St. Clairsville Grad One of First Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars
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WEST LIBERTY - Emma Haley of St. Clairsville has been named a Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholar at West Liberty University, and is one of just 25 recent high school graduates who were selected to receive the honor in the scholarship's first year.
These students will receive West Virginia's newest and most prestigious scholarship of up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total -- for their college education as they prepare to pursue careers as teachers in the state.
Haley graduated from St. Clairsville High School as salutatorian and plans to double major in early education and special education in WLU's College of Education and Human Performance. Haley was a four-year member of the basketball and track and field team in high school and will be continuing her track career at WLU.
"I'm honored to be one of the first students from outside West Virginia to earn the scholarship," Haley said.
The daughter of two WLU alumni, Debra Wheeler Haley and Patrick Haley, her mother is a teacher at Bethlehem Elementary School in Wheeling and is her inspiration.
"My mom's the reason that I'm going into teaching, her love and dedication to her profession is inspiring," Haley added. "But my dad is the one who came across the Underwood-Smith Scholars Program and encouraged me to apply."
Her father earned a criminal justice degree at WLU and is employed by the state of Ohio.
"I'm incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can't wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond," said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, chancellor of West Virginia's Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System.
"When we worked with the Legislature and Governor Justice last year to revamp this program, we knew we wanted to create a preeminent scholarship that would produce new generations of strong, committed teachers for years to come in the Mountain State. This cohort is just the beginning, and it's certainly a bright one."
"I am pleased to congratulate the inaugural class of Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars. Their interest in and commitment to education is commendable, and I know this scholarship is paving the way to build capacity among our teacher ranks," State Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch said. "The challenges we face in filling content areas such as math, science and special education are very real. Programs such as this will assist us to meet the demand with a highly qualified corps of new teachers."
This program -- the first in the state to be open to a national applicant pool -- is designed to help West Virginia address ongoing teacher shortages in the fields of math, science, special education and elementary education. Recipients commit to teaching in one of these high-demand fields in West Virginia for at least five years after graduation. To give students the greatest chance at success, each is paired with a practicing classroom teacher mentor, who will provide guidance throughout their college careers.
Haley is the only local student out of the 25 to receive the scholarship.
A virtual celebration of the scholars will be held on Wednesday, July 29 at 2 p.m. on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/HEPCMediaCenter.
For rising high school seniors who want to become a teacher in West Virginia, applications open today for the 2021 cohort.
The Underwood-Smith award is stackable with other forms of financial aid. Visit underwoodsmith.org for more information.