th Street Center in Wheeling , through a church leadership program called TIMELY .
Mallow has contributed to her community in other ways as well. She helped build a house through Habitat for Humanity, and she plays the piano and xylophone for church services.
At PCHS , she has kept busy with the 4-H Club, marching and concert band, basketball, track and field and English Club, among other activities.
She is secretary of the National Honor Society and was president of her class last year.
If picked to be a Foundation Scholar, Mallow plans to use her academic enhancement stipend to study abroad.
Her parents are Lisa and Stephen Mallow.
Lydia McDowell , of Davis , would like to explore aerospace engineering.
First in her class, she has completed a college-level math course and is currently
taking an Advanced Placement course in preparation for WVU .
The senior at Tucker County High School is president of the Environmental Science and Foreign Language clubs as well as the Health Sciences and Technology Academy , or HSTA .
As part of HSTA , McDowell conducted research to evaluate barriers of exercising. She was invited to present her findings to the Tucker County Board of Education and the State Health Education Council of West Virginia.
A health and fitness buff herself, she runs track and cross-country. She is also active in student council and the Varsity Club, and she was previously involved in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (ninth and 10 th grades).
Community service has played an important part of her life. McDowell commits several hours each month to cleaning up litter along a roadway near her school through Adopt-A-Highway, assisting at blood drives organized by the American Red Cross and aiding teachers at a local elementary school.
In recognition of her achievements, McDowell was asked to attend the Governor’s Honors Academy . She earned spots in Who’s Who Among American High School Students (ninth and 10 th grades), the National Society of High School Scholars
(ninth and 10 th grades) and the Principal’s Honor Roll (ninth-12 th grades).
If awarded the Foundation Scholarship, she plans to use the academic enhancement stipend to study in Spain or Latin America .
Her parents are Matthew and Edie McDowell.
Anthony Palma , of Wheeling , plans to study engineering at WVU .
He is currently ranked eighth out of nearly 400 students in his senior class.
Having taken seven out of 12 Advanced Placement courses offered at Wheeling Park High School , Palma has also prepared himself for college by taking on several leadership roles: captain of the football and track teams, president of the Indoor Track Club and section leader in the orchestra and concert band.
A talented musician, he is the principle trombone and a soloist in his school’s jazz ensemble. Palma was outstanding jazz soloist at the regional level four years in a row and was named to the Honor Band.
His activities also include the Junior Engineering Technical Society, Varsity Athletic Club, Science Bowl Team, Math Field Day and American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
In addition, he is a member of the National Honor Roll, National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Academic Team.
One of his dreams has been to spend a semester in Italy , which he hopes to fulfill if he receives a Foundation Scholarship.
He says he would also consider applying the academic enhancement stipend toward the construction of a robot prototype that cleans houses or an engineering internship.
His parents are Mary and Mark Palma.
Shilpa Ramesh , of Hurricane, would like to major in biology (pre-medicine).
She recently completed a research internship in tumor immunology at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center and hopes to continue research in a similar field.
Ramesh is fourth in her graduating class of more than 200 and has taken four Advanced Placement courses.
At Hurricane High School , she is president of the Mu Alpha Theta math honorary, treasurer of the Key Club, secretary of the Interact Club and a member of the French Club governing committee.
She previously served as treasurer of the Forensics Club (11 th grade) and took part in the St. Francis Medical Explorers (10 th grade).
Between classwork and extracurricular activities, Ramesh makes time for community service and a number of special interests. She has served as co-master of ceremony for her India center’s Diwali Festival three times and tutored middle school students in math.
She enjoys playing the piano and specializes in Indian classical dance.
Among her long list of honors are the AP Scholar Award and National Honor Roll. She was a U.S. Achievement Academy national math award winner (10 th grade) and a four-time participant in the American Math Exam and West Virginia Math League.
Ramesh would like to use the academic enhancement stipend awarded to Foundation Scholars for a research project or internship in another country.
Her parents are H. and Bhagya Ramesh.
Derek Rhodes , of Statts Mills, wants to be a pharmacy major at WVU .
His hard work in the classroom has paid off. He successfully completed nine Advanced Placement courses and is ranked first in his senior class at Ripley High School .
Rhodes is an AP Rising Scholar and an outstanding math and science award winner. He was chosen to attend the Governor’s Honors Academy (11 th grade), was inducted into the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta math honorary, and competed in Math Field Day at the county level.
Rhodes has rounded out his academic career with a number of extracurricular activities. He is part of Natural Helpers, a group of students trained to help their peers, and is captain of the Varsity Science Bowl and West Virginia Envirothon teams.
In addition, he previously participated in Students in Action for Education (10 th grade) and Hi-Y (10 th grade).
Outside of school, Rhodes has been involved in Adopt-A-Family, gathering items to help needy families; an elementary school festival, coordinating fun activities for children; and Blizzard Boxes, purchasing winter supplies for the elderly.
If he is awarded a Foundation Scholarship, he would use the academic enhancement stipend for experiments that, if carried out successfully, could result in increased energy efficiency.
His parents are Larry and Patricia Rhodes.
Isaiah Richie , of Middlebourne, wants to pursue accounting at WVU .
