FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2021

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - Dr. John P. Shock Jr. has established two scholarships at Glenville State College (GSC). 

The Dr. John P. Shock Jr. and William “Bill” Talbott Scholarship was established to support students from Webster County or Gilmer County High School who are attending Glenville State College. Shock created this scholarship to honor his lifelong friendship with Talbott, recognizing the importance of higher education and the opportunities it has provided them both.

The Dr. John P. Shock Jr. and Nancy Hall Shock Scholarship is designed to support students from Logan County or Gilmer County High School who are attending Glenville State College. Dr. Shock created the scholarship to honor his wife Nancy, and to recognize their combined love for Glenville State College and the opportunities it helped provide them.

Scholarship recipients will be selected by GSC’s Scholarship Committee. Recipients will be students with financial need, with first priority going to students majoring in a medical-related field. The student must meet academic standards set forth by the scholarship committee. The award can be renewed for four years providing the student maintains a 3.0 GPA and continues to make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. 

Dr. Shock, after graduating from Glenville High School, attended two years at Glenville State, from 1953 to 1955, at which time he was accepted to U. S. Military Academy, West Point where he obtained his BS degree. While at Glenville State, Shock was “Sergeant at Arms” of the student council and lettered in football. He is a distinguished professor in the Department of Ophthalmology in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology and retinal disease. Shock received his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and attended Duke University School of Medicine. He completed an ophthalmology residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and a fellowship in retinal disease and surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida. A talented physician and surgeon, Shock holds three patents for surgical instruments he designed. He has served as chief of staff of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center. He chaired the national Residency Review Committee for Ophthalmology from 1993 to 1996. He served as president of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology in 2002-2003, a past board member from 1998 to 2001. He is the first holder of the John P. Shock, M.D., Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology, an honor with which he was vested in 1995.

“It is a great privilege to establish these scholarships. I first met Nancy when we were both students at Glenville State and Bill, also a former GSC student, who has been a lifelong friend from Webster Springs,” Shock said.

Talbott served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot before earning his law degree. He practiced law for over 40 years and was the prosecuting attorney in Webster County for more than 20 years. In addition to maintaining a private law practice, he also built several business. Talbott attended Potomac State for two years, Glenville State for a year, and the West Virginia University College of Law for his law degree. He met his late wife, Brenda, during his time at GSC. “John and I have been truly best friends our whole lives. We’re pleased to be part of these scholarships because we understand the importance of education and are excited to support future students at Glenville State College,” Talbott said.

Nancy attended Glenville State for two years before later graduating from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston). She taught in Logan County, West Virginia and Chapel Hill, North Carolina schools while Dr. Shock was in Medical School at Duke. Together they have two adult sons, Jeff and Brad, who are successful businessmen.

“We are very grateful to Dr. Shock for his generosity in establishing these two scholarships at Glenville State College,” said David Hutchison, Vice President of Advancement at GSC. “These funds will benefit students from across West Virginia and also serve as a tremendous tribute to three individuals who have fond memories of Glenville State and who know the value of a college degree.”

To contribute to either of the Shock Scholarship Funds or to learn about establishing a scholarship at Glenville State College, contact Hutchison at David.Hutchison@glenville.edu or call (304) 462-6381.