The parents of Colby Smyth, a 2011 West Virginia University graduate, have created an endowment through the WVU Foundation, to support students in the WVU Student Support Services Program who have demonstrated a desire for academic success despite financial or personal hardship.
The WVU SSS program provides individualized services to students who are either first-generation, income eligible, or have learning or physical disability. Based on their needs and goals, SSS assists students with academic accomplishments and social and cultural enrichment so they may successfully complete baccalaureate degrees.
Rodney and Linda Smyth, of Vienna, VA, have donated $50,000 to create the Smyth Family Scholarship endowment. The gift will be administered through the WVU Foundation, and will provide undergraduate SSS scholarships for students from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky enrolled in any major at WVU.
“My father grew up the son of a coal miner in western Pennsylvania. Despite the hardships he faced growing up during the depression, he put himself through college and law school, making him the first person in his family to go to college.” Rodney Smith said.
“We want to help promising students facing financial hardship or other personal difficulties to have the same opportunity to go to college. We appreciate how WVU provides the opportunity for a quality education to less advantaged students.”
Applicants from the SSS program who have demonstrated a desire for academic success will submit a 500-word essay describing any difficult circumstances that they or their family have faced, including personal or financial hardships. The essay will describe how these events have affected their academic performance, and how they have responded personally to overcome them. The essay will also address what efforts the student has made, or is making to meet the financial requirements to attend West Virginia University.
A student who is a recipient one year is eligible for consideration in any other year provided they continue to demonstrate good academic standing and the need for financial aid. Recipients must maintain a GPA of 2.50 after their freshman year, and a GPA of 2.80 in years thereafter.
“The nice thing about the Smyth’s gift is it will catch students from West Virginia who are not eligible for the Promise Scholarship, as well as some of our out-of-state students in need of financial assistance,” said SSS Director Cynthia Drumm. “This generous gift from the Smyth family will allow us to help one or two more students reach their academic goals each year.”
Colby Smyth earned a bachelor’s degree this spring from the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in Multidisciplinary Studies. Colby’s positive experience at WVU and Linda’s experience as a first-generation student were also motivating factors for the Smyth gift.
The WVU Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts for the benefit if WVU.
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CONTACT: Cynthia Drumm, Student Support Services
304.293.6629, Cynthia.drumm@mail.wvu.edu
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