A quartet of deep-thinking West Virginia University students are this years recipients of the Daniel B. Purinton and McKay-Coast scholarships in the Department of Philosophy.

The Purinton award goes to philosophy majors, while the McKay-Coast scholarship is open to students majoring in philosophy, English, math or history. Both scholarships are merit-based.

This years Purinton winners are Allison Lastinger, a senior biology and philosophy major from Morgantown; and David Pellegrin, a philosophy and history senior from Houma, La.

The McKay-Coast recipients are Justin Snedegar, a math and philosophy senior from Lewisburg; and MattIvanStiefel, a junior from Mullica Hill, N.J., who is majoring in English and philosophy, while carrying minors in history, political theory and geology.

Lastinger wants to eventually earn an M.D. in bioethics. She currently interns at the Center for Health Ethics and Law at WVU -Ruby Memorial Hospital. She is also president of the WVU Philosophy Club and is a member of the Ethics Bowl Team.

Pellegrin tentatively enrolled in his first-ever philosophy class here two years ago. Now he wants to use that degree as a springboard to law school.

Snedegar wants to earn a doctorate in philosophy, a discipline he had originally planned as his minor. Hes especially interested in ethics and existentialism.

Stiefels studies wont stop after his WVU graduation. He plans on adding a justice degree in environmental law and a Ph.D. in philosophywhile continuing his pursuit as an environmental activist. Hes president of WVU s Sierra Student Coalition and coordinates grassroots outreach from Oceans Mercury Campaign.

Visithttp://www.wvu.edu/~philosophy/index.htmlfor more information on the scholarships and WVU s Department of Philosophy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.