Living in rural communities on the rugged ridges of the Eastern Continental Divide makes you eligible for numerous scholarships for Appalachian students.
Stretching from Southern New York to Alabama, Appalachia is a 13-state cultural region with about 25 million people. Scholarships are especially important. Poverty poverty is a major epidemic in the Appalachians. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) found that the combined poverty rate is 19.7 percent. Additionally, higher education attainment to the bachelor’s level significantly lags behind the national average. It’s just 13 percent in central Appalachia. Nearly one in five Appalachian adults lacked a high school diploma!
Related: 10 Most Beautiful Colleges in the Appalachians
Overcoming financial barriers to sway these statistics and achieve your college dreams is possible with the following 20 great scholarships in Appalachia.
Rating the Top Appalachian Scholarships
1. ABGPA Midstream Association Scholarship
Deadline: October 31st
The Appalachian Basin Chapter of the Gas Processors Association offers up to $10,000 total annually. This is done through its ABGPA Midstream Scholarship. It’s for regional residents who are earning associate or bachelor’s degrees in petroleum technology and engineering. Partnering colleges include:
- West Virginia University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Pittsburgh Technical College
Eligibility criteria mandates:
- attaining sophomore status
- enrolling full-time
- carrying a minimum 2.8 GPA
- showing interest in the oil and natural gas industry.
Contact
ABGPA Midstream Association Scholarship
433 McClelland Road
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724) 513-3325
scholarships@abgpa.org
2. Appalachian AC Association Scholarship
Deadline: None
The Appalachian AC Association Scholarship supports Advent Christian Church members who are earning degrees to fulfill God’s calling to ministry. Scholarships are $1,000 for undergraduates or $3,600 for graduates each semester. Acceptable faith-based majors include:
- Christian education
- ministry
- worship leadership
- pastoral counseling, and more
Qualified applicants must:
- reside in the Appalachians
- maintain an overall GPA of 3.0
- continually serve the AC Church
- satisfactorily complete a related internship.
Contact
Appalachian AC Association Scholarship
2321 Tarheel Place
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 758-4041
nealfam@charter.net
3. Barbara Paul Robinson Scholarship
Deadline: March 24th
The Barbara Paul Robinson Scholarship is sponsored by the Appalachian College Association. The scholarship awards $2,500. Eligible are full-time seniors who are finishing the last Spring semester of their bachelor’s degree at member schools in:
- Kentucky
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- North Carolina
For consideration, candidates must:
- be accepted into an ABA-accredited law school
- have post-graduation plans to become conscientious attorneys
- graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- submit two endorsement letters.
Contact
Barbara Paul Robinson Scholarship
801 Brighton Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 986-4584
awards@acaweb.org
4. Choose Appalachian Teaching Scholarship
Deadline: June 1st
The Choose Appalachian Teaching Scholarship is part of the Choose Ohio First program. The scholarship awards $5,000 each year to education majors. They must plan to teach mathematics or science in middle and high schools in southeastern Ohio. Qualified pre-service teachers must be enrolled full-time at one of Ohio University’s campuses in:
- Athens
- Chillicothe
- Eastern
- Lancaster
- Southern
- Zanesville
They must maintain good academic standing. Recipients must commit three post-licensure years to teaching Appalachian youth.
Contact
Choose Appalachian Teaching Scholarship
1 Ohio University Avenue
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 597-9006
HarmisonM@ohio.edu
5. Colonel Lee B. Ledford Scholarship
Deadline: January 15th
The Colonel Lee B. Ledford Scholarship is for Appalachian students granted by the Appalachian College Association. This unique fund provides a $1,000 scholarship and an $8.50/hour stipend for a maximum of $5,120. Full-time returning students at member colleges use funding for summer laboratory and fieldwork research. Eligible recipients must:
- have at least one semester remaining
- have graduated high school in Appalachia
- have a 2.0 GPA or better.
Contact
Colonel Lee B. Ledford Scholarship
801 Brighton Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 986-4584
awards@acaweb.org
6. David V. Stivison Appalachian Scholarship
Deadline: April 1st
The David V. Stivison Appalachian Scholarship is funded by the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development. The scholarship provides $500 to $1,500 annually to residents of their 30-county service area. These include the counties of:
- Adams
- Athens
- Pike
- Ashtabula
- Jackson
- Scioto
Suitable applicants must:
- be enrolling in accredited two-year or four-year colleges
- have attained a high school diploma or GED
- have household income below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines
- volunteer with community action agencies.
