West Virginia Radio Corporation is establishing an endowed scholarship at West Virginia University in honor of a long-time employee.

The Hoppy Kercheval Endowed Scholarship recognizes Kercheval’s 40 years of service to the company as a successful and highly respected news/sports broadcaster and radio talk show host.

“Of all the incredible accomplishments in his professional life, I can say with certainty that Hoppy’s personal pride comes from his long association with West Virginia University,” said Dale Miller, president and CEO of West Virginia Radio Corporation. “It’s a reflection of that love for his alma mater that that we established a scholarship in his name.”

The endowment will provide undergraduate scholarships for students in any major who are graduates of Jefferson High School in Jefferson County, W.Va. Recipients will be selected based on financial need and GPA. Kercheval grew up in Jefferson County and graduated from Jefferson High before attending WVU where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degree.

“West Virginia Radio Corporation’s generous gift will help make it possible for a student from my high school to attend WVU,” Kercheval said. “The University made a significant impact on my life, and I want to help others have the same opportunity.”

The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Kercheval joined West Virginia Radio Corporation in 1976. He began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while still attending WVU. After graduating with honors, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and began carving his identity as one of the leading broadcasters in West Virginia.

A founding father of Metronews, Kercheval served as news director until assuming the role of vice president of operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. Kercheval’s gift of interviewing has made Talkline a must-listen for lawmakers and anyone interested in state politics and the day’s top news events.

Kercheval has received a number of honors over the years, including the Mel Burka Award, which is given annually by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to the state’s top broadcaster. Most recently, Kercheval was a member of the 2015 class of broadcasters inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

He and his wife, Karin, live in Morgantown. Kercheval has one son, Ben, who lives in Austin, Texas where he is a writer for CBS Sports.

The gift establishing the Hoppy Kercheval Endowed Scholarship was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The Campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2017.

-WVU-

bn/11/14/16

CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org

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