Yeager Scholars Class of 2010 selected

Eleven students (photos below) will begin their studies at Marshall University this fall as the newest members of the Society of Yeager Scholars. The Society is named for West Virginia native Ret. Brigadier General Charles “Chuck” Yeager, who piloted the first plane to break the sound barrier.

The 11 students were selected for their high academic aptitude scores, excellent grades, interpersonal and communication skills, readiness to accept and meet challenges, and leadership potential.

They will join 32 other Yeager Scholars already on campus. Along with these students, they will participate in special interdisciplinary seminars and extracurricular activities that challenge them to expand their intellectual development in keeping with their potential.

As Yeager Scholars, they are required to maintain a rigorous course load with a 3.5 GPA and to participate in campus activities, as well as in activities associated with the Yeager program, such as an annual symposium. They also will have the opportunity to study literature, political science, or history at Oxford University in the summer after their sophomore year, and they will have another opportunity for study abroad in a program related to their major and/or their foreign language minor.   

Competition for these scholarships was keen, with students applying from as far away as Michigan and Florida. The 11 students chosen were selected through three levels of review: examination of their applications and two interviews – one by local interviewers near their homes, and one by a panel of interviewers on the Marshall University campus.

The decision on selection of the 11 scholars was the result of hundreds of hours of work by many different people – university faculty and staff, university alumni, Society of Yeager Board members and community members.

 “We wish that we had enough scholarship money to fund all the candidates,” Dr. Edwina Pendarvis, interim executive director of Marshall’s John R. Hall Center of Excellence, said.  “Selecting 11 is terribly difficult because all of the applicants are so strong both academically and in leadership potential.”

This group of scholars has a wide variety of academic interests, as does each year’s entering scholars. While they were on campus for interviews in early March, they talked with professors about possible majors, such as chemistry, biology, English, political science, theater, music and history. Like many honors students, some of these scholars will end up with more than one major.

The following students were chosen as the Yeager Scholars Class of 2010:

Jessica Marie Beres of Star City, W.Va. She will graduate from Morgantown High School and is interested in a career in public health.	Matthew Raymond Caldwell of Ironton, Ohio. Caldwell will graduate from St. Joseph Central Catholic High School. He plans to major in engineering at Marshall and perhaps in aeronautical engineering in graduate school.	Charles Wesley Clements, II, of Huntington. He will graduate from Huntington High School. He plans to major in biology and physics and eventually study orthopedics and biomedical engineering.

Joshua Fong Hendrix of Bluefield, W.Va. Hendrix will graduate from Bluefield High School and plans to major in chemistry. He has an interest in ophthalmology.	Anthony Michael Hernandez of Akron, Ohio. He hopes to become a pediatrician. He also plans to continue his volunteer work through mission trips to other countries.	Rachel Nicole Huff of Dillsburg, Pa. Huff will graduate from Northern York High School. She plans to major in journalism in college and, after college, hopes to participate in the Africa Teaching Intern program sponsored by Grassroots Soccer.

David Ramzi Hourani of Cross Lanes, W.Va. He is planning to study medicine, but he also hopes to be a soccer coach for a youth team.	Rachel Claire Kenaston of Lewisburg, W.Va. She will graduate from Greenbrier East High School. Kenaston plans to major in communications or broadcasting. She is interested in politics and film-making.	Megan Leigh Stafford of Arab, Ala. She will graduate from Arab High School. She plans to major in biology in preparation for medical school.

Elizabeth Diane Truex of Tallmadge, Ohio. She will graduate from Tallmadge High School. She plans to major in microbiology and is especially interested in public service.	Joshua Dean Wimmer of Davy, W.Va. He will graduate from Westside High School. He plans to major in biology, perhaps in preparation for medical school. Wimmer is interested in public health, particularly for those who have limited access to health care.

For information about the Society of Yeager Scholars, persons may contact the John R. Hall Center for Academic Excellence by calling (304) 696-2475.