As we look forward to Thanksgiving, it’s a great time to reflect on what we’re thankful for and celebrate the progress we’ve made so far this year. I’m grateful for each of you and the dedication you’ve shown to your education.
Just like preparing a delicious Thanksgiving meal, success in your virtual classes takes planning, effort, and patience. Keep working hard, stay focused, and finish this semester strong. Remember, every assignment you complete and every skill you build is something to be thankful for when you look back at how far you’ve come.
Let’s keep the momentum going and make this season of gratitude one filled with academic success. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
What Is the West Virginia Promise Scholarship?
The West Virginia Promise Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship offered to recent high school graduates by the state of West Virginia. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the WV Promise Scholarship will provide recipients with $5,500 in funding per academic year to help cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for an associate or bachelor’s degree. Students must meet residency requirements and certain academic standards to qualify for this scholarship opportunity.
You can apply for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship if you:
- Have lived in West Virginia for at least 12 consecutive months
- Are a junior or senior in high school or have graduated from high school within the last two years
- Have earned at least half your high school credits from a public or private high school in West Virginia (if your parent or guardian is in the military, or if you commute daily to a high school just outside West Virginia, you may qualify for an exception to this requirement)
- Are planning to attend an accredited college or university within West Virginia
- Are planning to attend as a first-year, full-time student
- Applicants need to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The GPA requirement applies to your overall GPA, but you must also maintain a 3.0 or B in the following core subjects:
- English
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences (history, social studies, civics, etc.)
- Natural Sciences (biology, earth and space science, etc.)
- Test Scores (you may use either test to qualify)
- SAT scores:
- Minimum overall score of 1080 (To achieve your 1080 total score, you cannot have a score below 510 in either of the test’s sub-sections)
- ACT scores:
- Minimum composite score of 21 (To achieve your 21 composite score, you cannot have a score below 19 in any of the test’s sub-sections.)
How Do I Apply for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship?
Most years, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) before applying for the WV Promise Scholarship, so the committee can work out how much to award you in funding if you qualify.
To complete your application, you will need to:
- Make an account on the West Virginia Student Aid Management (WVSAM) website: https://www.cfwv.com/wvsam-account/
- Complete the online application via the WVSAM website
- Take your SAT no later than June or your ACT no later than July (scores are automatically submitted to WVSAM)
The holiday season can be tough for a lot of people for many different reasons. However, even on hard days, if you look closely, you can find something that makes you thankful. Some days it might be that your mom brought pizza home for dinner or you got to sleep in a little longer. I challenge you to make a list of things you appreciate. Choose one thing for each day. If you choose a person, make sure to tell them as we can all use a little encouragement. Keep your list somewhere you can see it frequently and reread it each day.
Robert Caspar Lintner once said, “Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.” By focusing on the good things and positive memories, you can make this holiday season one to truly enjoy.
