Supporting the educational endeavors of deserving high school seniors in West Virginia.

MOUNTAINEER MEDIA EVENT BENEFITS THE ALMOST HEAVEN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

On June 6th & 7th, Mountaineer Media hosted the Almost Heaven Classic which consisted of a networking event on Friday night at Adventures on the Gorge near Fayetteville, WV. In addition to the opportunity of meeting with business people from around the state, a stellar panel discussed the importance of tourism and its economic impact on the state.

On Saturday, the venue shifted to Glade Springs for a golf tournament at that facility. Nearly 130 participated in the event.

All the events of the Almost Heaven Classic will help provide scholarships for deserving high school seniors in the state who will be furthering their education at West Virginia colleges or universities.

Thanks to Mountaineer Media for their assistance in helping provide for this worthy cause.

THE ALMOST HEAVEN SCHOLARSHIP FUND ISSUES EIGHT AWARDS TO WEST VIRGINIA STUDENTS

The Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund Issued Scholarships to eight deserving West Virginia high school seniors.

Chairman Lisa Agona announced the award winners on May 7, 2025.  All recipients are graduating seniors of West Virginia High Schools and will receive awards for the first semester of their freshman year of college.

2025 Scholarship winners are:

Jaidyn Kelly of Weirton, WV.   Ms. Kelly will graduate from Weirton High School and plans to attend West Virginia University.  Jaidyn was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Ted & Mary Ann Stolarczyk Trust Scholarship.

Shailyn Wickline of Gap Mills, WV.  Ms. Wickline will graduate from James Monroe High School and will attend the University of Charleston.

Riley Vereen of Sylvester, WV.  Ms. Vereen will graduate from Sherman High School and plans to attend West Virginia University.

Isaac Cozort of Lindside, WV.  Mr. Cozort will graduate James Monroe High School and plans to attend Concord University.

Jylee Nelson of Maysville, WV.  Ms. Nelson will be graduating from Petersburg High School and plans to attend Shephard University.

Kaleigh Workman of Bim, WV.  Ms. Workman will graduate from Van Junior Senior High School and plans to attend the University of Charleston.

Zoie Meadows of Ravenswood, WV.  Ms. Meadows will graduate from Ravenswood High School and plans to attend Fairmont State.

Mylie Scott of Dallas, WV.  Ms. Scott will graduate from John Marshall High School and will attend Fairmont State.

“It is an honor to award these scholarships to a deserving group of students,” added Chairman Agona. “These eight recipients exemplify the scholastic and community attributes that make them standout.”

Your Donation Helps West Virginia High School Seniors Succeed!

Your tax-deductible donation to the Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund will assist West Virginia high school seniors initiate their advanced educational endeavors at a Mountain State college or university. This is the future of this great state, and you can help with a donation of any amount. Use the QR Code to the left to promote education throughout West Virginia.

Thank you for your support of the Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund.

Scholarship Fund

The Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund is a non-profit entity created to support the educational endeavors of deserving high school seniors in West Virginia.

Scholarships will be granted annually to qualifying students meeting low income standards and will be attending a college or university in the state of West Virginia.

Scholarship funds will be granted only for the purpose of tuition as the checks will be made payable to the West Virginia institution selected by the candidate.

For more information, email twells@starusafcu.com to learn about the Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund and the benefits of participating in this program.

Past Winners

Chloe Quesenberry

  • Hometown: Herndon, WV
  • High School: Wyoming East High School
  • College or University: Marshall University

Lilliana Hannan

  • Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
  • High School: Martinsburg High School
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Kirsten Boggess

  • Hometown: Van, WV
  • High School: Van High School
  • College or University: Concord University

Megan Griffey

  • Hometown: Williamson, WV
  • High School: Tug Valley High School
  • College or University: Marshall University

Hubert Marcum

  • Hometown: Williamson, WV
  • High School: Tug Valley High School
  • College or University: Southern WV Community College

Kirsten Brown

  • Hometown: Welch, WV
  • High School: Mount View High School
  • College or University: Bluefield State University

Preslea L. Smith

  • Hometown: Maysville, WV
  • High School: Petersburg High School
  • College or University: Potomac State College

Ivanna D. Wilt

  • Hometown: Davis, WV
  • High School: Tucker County High School
  • College or University: Shepherd University

