A recent gift to West Virginia University’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources will assist students from Roane or Calhoun counties that have a relationship with a scouting organization and want to study engineering.

The J. Scott Freshwater Scouting Scholarship will provide scholarships for undergraduate students who are enrolled in CEMR. First preference will be given to students who have demonstrated need and are residents of Roane or Calhoun counties. Further preference will be given to students that are a current or former Boy or Girl Scout at any level within the organization.

The scholarship is named in honor of J. Scott Freshwater, president of Contractor Services, Inc. and Reserve Oil & Gas, Inc. of Spencer. Freshwater earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from WVU in 1994 and 1997, respectively. He currently serves as executive vice president of the Allohak Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which encompasses eastern Ohio and central West Virginia. He will become president of that organization in January 2012.

“Although I didn’t quite become an Eagle Scout myself, I greatly value my time in Scouting and the values it instilled in me,” said Freshwater. “In my opinion, when you couple the principles taught in Scouting with those taught in engineering, the end product will be students better prepared to help lead this great country forward.”

Following in the footsteps of his father, both his grandfathers and two great grandfathers, Freshwater began his oil and gas career in 1987, working in the field on CSi well servicing, pipeline construction and well cementing projects. While attending classes at WVU, he spent his summers working at CSi and completed an internship with Columbia Gas/Columbia Gulf Transmission Corporation.

Upon graduation, Freshwater returned to CSi on a full-time basis, directing the diversification of the company into the environmental contracting services arena and increased its area of operations to encompass the eastern United States. When oil and gas market conditions began improving, his focus shifted to developing and growing Reserve Oil & Gas, Inc. Today, he continues to foster the growth of new affiliate companies while managing the operations of Reserve & CSi.

Freshwater was selected for the 2008 edition of “Generation Next: 40 under 40” by The State Journal, which recognizes young business leaders in the state and became a member of the Mountain State Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization in 2009. He is also a member of the Daniel Boone Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the board of directors of First Neighborhood Bank, and the Board of Directors of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia.

The gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.

—WVU—

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CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon
(304) 293-4086; mary.dillon@mail.wvu.edu