The John and Ruth McGee Foundation Invests $500,000 to Establish Scholarship Program at West Virginia State University for Elementary Education Majors

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – With the generous support of the John and Ruth McGee Foundation, West Virginia State University (WVSU) is pleased to announce a new five-year scholarship program for elementary education majors.

The McGee Foundation has pledged a total of $500,000 for the scholarship program, $100,000 a year over the next five years.

“The McGee Foundation Scholarship will be life changing for the students who receive it,” said Dr. Kerri Steele, Dean of the College of Professional Studies at WVSU. “Most of our students juggle their studies with the need to work, but as they advance in the program, this becomes more challenging. They face competency exams at key milestones, rigorous experiential learning requirements, and ultimately, full-time residency placement in their final year. The McGee Foundation Scholarship is designed to provide increased support as students progress in their studies, freeing them from financial concerns so that they can focus fully on preparing to become the qualified, dedicated teachers our West Virginia children depend on.”

The McGee Foundation Scholarships are designed to be awarded to high-need students from West Virginia who are pursuing careers as public school teachers. Scholarships will go to students with demonstrated need after all other federal and state assistance has been awarded.

Scholarship recipients may use funds to cover tuition, praxis exam costs, and other expenses related directly to completing elementary education degrees and obtaining licensure as teachers. The scholarship selection committee will show a strong preference for applicants who intend to teach in West Virginia after graduation.

Scholarships will be awarded beginning in the fall 2025 semester.

WVSU has a highly-regarded teacher education program that has enjoyed continuous accreditation since 1963.From 2019 to 2023 WVSU graduates accepted 51 public school teaching positions in 14 West Virginia counties.

For more information about the application process and expectations for the scholarship, please contact Dr. Elisha Lewis, chair of the WVSU Education Department, at Elisha.lewis@wvstateu.edu or (304) 204-4059.

Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook, Instagram @wvsu_official, and Twitter @WVStateU.