They hold diverse aspirations of becoming an international diplomat, marine biologist, neurologist and engineers, but they share a common desire to contribute to the state through community involvement and leadership.
They are five of the top high school seniors in the state who have been named the 2008 class of West Virginia University Foundation Scholars.
The group was introduced by Gov. Joe Manchin, WVU President Mike Garrison and WVU Foundation President R. Wayne King at a special ceremony Tuesday (May 6) at the state Capitol.
The scholars, who have demonstrated the highest academic achievements and leadership potential, will receive the WVU Foundation Scholarshipvalued at over $65,000to cover tuition and fees, books, room and board and other expenses for four years. They also qualify for a stipend of up to $3,500 for academic enhancement opportunities including travel, study abroad and internships.
The 2008 WVU Foundation Scholars are: KatherineKatieHoracek , Grafton, Grafton High School; Mark James , Bruceton Mills, Preston High School; Paige Parrack , Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant High School; Brittany Ratcliff , Burnsville, Braxton High School; and Steven Robison , Charles Town, Hedgesville High School.
Manchin praised the students and the opportunity the scholarship provides.
The five young people you will meet today represent the best and the brightest our state has to offer,he said.They have big dreams. Now, they can start making them reality at WVU . There are no limits to what these students can accomplish if they work hard and take advantage of the opportunities before them, and I have no doubt that they will.
Garrison highlighted the studentscareer aspirations saying that their years at WVU will help them achieve those goals.
One of you, I know, wants to unravel the mysteries of the human mind,he said.Another is interested in researching fuel efficiency. One wants to work in the national security area to protect our countrys interests. Ones interests lie in the seas depths, while another dreams of soaring to Mars. Dreams like this are within your reach, and West Virginia University exists, first and foremost, to help people like you achieve your dreams.
The Foundation Scholarship is the keystone of the WVU undergraduate scholarship program, which annually benefits more than 5,500 students in excess of $10 million.
One-hundred and ten state high school students have received WVU s most selective scholarship since the program was established in 1987.
The WVU Foundation joins in congratulating these exceptional students for their many accomplishments,King said.Providing scholarship opportunities for students through private support continues to be a top priority of the Foundation. We strongly believe that our donorsinvestment in students, especially those we honor today, will result in great returns for our state and nation in the future.
The Foundation Scholar award is restricted to West Virginia high school seniors who have a minimum 3.8 GPA and a 30 composite ACT (or 1,340 SAT ) score.
Twenty students were awarded Neil S. Bucklew Scholarships (four-year awards valued at more than $24,000 each) and interviewed on the Morgantown campus in April. From these 20, five were awarded Foundation Scholarships.
Meet WVU s 2008 class of Foundation Scholars:
KatherineKatieHoracek of Grafton plans to major in engineering.
WVU has such a great engineering department,she said.Im really looking forward to participating in the many hands-on activities and academic competitions it offers.
Horacek is uncertain what type of engineering she will study, but she has a keen interest in engineering research, including fuel efficiency.
She also enjoys politics and plans to get involved in Young Democrats while at WVU .
In high school, Horacek has been a member of the Grafton High Marching, Concert and Jazz bands all four years. She has served as treasurer of Key Club, captain of the soccer team and a member of the tennis and science bowl teams.
Horacek, who will graduate fourth in her class, has earned several awards and honors, including National Merit finalist, Governors Honors Academy, National Honor Society, Rotary Club Student of the Month and All-State Band.
She has great admiration for the late priest at her church, Fred Valentine.
He was interested in people and very caring,she said.He was so full of life even in his later years, always helping others.
In her spare time, Horacek enjoys reading classics and mystery novels, volunteering with the Humane Society of Taylor County and playing the piano. She also plays the organ at her church.
She plans to use her academic enhancement stipend to study abroad as part of the German Academic Exchange Service Research Internships in Science and Engineering.
By doing this, I would not only benefit from the cultural exchange, but also acquire necessary technical skills relating to the laboratory,she said.
Winning a Foundation Scholarship is ahuge honorfor Horacek, who describes herself as methodical, curious and diplomatic.
Horacek is the second Grafton High School student to be awarded the Foundation Scholarship.
Her parents are Thomas Horacek and Valerie Nussear.
Mark James dreams of exploring Mars as an astronaut. He will launch his plans at WVU , where he will major in aerospace and mechanical engineering.
James hopes to use his WVU Foundation Scholarship stipend to attend the biennial Australian International Aerospace Conference in Melbourne where he can interact with aerospace engineers, researchers and company representatives from dozens of nations.
His interest in space was propelled in the fourth grade when he had the opportunity to meetRocket BoyHomer Hickam.
Our class read the book when the movie came out, and my parents actually drove us down to Coalwood to meet him,James said.I admire the fact that he fulfilled his dream of being in NASA and working with the astronauts in aerospace technology without letting anything get in his way.
This summer, James will work with aerospace engineers at the NASA facility in Fairmont to prepare a presentation for NASA officials at the Goddard Space Center in Washington, D.C., as part of an internship.
He was named a National Merit finalist and president of the Preston High School National Honor Society. He has earned top positions in the Preston County Math Field Day and RESA VII Math Field Day. Additional honors include Honor Boy, Knight of the Round Table and Principals Honor Roll.
Also involved in athletics, James was a senior leader for the cross country team and member of the track and field team. In addition, he has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and competed in the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission track and field events.
He has always looked forward to attending WVU and feels his decision was made a long time ago. The University has played an important role for his family; his parents met while attending WVU , and both of his older sisters graduated from the University.
