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Incoming college freshmen will receive $40,000 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award CHARLESTON, WV – Twenty-seven high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s third 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. “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…

CHARLESTON, WV – To help more students qualify for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship, the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission has approved temporary changes to the merit-based scholarship program for the high school graduating classes of 2022 and 2023. These adjustments come as students continue working academically to overcome challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.  For students in the high school graduating classes of 2022 and 2023, the test score requirements to qualify for Promise are as follows:   ACT composite score – 21 (regularly 22); ACT English score – 19 (regularly 20); ACT Reading score – 19 (regularly 20); ACT…

CHARLESTON, WV – Current high school seniors who are interested in becoming teachers in West Virginia have until December 31 of this year to apply for the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program. This scholarship, now entering its third year, provides up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for 25 new scholars each year from a national applicant pool. “Teaching is one of the most important and rewarding careers a student can choose to pursue. Our Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars represent West Virginia’s most promising future teachers, and we’re ready to welcome even…

CHARLESTON, WV – Kicking off Sept. 13, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System are launching a series of 20 financial aid webinars for students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. The series, which runs through April 5, will cover general financial aid information, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and information specific to the Promise Scholarship, West Virginia Invests Grant, Higher Education Grant, Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship. “West Virginia offers more than $100 million each year in financial aid for…

CHARLESTON, WV – Twenty-five high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s second 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. “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 for Higher Education. “We worked with the Legislature and…

CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission today honored Huntington attorney Michael J. Farrell, Esq., who has served as the Commission’s chairman for the past four years. Andrew “Drew” Payne III, who has worked in the financial industry for more than 30 years, will succeed Farrell, who will now serve as vice chair. Diana Lewis Jackson, the founder, president and CEO of Action Facilities Management in Morgantown, will continue serving as secretary. “Chairman Farrell is a true champion for our higher education system and students, advocating steadily for West Virginians to have affordable access to public postsecondary…

CHARLESTON, WV – In a special meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted to extend the deadline for current high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship until July 1, 2021. Because of challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for the merit-based scholarship were down 27 percent as of the original March 1 deadline compared to the same time last year, prompting Governor Jim Justice to call for an extended deadline. While the Promise application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are due by July 1, students have until the end of August…

CHARLESTON, WV – Governor Jim Justice today announced that he is dedicating $341,000 in federal CARES Act funding to provide free ACT testing opportunities for high school seniors applying for the Promise Scholarship, making West Virginia the first state in the nation to cover these costs for students because of the COVID-19 emergency. Through this state-sponsored effort, a student will be able to take one free ACT On-Campus exam administered on a college campus in West Virginia. In a normal year, high school seniors register to take the ACT exam at a national testing center, typically held at a local…

CHARLESTON, WV – The deadline for West Virginia high school seniors in the 2021 graduating class to apply for the Promise Scholarship is now just around the corner. Students have until midnight this Monday, March 1, to complete both the Promise application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the scholarship program, which provides up to $4,750 per year to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at in-state colleges and universities. “We are so proud that West Virginia ranks in the top 10 states for providing financial aid for college. Thanks to…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with additional flexibilities in accessing two critical state financial aid programs. These changes come as standardized testing opportunities continue to be uncertain during the COVID-19 crisis. Following today’s vote, high school seniors who graduated in 2020 can now qualify for the Promise Scholarship by taking an ACT or SAT exam by December 31, 2020. High school seniors in the graduating class of 2021 can qualify by taking an exam by August 31, 2021. The test score requirements for Promise remain the same: ACT: 22…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kicking off tomorrow, September 1, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System are launching a series of 20 financial aid webinars for students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. The series, which runs through the end of April, will cover general financial aid information, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and updates regarding specific programs including the PROMISE Scholarship, West Virginia Invests, the Higher Education Grant, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and the Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship. Financial aid staff will also be…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Twenty-five high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s first 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. “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 Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System. “When…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With national testing dates affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has worked with colleges and universities across the state to make ACT on-campus testing available for this year’s graduating high school seniors who have applied for the PROMISE Scholarship. Applicants can qualify for PROMISE for the fall semester by earning qualifying scores through on-campus testing by the end of September. Students are encouraged to take the test at the college they plan to attend in the 2020-21 academic year. After testing is complete, the administering college will send scores to the…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with greater flexibilities in qualifying for the PROMISE Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year. With national ACT and SAT testing currently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students will now be able to qualify for PROMISE for the fall semester by taking an ACT or SAT test by the end of October 2020. In addition, students will be able to use scores from residual tests, which are the same as the national ACT or SAT but administered, scored, and accepted by state colleges. “West…