Harmony R. Schell

  • Hometown: Petersburg, WV
  • High School: Petersburg High School
  • College or University: Fairmont State University

Quentin D. Ibarra

  • Hometown: Poca, WV
  • High School: Poca High School
  • College or University: Marshall University

Samantha Long

  • Hometown: Parsons, WV
  • High School: Tucker County High School
  • College or University: Pierpont Community and Technical College

Megan Wadsworth

  • Hometown: Summersville, WV
  • High School: Nicholas County High School
  • College or University: WVU - Tech

Haley Ward

  • Hometown: Ravenswood, WV
  • High School: Ravenswood High School
  • College or University: WVU – Parkersburg

Sidney Walls

  • Hometown: Nitro, WV
  • High School: Poca High School
  • College or University: Marshall University

Logan Shay Waugh

  • Hometown: Glasgow
  • High School: Riverside
  • College or University: WVU - Tech

Olivia Shay Bird

  • Hometown: Hurricane
  • High School: Hurricane High School
  • College or University: West Virginia State University

Sophie Irene Leffew

  • Hometown: Glasgow
  • High School: Riverside
  • College or University: Marshall University

Isabelle Juliann Nesbit

  • Hometown: Moorefield
  • High School: Moorefield
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Abby Bolton

  • Hometown: Comfort
  • High School: Sherman
  • College or University: Marshall University

Hannah Alexis White

  • Hometown: Holden
  • High School: Mingo Central
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Erica Gail Bierschwale

  • Hometown: Wellsburg
  • High School: Brooke
  • College or University: West Virginia Northern Community College

Branson A. Nagy

  • Hometown: Isaban
  • High School: Mingo Central
  • College or University: Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College

Reagan McCoy

  • Hometown: Bruno
  • High School: Man
  • College or University: Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College

Kortney P. Woodward

  • Hometown: Wheeling
  • High School: Wheeling Park
  • College or University: WVU - Parkersburg

Jacob Hale Rice

  • Hometown: Friendly
  • High School: Tyler Consolidated
  • College or University: WVU - Parkersburg

Alex Makara Yoho

  • Hometown: Moundsville
  • High School: John Marshall
  • College or University: West Liberty University

Michaela Ruth Perri

  • Hometown:Bridgeport
  • High School: Bridgeport
  • College or University: Marshall University

Megan Maria Ayala

  • Hometown:Wheeling
  • High School: Wheeling Park
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Benjamin Bjorn Harman

  • Hometown: Weston
  • High School: Lewis County
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Olivia Paige Ferguson

  • Hometown: Elkins
  • High School: Elkins
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Abigail Lucille Long

  • Hometown: Parsons
  • High School: Tucker County
  • College or University: Shepherd University

Jennifer M. Cain

  • Hometown: Cameron
  • High School: Cameron
  • College or University: West Liberty University

Brooke Nash

  • Hometown: Elkins
  • High School: Elkins
  • College or University: West Virginia University

Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund

Board of Directors

Ms. Tamra Wells, Director

Chief Financial Officer

Star USA Federal Credit Union (Charleston, WV)

Ms. Stacy Shaw, Director

Vice President, Luxury Division

Starboard Luxury (Miami, FL)

Dr. Darren Harris, Director

M. D.

Bako Diagnostics (Alpharetta, GA)

Mr. Frank Fazzolari, Director

Executive Director

The Counseling Connection (Charleston, WV)

Ms. Lisa Agona, Chair

Consulting Chief Marketing Officer

DAS42 (Chicago, IL)

Mr. Michael Stolarczyk, Vice- Chair

Global Account Management

Hapag-Lloyd (America), LLC (Atlanta, GA)

Mr. Daniel Smithson, Treasurer

President/CEO

Star USA Federal Credit Union (Charleston, WV)

Mr. Stephen Hewitt, Secretary

At Large – Community Director (St. Albans, WV)

Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund

Applicants must fall at or below 80% of West Virginia median household income to qualify for the Almost Heaven Scholarship. That is $46,334 (based on median household income of $57,917).

Please provide documentation verifying that your household income meets this requirement. ALL INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.

Completed applications are due by April 15, 2025.

Return all information to: Almost Heaven Scholarship Fund, One Cantley Drive, Charleston, WV 25314