BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Fifteen West Virginia high school juniors have been named finalists in the West Virginia Scholar Program and are in the running for a full-ride scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Online voting begins June 9 and will end June 18. The winners will be announced at a luncheon at Wesleyan in late June.

The 2025 WV Scholar Finalists:

Emily Lewis – Ripley High School

Lucas Raney – Woodrow Wilson High School

Magdalyn Smith – Spring Mills High School

Isabella Hersey – Marion County Technical Center

Trey Mcdonough – Doddridge County High School

Andrew Harris – Elkins High School

Madeline Steele – St. Mary’s High School

Ladora Cutright – Buckhannon-Upshur High School

Olivia Edwards – Ripley High School

Wyatt Braham (pronounced BRAM) – Preston High School 

Bethany Archer – Lewis – Bridgeport High School

Rhubarb (Rhuby) Ronan – Huntington High School

Owen Herrick – Magnolia High School

Gabrielle Saurino – Preston High School

Logan Vanfosson – Greenbrier East High School

West Virginia Wesleyan Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing John Waltz said the program has changed many lives over the course of 18 years.

“We have been doing this long enough now that there are winners of this program who are doctors, lawyers and other things right in our state, right in our community. So, it has been amazing to see these folks make this kind of impact.” said Waltz. “It really makes the program worthwhile.”

The winner of the scholarship will receive four years of tuition, room and board.

First and second runners-up will also receive scholarships awards.

In addition to WVWC and MetroNews, the West Virginia Scholar Program is sponsored by Greer Industries, Friends of Coal, West Virginia Hospital Association, the West Virginia Farm Bureau and ZMM Architects & Engineers.