Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
As the school year begins to wind down and the months until graduation turn into weeks, the senior class at Pocahontas County High School is preparing for the future by applying for scholarships and awards to assist in their higher education.
Two students, Jacob Hise and Morgan Baldwin, both received scholarships from the universities they plan to attend.
Hise, son of Clay and Laura Hise, of Dunmore, received the Bucklew Scholarship from the West Virginia University Foundation. The scholarship is worth $10,000 a year for four years.
Hise plans to study civil engineering and hopes to return to Pocahontas County to work.
“I’ve always loved how things were made and how they hold themselves up,” he said. “It’s always interested me, so I figured that would be a field I would be interested in. I particularly like bridges and structures.
“I’d like to move back to Pocahontas County,” he continued. “I don’t think there are any bridge building firms in the county, though. I want to stay close if not in the county.”
Hise has kept himself busy in school with extracurricular activities including the STEM club, Academic club, Senior Committee, serving as secretary of the senior class, as president of the National Honor Society, Spanish club treasurer and as a member of the Spanish Honor Society.
While he doesn’t compete on any athletic teams, Hise said he stays active by hunting and fishing.
Baldwin, the son of Anita and Travis Workman, signed a letter of intent in February to play football at Concord University and he recently received the Bonner Scholarship from the university.
The scholarship is for $2,500 a year, plus $1,000 for the summer which Baldwin will use to travel to work.
Baldwin said he plans to double major in sports management and business, along with playing football.
“I feel like if I did both, I would have more opportunities, so if I go into the sports field and also have the business degree, then it would help, or vice versa,” he said.”
Baldwin will report to the university in August to begin practice with the team, but he said his training hasn’t lapsed since the Warrior season ended.
With a focus in sports management, Baldwin said it would be difficult to return to Pocahontas County, but he hasn’t decided yet where he may settle after receiving his degrees.
“You never know where life’s going to take you,” he said. “We’ll just have to see.”