Rao receives EQT Students of Excellence Scholarship

Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer

Pocahontas County High School senior Matt Rao recently received confirmation that he received the EQT Students of Excellence Scholarship.

Each year, The State Journal honors exceptional young men and women who excel in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and are dedicated members of their communities.

“It feels pretty good to know I was the one in the whole school to get accepted for it,” Rao said. “That was pretty impressive. I was happy.”

Rao is in the forestry program at PCHS and plans to pursue a degree in forestry at Glenville State College. He was on the forestry team in 2014-2015. The team placed first at the state competition and placed second at the national competition. Rao placed fifth in individual competition at nationals.

Rao received a one-time $1,000 scholarship award which is given to one student in each of the 55 counties of West Virginia.