CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 26,000 West Virginia students submitted applications for full Hope Scholarship funding for the next school year.

State Treasurer Larry Pack and his office announced the latest application numbers in a release Monday. Pack’s office said 26,617 students applied during the first application period from March 2 to June 15. The estimated cost for Hope Scholarship funding, as it currently stands, is $155 million.

The first window for students to apply for 100-percent funding closed last Monday. The state treasurer’s office said the cost for this year will rise as students submit applications. Students can apply for 75 percent of the full funding amount until September 15.

The release said around $277 million was allocated by the West Virginia Legislature and Gov. Patrick Morrisey for Hope Scholarship funding during the 2026 Legislative Session.

“We are so excited to welcome thousands of new families into the Hope Scholarship Program. Seeing the Education Savings Account nearly double in participation is a true indicator of the impact and popularity of the program,” Pack said. “Now our team turns their attention to helping these students get the resources they need to tailor their education towards their unique needs. Our goal is for West Virginia will continue to lead the nation in education innovation as we continue to build the program.”

The state treasurer’s office said the 2026-27 full scholarship amount is $5,435.62 per student, with those funds distributed quarterly.

More students are eligible for Hope Scholarship funding this year with more flexibility offered for school choice. The state treasurer’s office said that private school and traditional homeschool students can apply to the Education Savings Account program for 2026-27 academic funding.

The state treasurer’s office broke down each applicant’s eligibility for funding based on when applications are submitted.

June 16 — September 15, 2026: 75% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
September 16 — November 30, 2026: 50% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
December 1, 2026 — February 28, 2027: 25% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.

Students can apply online here.

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — Davis and Elkins College is home to the Flynn Planetarium, which is the host of different events showcasing the mysteries of the universe. This past weekend, guests were able to grab some snacks and learn about stars, planets and galaxies.

Jerod Caligiuri, an assistant professor of astronomy at the school hosted the series of events. He believes the space is an important place for people to learn about the unknown.

“It’s a great resource. It’s a small planetarium but it’s a great resource for the community,” Caligiuri said.

Since launching a Facebook page for the planetarium, he said hundreds have come to see what it is all about. Caligiuri added that nobody knows everything about the universe and that adds to the fun of exploring it.

“Nobody knows everything and that’s what makes it exciting” Caligiuri said. “So, there’s always more to learn, always more to discover, and it’s a really big universe out there,”

He added that over the years, the planetarium has seen some upgrades, but he is still looking to lift up it’s capabilities.

“If donations come in, I would love to upgrade the projection system,” Caligiuri said.

He finished by encouraging people to check it out next time they have an event.