FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2008

For more information:
Bob Edwards
Public Relations Department Assistant
Glenville State College
Glenville, West Virginia
(304) 462-7361x7610

Glenville, WV—Glenville State College President Dr. Peter Barr and his wife Betsy visited the Wirt County Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, March 11th to promote the GSC Hidden Promise Scholars Program. One-by-one, Barr has been visiting each of the thirteen counties participating in the Hidden Promise Scholars initiative.

Following a brief address to the board meeting, Barr hosted a reception for the Wirt County students who have been selected to participate in the Hidden Promise Scholars Program. The students and their parents heard an explanation of the program, had a question and answer session, received GSC ID cards and t-shirts, and enjoyed refreshments.

The Wirt County Hidden Promise Scholars are; seniors Caleb Koon,

Jeremiah Twyman, Richard Goff, and Maxx Myers, juniors, Ashley Belt, Samantha Hardbarger, Samantha Kelley, Samantha Walker, and Brittany Williamson, sophomores Matthew Coe, Tonya Hopkins, Amanda Richards, and Emry Shears, and freshmen Chelsea Somerville, Kyle Long, Kory Long, Tyleranne Jones and Karly Bennett, eight graders Stanley Beckner, Zachary Lockhart, James Lynch, Zachary Tanner and Jacob Wigal.

The Hidden Promise Scholars Program is an agreement between thirteen central West Virginia counties and Glenville State College to improve communications between higher education and K-12, increase ACT scores and increase the number of college graduates. Each county school system selects five students in grades 8 through 12 to participate in the program. Glenville State College will provide academic support including summer camps, electronic tutoring, and mentors to work with the Hidden Promise Scholars. Barr told the students, “Our goal is to give each of you all the tools and opportunities we can to help you become successful college students.” Any of the selected students who enroll at GSC will receive a $1,000 scholarship, which is renewable each year.

Currently, there are thirteen Hidden Promise Scholars attending GSC including Andrew Schreckengost of Wirt County. Seventy-five seniors from the participating counties will be eligible to receive Hidden Promise Scholar Scholarships if they enroll at GSC next fall.

Dr. Barr will be visiting each of the thirteen counties participating in the Hidden Promise Scholars program over the coming weeks.