Contact
David V. Stivison Appalachian Scholarship
1 Pinchot Lane
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 594-8499
scholarships@coadinc.org
7. Dorothy Foster McCombs Scholarship
Deadline: April 15th
Virginia Tech University’s College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences awards the Dorothy Foster McCombs Scholarship. It for $1,000 yearly to full-time:
- sophomores
- juniors
- seniors
They must be from the Appalachian region. Eligible Hokies must:
- sustain a minimum 2.5 grade point average
- have taken at least one course in Appalachian Studies
- show leadership potential
- exhibit unmet financial need
- write a 250-word essay about their background in Appalachia.
Contact
Dorothy Foster McCombs Scholarship
295 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-6779
apuckett@vt.edu
8. Gene and Lee Meyer Scholarship
Deadline: January 15th
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina has several scholarships for Appalachian students. One is the $2,000 Gene and Lee Meyer Scholarship. This renewable resource selects legal U.S. citizens residing in the counties of:
- Graham
- Jackson
- Macon
- Swain
- the Qualla Boundary
The must be pursuing full-time college education with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.0. Preference is given to former foster children and Native Americans with at least 25 percent tribal heritage.
Contact
Gene and Lee Meyer Scholarship
4 Vanderbilt Park Drive Suite 300
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 254-4960
belcher@cfwnc.org
9. Houston Caldwell Scholarship Program
Deadline: April 15th
The Houston Caldwell Scholarship Program is named for an extraordinary young musician who passed away at 18. The program is hosted annually with HoustonFest to cover tuition or private lesson fees for mastering traditional acoustic instruments. Eligible to apply are high school graduates up to age 21 who live in the central Appalachian region of:
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
Application packets must include:
- two reference letters
- a 150-word personal essay
- a CD displaying candidates’ musical talent.
Contact
Houston Caldwell Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 1516
Galax, VA 24333
(276) 236-9908
HoustonFestGalax@embarqmail.com
10. James Sterling Ayars Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 15th
Berea College has a generous Tuition Promise Scholarship for debt-free learning. Other funding resources are also available, like the James Sterling Ayars Jr. Memorial Scholarship. This annual $1,000 scholarship recognizes undergraduates of high character and academic achievement. They must be from the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky or western North Carolina. Berea also awards the Thornton A. Lemaster Scholarship and Virginia Palmer Widener Memorial Scholarships for Appalachian students.
Contact
James Sterling Ayars Jr. Memorial Scholarship
101 Chestnut Street
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 985-3310
finaid@berea.edu
11. Mary Bob Clinton Scholarship
Deadline: March 16th
The Mary Bob Clinton Scholarship is valued at $750. It’s presented by the Girl Scouts Council of the Southern Appalachians. It supports Girl Scout ambassadors who exhibit the highest community service achievement. To qualify, female members must:
- be graduating high school this spring
- have received the Gold Award
- be accepted into an accredited U.S. college
- show leadership activity outside Girl Scouting
Also required are:
- transcripts
- ACT/SAT scores
- two recommendations
- a one-page essay.
Contact
Mary Bob Clinton Scholarship
1567 Downtown West Blvd.
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 481-3099
ameade@girlscoutcsa.org
12. Ora E. Anderson Scholarship Fund
Deadline: March 31st
The Ora E. Anderson Scholarship Fund is in memory of a devoted outdoor writer who advocated conservation. The fund provides $500 to $3,000 annually through the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. Eligible high school seniors must:
- live within Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties
- pursue college study in the natural sciences
- have outstanding academic performance
- be committed to environmental protection
Acceptable majors include:
- forestry
- wildlife management
- botany
- geology
- ecology
- environmental studies.
Contact
Ora E. Anderson Scholarship Fund
35 Public Square
Nelsonville, OH 45764
(740) 753-1111
info@ffao.org
13. Peter Veglahn Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 25th
The Peter Veglahn Memorial Scholarship is worth $1,000 each year. It’s administered by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. Eligible are Appalachian students who reside in the Virginia counties of:
- Shenandoah
- Rockingham
- Augusta
- Page counties
These include Harrisonburg and Staunton. Eligible full-time undergraduates must be completing a SHRM-aligned human resource management degree in the Continental United States. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and active professional organization involvement.
Contact
Peter Veglahn Memorial Scholarship
117 South Lewis Street
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 213-2150
info@communityfoundationcbr.org
14. Richard L. Davis FACMPE Scholarship
Deadline: May 1st
The Richard L. Davis FACMPE Scholarship for up to $5,000. It’s for to students who are enrolling full-time at Appalachian State University or the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Eligible applicants must be pursuing graduate degrees in the fields of:
- public health
- business administration
- healthcare administration
- related fields
Ohioans and West Virginians could earn the Oncology Practice Alliance Scholarship instead. The program is a partnership of the North Carolina Medical Group Managers and the Medical Group Management Association.