He is in the top 15 percent of his senior class at Tyler Consolidated High School and is in the process of completing three Advanced Placement courses.
As the result of his academic excellence, Richie has landed on the school honor roll four years in a row and was named both a TCHS and Elks student of the month. He is a three-time Chivalry Award winner and placed first in impromptu speaking at a Future Business Leaders of America conference.
In addition to being a member of the National Honor Society and a former student council treasurer, Richie is president of FBLA , co-captain of the wrestling team and a martial arts instructor.
This multi-talented student also sings in a rock band, has a lead role in the school drama, performs in community theater productions and serves as an elder at his Presbyterian church.
Last summer, he helped underprivileged students with reading and other activities as an Energy Express volunteer and worked with a youth pastor and his peers to start a community youth center called Fusion that provides Internet access, music lessons and special activities for students.
As for what he would do with a Foundation Scholar academic enhancement stipend, he is considering a couple of possibilities: either an internship or trip to China ,
Japan or India to study their economic systems.
His parents are Larry and Elizabeth Richie.
A.B. Stump III * , of Parkersburg , would like to major in either exercise physiology or biochemistry.
He is at the top of his graduating class and has taken five Advanced Placement courses.
Vice president of the National Honor Society at Parkersburg South High School , Stump has also been vice president of the student council (11 th grade) and a homecoming court candidate.
His resume also lists previous involvement in the Key Club (10 th grade), Herff-Jones Leadership Conference (10 th grade), yearbook (ninth grade), Quiz Bowl (ninth grade) and wind ensemble (ninth grade).
Stump’s accolades include the U.S. Achievement Academy History and Government Award, Presidential Award for Academic Excellence and a varsity letter for basketball.
He has also received recognition for outstanding achievement in journalism and geometry.
Contributing to the community is a top priority for Stump, who has volunteered with Special Olympics, coached at a youth basketball camp and served as a camp counselor for people with developmental disabilities.
As of now, his plans are to attend medical school and become a radiologist. If he receives a Foundation Scholarship, he would like to use the academic enhancement stipend on a summer program to explore different medical specializations.
His parents are Catherine and Greg Stump.
*Joseph Widmeyer , of Martinsburg, would like to be a dual major in biochemistry and chemical engineering.
A senior at Hedgesville High School , he is ranked first in his class of about 300.
Besides taking five Advanced Placement courses, Widmeyer has completed one college class and is working on two more.
He has acquired many honors and awards: selection for the Governor’s Honors Academy , American Legion Mountaineer Boys State , Exploring Engineering: Academy of Excellence and Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference, to name a few.
Furthermore, Widmeyer is on the National Honor Roll, something he has achieved four consecutive years. He was also inducted into the National Society of High School Scholars.
Widmeyer’s high school career covers a broad spectrum of activities, from marching band to the Spanish Club. He is a rank leader in the concert band, vice president of the National Honor Society and captain of the Academic Competition for Excellence, Junior Engineering Technological Society and Science Bowl teams.
As a student in biochemical engineering, he would propose to use the Foundation Scholarship academic stipend to finance research or obtain an internship.
In his spare time, he has tutored high school students, served church dinners and visited the elderly.
His parents are Patricia and Robert Widmeyer.
Allison Willingham , of New Creek, is planning to major in engineering.
She is fourth in her class of about 170 and has completed seven college-level classes in addition to an Advanced Placement class.
Being a 4-H camp counselor has been her most important community and leadership activity because she guided children through problems and helped them build communication and teamwork skills, Willingham says.
Her community service experience also includes organizing activities for Students Against Destructive Decisions and peer tutoring.
The Keyser High School student is vice president of both SADD and the 4-H Club, treasurer for Teen Leaders and a member of Key Club, National Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta math honorary.
Her resume includes about a dozen 4-H awards. She also made the National Honor Roll and was nominated to attend the National Young Leaders Conference.
If she receives a Foundation Scholarship, she would like to use the academic enhancement stipend to tour the CERN particle accelerator on the borders of France and Switzerland to see how scientists run experiments to learn more about the particles that make up the universe.
Her parents are Wayne and Susan Willingham.
Colin Wood , of Charleston , would like to pursue jazz studies at WVU .
A member of the Young Democrats and Quiz Bowl team, Wood is a role model in the classroom and is set to graduate in the top 10 percent of his class.
During his years at George Washington High School , he has taken seven out of 12 Advanced Placement courses offered.
A gifted musician, he is a principal chair in the band and lead tenor in the jazz ensemble. He also directed three theater productions and served as musical director on a fourth.
For this jazz saxophonist, a trip to France to study at the Paris Conservatorie would be the way he would use the Foundation Scholarship academic enhancement stipend.
Committed to community service, Wood has helped coordinate and direct youth retreats through the West Virginia Presbyterian Youth Council, worked with the Contemporary Youth Arts Co. as an actor and musician, and acted as a stage manager for the Children’s Theater of Charleston.
Wood, an AP Rising Scholar and National Merit finalist, was selected for the Governor’s Honors Academy (10 th grade) and Boys State (10 th grade). His other honors include being part of the WVU Honor and All-State bands.
His parents are Robert and Lynn Wood.