Five aspiring teachers graduating from local high schools this year are among 25 future educators named Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars for 2021.

The students will receive up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for their four-year college education as they prepare for a future career in education in West Virginia. The money can be used to pay for eligible college expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, and textbooks.

Recipients also will be paired with a practicing teacher in their chosen field to help them navigate the college path to becoming a teacher.

The following 2021 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars recently graduating from local high schools all are pursuing degrees in elementary education.

∫ Kamryn Bable, Brooke High School, will attend West Virginia University.

∫ Isabella Forget, Wheeling Park High School, also will be a student at WVU.

∫ Maura Hicks, WPHS, will go to West Liberty University.

∫ Lauren Marquart, a third WPHS student, will attend WVU.

∫ Lakyn Parker, John Marshall High School, will be a student at WLU.

“The program for your area (bordering Ohio and West Virginia) is especially helpful,” said Jessica Tice, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. “This is the first program of its kind open to students nationally.”

Applicants do not have to be West Virginia residents, but they must be students who show an interest in coming to the state and remaining here to teach, she explained. While none of this year’s scholars were from out of state, there were some among the 2020 applicants, according to Tice.

Recipients of the scholarships must agree to teach in a West Virginia public school in an area of critical need — such as math, science, elementary education or special education — for a period of five years after graduating from college, according to the program’s criteria.

The scholarship may be used at any eligible West Virginia public or private, non-profit college or university offering West Virginia Board of Education-approved teacher preparation programs in math, science, elementary education, or special education.

The Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars program was updated in 2019 by the West Virginia Legislature to meet the growing need for trained educators in the state, explained Brian Weingart, senior director of financial aid for the WVHEPC. Lawmakers doubled the amount of the scholarship from $5,000 to $10,000 per year for a four-year period, he said.

In addition, more students are receiving the scholarship. Previously, the program was limited to just 30 students at a time maximum. Now 25 scholarships are awarded each year for a total of 100 students in the program once it is fully implemented.

Applications for next year’s scholarship opens July 15. Information may be viewed at www.underwoodsmith.org.