NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University students are enriching their college experience by exploring opportunities, thanks to private scholarship support.

For Wheeling native Samantha Antol, the Neil S. Bucklew Scholarship offered her the freedom to indulge her passion for nature while pursuing her degree in immunology and medical microbiology. She leads outdoor activities for Adventure WV and serves as president of the WVU Beekeeping Club.

“Scholarships at WVU have allowed me to fully focus on my academics and doing activities to improve my learning and overall experience here without having to stress about tuition or other costs associated with attending college,” Antol said. “I’ve been able to devote a lot more time to research, hands-on activities and volunteering at WVU. If I didn’t have the scholarship, I wouldn’t have had those opportunities.”

As West Virginia’s land-grant university dedicated to serving the Mountain State, WVU provides ample scholarship support to ensure higher education remains accessible and affordable for students across the state and beyond. During the 2024 fiscal year, the WVU Office of Financial Aid awarded over $139 million to more than 16,000 students in partnership with the WVU Foundation.

Those dollars make a significant difference in the lives of students by reducing their future debt load. Nearly half — 45% — of all May 2023 graduates across the WVU System had no federal student loan debt upon completing their bachelor’s degrees.

Without financial limitations, Antol and other scholarship recipients are making the most of their college experience by getting involved, exploring new interests, and gaining hands-on experience.

Inspired by his high school robotics experience and parents with expertise in life sciences, Daniel McDonald is pursuing a career in robotics that fuses those influences by drawing from nature to improve robotics controls. As a recipient of the prestigious WVU Foundation Scholarship, McDonald got involved with the award-winning WVU robotics team and has been impressed by broad cross-collaboration within the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

McDonald, a mechanical engineering senior who grew up in Morgantown, also partnered with biomedical engineers at WVU to found a chapter of e-NABLE. The global nonprofit organization provides free and low-cost prosthetics for children and adults in need by relying on volunteers to assist with 3D printing.

“The Foundation Scholarship has shaped the way that I engage with college and the University in general,” McDonald said. “I picked up a minor because I could, right? I took a philosophy class, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is really grabbing me.’ And I was able to be like, ‘Wow, I can shape my experience how I want to and how I want to extend my learning.’ Being able to just focus in on that and not have to worry about all the externals has really been different.”

Thanks to the scholarship’s travel stipend, McDonald is spending the fall semester studying abroad in Sweden. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he plans to continue his studies overseas.

Flutist Greta Hulterstrum, a junior from Litchfield, Minnesota noted that scholarships also bring students from around the world to West Virginia. Her classmates at the WVU College of Creative Arts hail from South Korea, Indonesia and California among other places. She discovered the WVU Flute Studio via social media and is grateful that Florence H. Freeman Honors Music Scholarship enabled her pursuit of a degree in music performance at WVU.

“The scholarship support I received here has really opened up doors to many possibilities within music,” Hulterstrum said. “Without having to worry about tuition costs I've been able travel different competitions master classes flute conventions never would’ve gotten do those things without financial freedom That made grow person developing musical skills”

Hulterstrum has even had opportunities meet perform famous musicians including celebrated flutist Jasmine Choi Grammy-nominated quintet Imani Winds

After moving on master’s degree music Hulterstrum hopes work arts management major orchestra perform when she can teach students all ages own private flute studio

Antol also eye graduate school specifically pathologists’ assistant program undergraduate research focused sex differences cancer immunity wants continue seeking solutions health challenges facing West Virginians post-graduation preferably rural health care setting

“Giving WVU really investment West Virginia state because you’re allowing young professionals stay really just work improve whole” Antol said “You’re investing students aren’t sure afford go school you’re allowing them opportunities never thought would otherwise”

The Foundation Bucklew Freeman scholarships established through nonprofit organization receives administers private donations behalf University From July 1 2023 through June 30 alumni friends made gifts totaling record $2826 million