Maier Foundation awards WVSOM students $50,000 through scholarship match

LEWISBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Multiple student doctors at the W est Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine will now have their financial obligations decreased following a celebratory luncheon acknowledging them as scholarship recipients.

The West Virginia Emulation Endowment/Dr. Olen E. Jones Jr. Incoming Student Scholarship awards awarded a total of $50,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Charleston, West Virginia-based charitable corporation has offered an escalating West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine scholarship match since 2021.

“The Maier Foundation is one of our 10 largest donors. Including this year’s awards, we have been able to award 19 current-use scholarships totaling $150,000 to incoming students from the Maier Foundation,” West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Executive Director of Foundation Relations, Donette Mizia says.

“Additionally, the Maier Foundation, through the West Virginia Emulation Endowment Trust, has provided 24 scholarships totaling $69,100 since 2018. That’s 33 scholarships totaling $219,000 to date.”

Among those who were recognized as scholarship recipients for the current academic year were Morgan Christian, Lukas Williams, Margaret Ann Rice, Alexus Tygrett, Andrew Cook, Micah Hancock, Casey King, Emma Beatty, and Dalton Coleman.

One student, Morgan Christian, a 2018 graduate and first-generation medical student from the Barboursville, West Virginia area, noted that the funds would be a significant benefit in helping as she works toward achieving her career goals.

“This award allows me to give more back to my community and to my home state of West Virginia and focus less on the financial burden of medical school,” said Christian. “Giving back to West Virginia residents helps keep us in the state so we can continue to help our population. Any amount of money helps.”

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine President, James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., noted the immeasurable value of financial gifts made available through charitable nonprofits to students in the medical field who are navigating significant debt.

“Our corporate and business partners are the lifeblood of the WVSOM Foundation. Their generosity and enthusiasm keep us motivated. The Maier Foundation is a West Virginia-based foundation that is doing exception work throughout the state,” said Dr. Nemitz.

“I am filled with gratitude that they recognized an opportunity to assist our medical students with alleviating their financial burdens, and that WVSOM has partner with such an amazing organization for the past six years.”