West Virginia’s young emerging leaders vie for Foundation Scholarships

2020's Bucklew Scholars will begin their journey at West Virginia University in various disciplines, a deep respect for cultural diversity, a passion for sustainable innovation and a desire to serve others.(Submitted photo)

Although this year’s Bucklew Scholars will begin their journey atWest Virginia Universityin various disciplines, a deep respect for cultural diversity, a passion for sustainable innovation and a desire to serve others unites the 2020 cohort.

The Bucklew Scholarship is given to 20 high-achieving West Virginia students accepted to the University and qualifies them to be considered for the Foundation Scholarship, WVU’s highest academic scholarship.

The class of emerging leaders includes a pilot, the state’s top female soccer player and a 10th generation farmer who will use various academic disciplines as a lens to explore our ever-changing world and solve the most critical issues facing society.

Biologymajors, Sophia Flowerfrom Fairmont Senior High Schooland Grace McCuskerfrom Morgantown High School,are among six scholars who share a passion for medicine.

Flower, who altered her disdain for science during her sophomore AP Biology course and recognized her desire to work with children while serving as a summer camp counselor, aspires to become a pediatrician.

Driven to make a difference in her home state and combine her interest in science and sociology, McCusker will eventually attend dental school in hopes of improving access to oral health care for underserved populations.

Opportunities to participate in multiple mission trips have reaffirmed Bethany Knight’sdecision to become a physician-scientist dedicated to innovative treatments and cures for diseases. Knight, a biochemistrymajor, hails from Notre Dame High School.

Propelled by a passion to serve “people from all walks of life,” All-American soccer player Emilie Charlesfrom Cabell Midland High Schoolwill follow in her father’s footsteps as an emergency medical physician. She will major in mathematics.

Rushik Patel,a biomedical engineeringmajor from George Washington High Schooland Thomas Williams, an exercise physiologymajor from Moorefield High School, also plan to attend medical school.

Patel, who has established strong patient relationships while serving as a volunteer at a local family practice, will pursue his dream of changing lives with the development of prosthetics and artificial organs.

A family farmer and sports enthusiast, Williams decided to pursue a career dedicated to helping people with debilitating orthopedic injuries after his dad sustained a clavicle fracture in an ATV accident.

Jillian Blairfrom Wheeling Park High School, Olivia Dowlerfrom Weir High School, Megan Skeanfrom Cabell Midland High Schooland Sarah Sweeneyfrom Spring Mills High School, aspire to attend law school.

Blair, who wants to help bridge the communication gap between science and policy makers, will use her environmental and energy resources managementstudies as the path to a career in environmental law.

With a passion to serve those who have been unjustly silenced, Dowler plans to eventually serve as a human rights lawyer and teach history at a university level.

She will double major in historyand world languages, literatures, and linguistics.

Inspired by her stepmother’s dedication to the environment, Skean, a co-creator of an award-winning social awareness app, believes a degree in political sciencewill provide a strong foundation for her career as an environmental lawyer.

Sweeney, an actingmajor minoring in English, believes “nothing is more satisfying than portraying a character on stage.” Although she dreams of becoming a famous actress, she also plans to pursue her backup career as a civil liberties attorney.

Many of the scholars seek careers in engineering, including Cade McMunigalfrom James Monroe High School, Madison Setifrom Bridgeport High Schooland William Turmanfrom Cabell Midland High School,who will double major in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Uncertain about his career, McMunigal is interested in the design of next-generation aircraft and spacecraft.

Seti, who found her perfect fit in her junior physics course “while delving deeper into engineering,” looks forward to a career in clean energy technologies to help keep our planet healthy.

A private pilot and four-year cadet in the AFJROTC ,Turman aspires to revolutionize the aerospace industry by leading a company that will help make aerospace more economically and environmentally friendly.

Calvin Dear,a physicsmajor from Musselman High Schoolwho has been interested in space exploration since childhood, will start his journey to become an astrophysicist. He also plans to pursue studies in astrodynamics.

A passion for STEM and inspired by the arts, Juliet Wanoskyfrom Parkersburg South High Schoolis a mechanical engineeringmajor minoring in theaterand Spanishwho dreams of becoming a Walt Disney Imagineer.

Exploring a career in biomedical engineering, Davis Funkfrom Spring Mills High Schoolwas prepared to major in mechanical engineering until his biology course at WVU this semester sparked an interest in disease research.

Elijah Jonesfrom Elkins High Schoolis a chemical engineeringmajor excited to join the research on sustainable development to help combat climate change.

Ethan Wimerfrom Preston High School, a civil and environmental engineeringmajor who has witnessed the adverse effects of mining in his hometown, will research renewable technologies in hopes of bringing economic development to his community.

Rounding out the Bucklew Scholars are Alexis Helmick, a pre-veterinary major in animal and nutritional sciences from Tyler Consolidated High Schooland William Tobin, a computer scienceand mathematics double major from Fairmont Senior High School.

Helmick, who looks forward to bridging her passions for animals and research, plans to eventually pursue her DMV and open her own practice or join the research on large animal vaccine development.

Tobin ,who believes computer science is incredibly important to our evolving world, hopes to start his own machine learning and artificial intelligence company to help reduce health care costs.

The Neil S. Bucklew Scholarship is named after WVU’s 20th president and is valued at $40,000, providing its recipients with more than $10,000 per year over four years to be used toward educational costs. All Bucklew Scholars have qualified for the Honors Collegeat WVU, and the scholarship can be used in addition to the state’s PROMISE Scholarship.

The scholarships are part of the University’s comprehensive awards program and are supported, in part, by the WVU Foundation,the private non-profit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts for the benefit of WVU.

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