Ohioans and West Virginians could earn the Oncology Practice Alliance Scholarship instead.
Contact
Richard L. Davis FACMPE Scholarship
1717 Pennsylvania Ave NW #600
Washington, D.C. 20006
(877) 275-6462 ext. 1300
scholarship@mgma.org
15. Robert C. Byrd Memorial Scholarships
Deadline: Varies
The Turkish Coalition of America instituted the Robert C. Byrd Memorial Scholarships. to award $5,000 It honors the West Virginian who worked as a humble welder before becoming the United States’ longest-serving senator. The award is $5,000. It’s for undergraduate and graduate students of whose heritage is:
- Turkish
- Armenian
- Bosnian
- Macedonian
They must hail from the Appalachian region’s 13 states . Preference is given to those accepted into study abroad programs in Turkey or Cyprus.
Contact
Robert C. Byrd Memorial Scholarships
1510 H St. NW Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 370-1399
scholarships@tc-america.org
16. Stephen L. Keller Scholarship Program
Deadline: March 15th
The Blue Grass Community Foundation created the Stephen L. Keller Scholarship Program. It awards $2,000 yearly to full-time undergraduates from Eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian region. They must be studying business administration disciplines, including:
- finance
- marketing
- project management
- human resources
Future business leaders must:
- be earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited Kentucky college
- demonstrate significant financial need
- maintain a cumulative GPA above 3.0
- have entrepreneurial experience.
Contact
Stephen L. Keller Scholarship Program
499 East High Street Suite 112
Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 225-3343
kbranham@bgcf.org
17. The Appalachian Connection Scholarship
Deadline: March 31st
The Appalachian Connection Scholarship distributes $2,500 for four years. This is to financially bolster graduating high school seniors with their accredited undergraduate education. Eligible recipients must:
- be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- have attended school in Kentucky’s Perry County
- intend to take 12+ college credits per term
- show dedication to community leadership in Appalachia
These are reviewed before the final Skype interview:
- high school transcripts
- essays
- standardized tests
- recommendations.
Contact
The Appalachian Connection Scholarship
148 Woodland View
Boerne, TX 78015
info@appalachianconnection.org
18. Valkyrie-Thor Theatre Arts Scholarship
Deadline: February 15th
Finding Appalachian scholarships isn’t hard with the East Tennessee Foundation. There are over 60 funds, including the Valkyrie-Thor Theatre Arts Scholarship. This one-time $1,000 scholarship supports high school seniors from East Tennessee’s 25 Appalachian counties. They must study full time:
- acting
- costume design
- drama
- theatre
- directing
- or related art fields
Holding a minimum “B” average and demonstrating financial need is imperative.
Contact
Valkyrie-Thor Theatre Arts Scholarship
520 West Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 524-1223
bheller@etf.org
19. West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
Living in the “Mountain State” makes Appalachian students eligible for the PROMISE Scholarship. It’s sponsored by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. For the maximum award of $4,750, meritorious applicants must:
- have graduated from an in-state public or private high school
- be enrolling as full-time freshmen at accredited institutions
- achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA
- score at least 22 on the ACT or 1100 on the SAT
- meet household income requirements.
Contact
West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship
1018 Kanawha Blvd. East
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 558-4618
PROMISE@wvhepc.edu
20. Zelma Gray Medical School Scholarship
Deadline: None
Another option from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is the Zelma Gray Medical School Scholarship. It honors a lifelong resident of Londonberry Township. Here collegiate seniors could receive financial backing to attend ABMS accredited medical schools. They’ll pursue an M.D. or D.O. degree full-time in any clinical specialty. Eligibility criteria requires:
- living in Guernsey County
- achieving satisfactory MCAT scores
- intending to practice in the underserved Appalachian region.
Contact
Zelma Gray Medical School Scholarship
35 Public Square
Nelsonville, OH 45764
(740) 753-1111
info@ffao.org
Resilient students hailing from poor, isolated coal-mining towns, farming villages, and Indian reservations in the Appalachian region’s 406 counties can find collegiate success. Plentiful scholarship opportunities have been established to empower teens and adults towards prosperity in the “hollers.” Scholarship money can help you afford 4+ years studying at top-ranked regional universities like:
- Wake Forest
- Vanderbilt
- West Virginia
- UNC Asheville
In addition to these scholarships for Appalachian students, remember to apply for the Federal Pell Grant and FSEOG Grant programs.
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