As students make their way back to campus for the start of the fall semester, the West Virginia University Alumni Association’s Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund (LPEF) is helping those students achieve academic success. The association will award nearly 400 scholarships to deserving students on Sunday, August 24, in the Ruby Grand Hall of the new Erickson Alumni Center from 3-5 p.m.

“We are pleased to recognize these outstanding students for their academic achievements, as well as their successes outside the classroom,” said Stephen L. Douglas, president and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association. “This is a difficult time financially for many of our students and their families, and for us to be able to continue our commitment to our future Mountaineers is extremely important. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, the Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund will provide financial support to students as they work to achieve their dreams at West Virginia University.”

The reception begins at 3 p.m. with brief remarks from trustees of the LPEF, including General Earl E. Anderson, Ret., chairman of the board of trustees. In addition, President James Clements and other WVU administrators will be on hand to greet students and parents. Students can pick up scholarship checks from 3-5 p.m.

Scholarships totaling approximately $400,000 will be awarded to high school valedictorians, student body presidents and other deserving Mountaineers this fall. To qualify, recipients must be West Virginia residents, demonstrate a financial need, hold a minimum grade point average of 2.75, and demonstrate good citizenship, as outlined in his/her extracurricular activities.

In addition, four students are currently receiving full scholarships through the LPEF, including seniors Jonathan “Caleb” King, of Charleston, W.Va., Erin Montgomery, of Morgantown; Jeremy Luke Pevahouse, of Bunker Hill, W.Va.; and Kenneth Adkins, a junior from Chapmanville, W.Va.

The LPEF is one of the University’s oldest scholarship programs. Since its inception, more than 3,500 students have benefitted from LPEF scholarships.

In addition to Gen. Anderson, the trust committee of the LPEF includes James H. “Buck” Harless and James R. McCartney. Douglas serves as secretary. For more information about the LPEF, visit http://alumni.wvu.edu/awards/lpe.

For more information about the WVU Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.wvu.edu/.