ISSUED: 18 November 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Eight Shepherd University Martinsburg Center Regents Bachelor of Arts (R.B.A.)students will each receive $1,000 scholarships through a grant from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation that was funded by the Berkeley County Industrial Park Development Fund.
The scholarships will go to R.B.A. students who are Berkeley County residents, are enrolled in spring 2015 classes, and have a 2.5 GPA. The R.B.A. program is designed for adults who have taken some college classes. It offers more online and evening courses and allows students to get college credit for some life and work experience.
“Financing college can be challenging for adult learners who are going back to college,” said Beth Thomas, R.B.A. and continuing education program coordinator at the Martinsburg Center. “These students may be able to obtain state and national financial aid, but there are few scholarship opportunities available for R.B.A. students.”
Thomas said staff and faculty at the Martinsburg Center have heard from R.B.A. students who say even a small amount of financial support to cover the cost of books or the cost of one class makes a difference in their ability to graduate.
“Being able to help adult students finish their degree with some financial assistance that they don’t have to repay is a great thing,” Thomas said.
For more information about the scholarships, contact Thomas at bthomas@shepherd.edu or at 304-263-3372.
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