In an initiative to bolster educational opportunities for students from challenging backgrounds, West Virginia State University has partnered with the BHER Foundation to establish the BHER Foundation Healthy Grandfamilies Scholarship. This new scholarship will support students who have participated in the Healthy Grandfamilies program. Health Grandfamilies assists grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.
The BHER Foundation has committed a generous $150,000 to fund the scholarship. WVSU President Ericke Cage expressed gratitude for the foundation’s support. “We are extremely grateful to the BHER Foundation for this generous commitment to provide scholarship support for students who have come through our Healthy Grandfamilies program,” said Cage. “These students and their families have already overcome many of life’s challenges, and this scholarship will be a tremendous aid in helping them continue their education at West Virginia State University.”
The WVSU Extension Service initiated the Healthy Grandfamilies program in 2015 and operates in all 55 counties of West Virginia. It provides vital resources and assistance to grandparents who are stepping up to raise their grandchildren. Often, issues like addiction cause their difficult circumstances.
Alicia Knapp, President and CEO of BHE Renewables, which oversees the BHER Foundation, underscored the program’s significance. “Healthy Grandfamilies helps grandparents navigate the challenges associated with raising their grandchildren, oftentimes after families are impacted by the trauma of addiction, and it’s the type of impactful program that the BHER Foundation is designed to support,” said Knapp. “We are proud to partner with WVSU to support these children with scholarships that will help them reach their full academic potential.”
Helping Students in Need
The scholarship will prioritize WVSU students who have been served by the Healthy Grandfamilies program from Jackson County. Each year, information about the scholarship will be provided to counselors at Ravenswood High School and Ripley High School. The scholarship team will encourage them to recommend eligible students. Should there be remaining funds, the team will also consider other West Virginia students involved in the Healthy Grandfamilies program. Then, students who are the first in their families to attend college will be considered.
The BHER Foundation Healthy Grandfamilies Scholarship will grant its first scholarship this fall. The scholarship marks a hopeful step toward providing essential educational support for students facing unique challenges.