When James was 11 years old, his sister, Deborah, won a WVU Presidential Scholarship, and he told his father that he wanted to someday win the Foundation Scholarship. With that goal reached, he can now set his sights on deep space.
James is the second Preston High School student to be awarded the Foundation Scholarship.
He is the son of David and Milinda James.
Paige Parrack of Point Pleasant wants to study animal and nutritional sciences at WVU .Her dream job would be working with animals, perhaps as a marine biologist.
Im not exactly sure yet of my career aspirations, but it has to be something where I can be outdoors,said Parrack, who enjoys hunting, fishing and horseback riding in her spare time.I love animals and being outside.
The quality of education offered, particularly in her area of study, is what attracted her to WVU .
My dad went to school here, so Im familiar with it,she said.Its one of the best schools on the East Coast for my major. I never really thought about going to college anywhere else.
Parrack will graduate fifth in her class of 160 at Point Pleasant High School. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society and honored as a National Merit semifinalist; attended West Virginia Girls state and received high placements in statewide science, engineering and social studies fairs.
As a field commander for her high schools marching band, she developed leadership skills through practices, competitions, parades and community events. Her involvement in music also includes being first-chair clarinet in the high school Concert Band and second-chair clarinet in the All-County Band, and she has performed in the Steel Drum Ensemble.
Parracks interests also include athletics; she has served as captain of her junior varsity soccer team.
Parrack, who describes herself as independent, is looking forward to the many extracurricular activities offered at WVU . Shes excited about the possibility of taking a scuba diving class and getting her license to scuba dive.
One of the people she most admires is local veterinarian Bill Crank.
Hes allowed me to work part-time,she said,and with that, Ive gained so much experience and learned so much from him.
Parrack is the second Point Pleasant High School student to win the Foundation Scholarship.
She is the daughter of Jon and Tammy Parrack.
Winning the Foundation Scholarship meansalmost everythingto Brittany Ratcliff of Burnsville, who has been raised by her grandparents since a very early age.
Theyre on a fixed income, so this will mean no additional financial burden for them with my college expenses,she said.
Ratcliff, who plans to major in biochemistry, chose WVU , in part to be close to her grandparents, but also because of the academic challenges it will provide.
I had some misconceptions about it at first, but after doing some research, I realized WVU can be a launching pad for me,said Ratcliff, who aspires to become a neurologist and study the mind.
A National Merit finalist, Ratcliff will graduate first in her class at Braxton County High School. She has amassed a long list of honors and awards, including the Dale Hawley Leadership Award, U.S. Achievement Academy National Leadership and Service awards, Governors Honors Academy, school and national honor rolls, Whos Who Among American High School Students and National Honor Society.
She has held many leadership positions including president of Student Council, marching band field commander and captain of the science and academic bowl teams.
Her musical talents have landed her spots as principal flute and piccolo in the concert and pep bands and pianist for the jazz ensemble. Ratcliff also plays the piano for the Burnsville United Methodist Church. At WVU , she hopes to become a member of the Mountaineer Marching Band and other concert bands.
Giving back to the community has always been important to Ratcliff, who describes herself as sensitive.
Im a very empathic person,she said.I really try to see all sides. I try to be in touch with what people are thinking and feeling.
That passion for helping others will also play a role in how she spends her academic enhancement stipend. Ratcliff would like to visit Africa.
Traveling with a humanitarian organization would allow me true insight into conditions faced by some of the worlds must unfortunate citizens,she said,and would provide me a chance to aid them as I prepare for a life of helping others.
Ratcliff is the third Braxton County High School student to be awarded the Foundation Scholarship
She is the daughter of Lisa Ortega and granddaughter of Ronald and Jo Ann Smith.
Steven Robison of Charles Town will major in political science at WVU . He hopes that his education and experience will lead to a career in national security or the intelligence field. He wants to travel the world, interact with diplomatic leaders and represent the U.S. to foreign leaders.
Robison has already started developing experience in international political affairs by founding a Model United Nations program at Hedgesville High School. As president of the group, he travels to Model United Nations events and debates the political positions of countries. The experience has permitted him to apply a new perspective to international affairs.
Robison plans to travel outside the country and conduct research in Paris with his Foundation Scholarship travel stipend. Having traveled to France previously, he feels that the educational opportunities and exposure to foreign diplomatic agendas would provide valuable experience toward a career in government service.
Several key leadership roles have also provided him with experience in working with different groups. He has been the president and vice president of student government, captain of the schools academic team and vice president of his schools National French Honor Society.
Leading the student government is supremely important to me for the impact I have had upon peers and adults alike,Robison said.It has allowed me to inspire others, and it has taught me that true leadership is not autocracy, but cooperation and inspiration.
His honors at Hedgesville include several Eagle Students Outstanding Achievement Recognition Awards in languages, mathematics, social studies and psychology, and an Advanced Placement Rising Scholar award. He participated in the Governors Honors Academy and won first place for math in his schools science fair. He has also taken several Advanced Placement courses, including English, history, psychology, calculus and statistics.
Robison has been active in his community by volunteering for the United Way Day of Caring, a Red Cross blood drive and a local soup kitchen.
A first-generation college student, he wants to attend WVU because he has friends at the University and its close to home.
Robison is the second Hedgesville High School student to be awarded the Foundation Scholarship.
His parents are Eric and Cynthia Robison.
For more information about the WVU Foundation Scholarship, visithttp://www.arc.wvu.edu/Scholars_Office/in_state.html.