Roane County Scholarship Foundation INC.

HOW IT STARTED....

Clarence H. Fields, a graduate of Spencer High School and WVU, is a retired executive of the American Farm Bureau Federation who wished to leave the bulk of his estate to provide scholarships to Roane County students. He provided the initiative and his considerable knowledge of organizing non-profit corporations, and Anita Ashley donated her legal services for the incorporation process; and the Foundation was incorporated in August, 1994. Mr. Fields has made donations totaling $25,000 to endow his scholarship fund.

...AND HOW IT GREW

A generous gift in the will of Thelma Belle Shrimplin provides two scholarships annually, and the family of Tim Boothe provides a memorial scholarship. A $2,000 scholarship is provided to honor the memory of Michael David Combs by his family, and the late William B. Young is also honored by his family with an annual scholarship. Dr. Richard and Lois Brown have established a scholarship for students who wish to pursue studies in medicine or the ministry. The local Arts and Humanities Council has established a fund to honor the late Gerald E. Snyder, and the family of Maxine Abbott Hunt provides a scholarship in memory of this former teacher.

The Spencer Rotary Club has established a perpetual scholarship fund, Charles B. Lewis has endowed a scholarship to honor the memory of his wife, Margaret Ruth Lewellen Lewis, Aaron Cottle has established a scholarship fund for nursing students in memory of his mother, Mardel DePue Cottle, and also funds the Aaron D. Cottle Scholarship of Excellence. The wife of Gaynol D. Starcher, a 1932 SHS graduate, endowed a scholarship in his memory. A local business, Contractor Services, Inc., established a $2,000 engineering scholarship, and the late Thelma Stemple Bell provided generously for a scholarship fund in her will. The parents of Phil Scott, former valedictorian at Spencer High School, provided a memorial gift to endow a $500 award to all future valedictorians, and an anonymous donor endowed the George and Gertrude Moffatt Memorial Scholarship Fund.

In 2004, the family of Roma T. Arnott, long time science teacher at SHS, established a scholarship in his memory. In 2005 the family of Christopher Raines established a scholarship in his memory, and Elsie Daugherty established scholarships in the business and education fields to honor her late husband Virgil.  The Spencer High School Alumni Association has established a scholarship award.  Eva Chapman Baber (SHS 1947) established the Eva Chapman Baber and Evelyn Chapman Whitney Scholarship.

Several Roane County school employees give through payroll deductions. Their gifts and other undesignated donations go into the General Foundation Fund, which provides a $2,000 annual scholarship, renewable for 3 more years for $1,000.

Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded 283 scholarships and awards worth $260,000.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION...

The foundation is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors representing a broad range of local groups. The by-laws spell out all operating details of the Foundation, including investment of funds, election of directors, awarding of scholarships, audits, annual reports, etc. The by-laws provide for the creation of special funds to meet the requests of donors who contribute at least $5,000.

It is the aim of the Foundation to award most scholarships from annual dividends on investments in order to create a perpetual scholarship program, although some scholarships will be awarded from current funds in the early years of the Foundation.

Elected officers of the Foundation are Paul Hughes, President, Anita Ashley, Vice President and Secretary, and Kay Cottrell, Treasurer.

An independent Investment Advisory Committee meets periodically to review investment policies and performance. Morgan Stanley currently manages the bulk of the portfolio, which totaled  $471,000 in September, 2007

BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2007-08...

HOW SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE CHOSEN...

Applications are solicited from graduating seniors at RCHS, and a Scholarship Selection Committee consisting of members of all major departments of the High School makes the recommendations to the board based on scholastic achievement, leadership and economic need. A point system is utilized to make the system as objective as possible. The recommendations are reviewed by the Board of Directors, which will make the final selections.

HOW YOU CAN HELP...

People who want to help Roane County students have several ways available through the Foundation:

* You may make a one-time donation.

* You may make regular contributions on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

* You may make contributions in Honor of an individual, organization, or event.

* You may make contributions in Memory of an individual. Families are invited to establish a permanent fund for this purpose. (In Memory cards are available to present to the family of the deceased.)

* You may designate the Foundation as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

* You may name the Foundation as a beneficiary in your will.

* You may give “appreciated assets” to the Foundation.

In each case, your gift is an authorized IRS tax deduction. West Virginia residents and businesses may also qualify for credits on state taxes for 50% of donations over $500

2007 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Extension of Prior Year Awards--2007

2006 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Extension of Prior Year Awards--2006

2005 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

EXTENSIONS OF PRIOR YEAR AWARDS...

For more information, contact Paul Hughes, President,

804 Summit Street, Spencer, WV 25276,

Phone 304-927-2319, or e-mail at phughes65@suddenlink.net.