State selects 24 students for West Virginia’s prestigious teaching scholarship 

Incoming college freshmen will receive $40,000 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Twenty-four high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s sixth cohort of Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars. These students will receive the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship of up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for their college education as they prepare to pursue rewarding careers as West Virginia teachers. 

The Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program is a competitive scholarship for high school seniors and recent high school graduates with a passion for teaching and a history of high academic achievement, community service, and active involvement in extracurricular activities while in high school.

“I’m incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “This is West Virginia’s preeminent scholarship that is helping produce new generations of outstanding teachers who are eager to make a difference in their hometowns and in the Mountain State. We now have about 150 scholars pursuing their teaching careers right here at home, and we want them to know how important they are to the future of this great state.”

The Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program is designed to help West Virginia address ongoing teacher shortages in the fields of math, science, special education, and elementary education. Recipients commit to teaching in one of these high-demand fields in West Virginia for at least five years after graduation. To give students the greatest chance at success, each is paired with a practicing classroom teacher mentor, who provides guidance throughout their college careers. 

The 2025 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars beginning their studies in West Virginia this fall are:  

• Caelyn Bartley from Berkeley Springs High School will be studying elementary education at Shepherd University.
• Haylee Chapman from Cabell Midland High School will be studying math at Marshall University.
• Molli Taylor from East Fairmont High School will be studying special education at Fairmont State University.
• Jenna Groves from Greenbrier East High School will be studying math at Concord University.
• Donavin Penn from Greenbrier East High School will be studying elementary education at Marshall University.
• Madison Sherman from Fisher will be studying elementary education at Shepherd University.
• Abigail Lynch from Midland Trail High School will be studying elementary education at Fairmont State University.
• Julia Oliverio from Morgantown High School will be studying math at West Virginia University.
• Amelia Morgan from North Marion High School will be studying elementary education at Fairmont State University.
• Kailyn Humphrey from Oak Hill High School will be studying elementary education at Concord University.
• Sydney Davis from Parkersburg High School will be studying elementary education at West Virginia University.
• Grace Martin from Petersburg High School will be studying elementary education at Shepherd University.
• Audrey Mongold from Petersburg High School will be studying elementary education at West Virginia University.
• Lucas Posey from Philip Barbour High School will be studying math at West Virginia University.
• Miranda Gum from Pocahontas County High School will be studying elementary education at Glenville State University.
• Elizabeth Handley from Point Pleasant High School will be studying elementary education at Marshall University.
• Lukas Herrell from Sherman High School will be studying math at West Virginia State University.
• Mary Morrison from St. Marys High School will be studying elementary education at WVU at Parkersburg.
• Joshua Copley from Tug Valley High School will be studying science at Marshall University.
• Carley Bryan from University High School will be studying elementary education at Fairmont State University.
• Madalyn Brown from Westside High School will be studying elementary education at Concord University.
• Ciera Faulstick from Wheeling Park High School will be studying elementary education at Wheeling Park High School.
• Abigail Howard from Wheeling Park High School will be studying elementary education at West Virginia University.
• Allison Hoffman from Winfield High School will be studying math at Marshall University.

Scholar highlights will be featured throughout the month of July on the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Facebook page.