NC West Virginia News

The 2024 Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship recipients are united by a commitment to improving the well-being and quality of life for residents in West Virginia.

The scholarship honors the legacy and service of the late Hazel Ruby McQuain, a businesswoman and benefactor dedicated to development in Morgantown and communities across the state.

Scholarships are administered by the West Virginia University Office of Graduate Education and Life in partnership with the WVU Foundation, which receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.

The four honorees, Taylor Brown, Riley Klug, Hannah Lamb, and Clara Monson, will receive up to three years of financial support — $20,000 annually — as they study some of the state’s most pressing concerns.

Taylor Brown

Discouraged by substance use disorders' impact on her hometown, Concord University psychology graduate Taylor Brown aims to combat West Virginia’s substance use problem through research and education.

“My decision to attend WVU embodies my dedication to the state of West Virginia and its residents. As a lifelong Wyoming County resident, I have the lived experience of witnessing the effects of the opioid epidemic in my community,” Brown said. “This instilled a desire to dedicate myself to teach, conduct research and engage firsthand in prevention efforts in the state of West Virginia.”

Brown is pursuing a doctoral degree in lifespan developmental psychology at WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. She plans to conduct research on adverse childhood experiences, poverty, and substance use. Brown hopes her work will promote resiliency among those impacted by trauma.

Riley Klug

New Martinsville native Riley Klug majored in anthropology at WVU while also completing programs in art history, Native American Studies, and political science. They are attending UC San Diego for a Master’s degree in Latin American studies focusing on violence anthropology.

“My main goal regarding my graduate work at UCSD is to study gendered perspectives of Latin American contention and conflict. This understanding can also be applied to West Virginia,” Klug said. “In giving a global perspective on these issues, I aim to improve the state’s stance on abortion and gender equity.”

Klug served as a WVU Presidential Student Ambassador exemplifying Mountaineer Values with volunteerism addressing food insecurity among students through The Rack food pantry on campus.

Hannah Lamb

Service is central for Hannah Lamb from Nitro. A Marietta College psychology graduate with volunteering experience combating food insecurity and fostering inclusion within ministry.

“My long-term professional goal is to serve those marginalized by religious institutions in West Virginia,” Lamb said. “Spirituality plays a key role in community ties throughout Appalachia.”

Lamb is now pursuing an MSW at WVU with extensive volunteer hours during her undergraduate years as teaching assistant, camp counselor, and peer educator.

Clara Monson

Martinsburg native Clara Monson aspires to become an English professor while pursuing an MA degree at WVU aiming to inspire lifelong learning among students.

“My goal is working with first-generation students largely through summer courses,” Monson said. “I hope next year it is my hope to apply for TRIO program here at WVU.”

TRIO Upward Bound mentors help underprivileged students succeed beyond high school; Monson worked for this program during her undergraduate career at Berkeley County’s high schools.

Applicants for Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship must:

- Exemplify Hazel Ruby McQuain's legacy,

- Have public service records demonstrating leadership,

- Be tied significantly or committed towards bettering lives within West Virginians,

- Maintain minimum GPA 3:0