Maxwell

The board of directors of the Lt. James W. Hotsinpiller, Jr. and Deputy United States Marshal Derek W. Hotsinpiller Scholarship fund has awarded four new scholarships.

The scholarship honors the memory of Jim and Derek Hotsinpiller. Jim was a member of the Bridgeport Police Department at the time of his passing. Derek followed in his father’s footsteps, entering law enforcement, and serving as a Deputy United States Marshal. He was fatally wounded while attempting to serve an arrest warrant.

Deputy United States Marshal Dustin Hotsinpiller, Jim’s oldest son and Derek’s brother, is the President of the Scholarship Corporation. This scholarship was established to assist students interested in pursuing degrees in criminal justice.

Providing applicants maintain eligibility, scholarships are renewable each semester of undergraduate study. Scholarships for graduating seniors are $500 per semester, renewable for four years. Scholarships for college students who have completed their sophomore year in a related field of study are $1,000 per semester, renewable for two years.

Awards are also available to Law Enforcement Officers who are pursuing Criminal Justice degrees.

Whetsell

Since its inception, the Board has awarded more than 45 scholarships.

The following are the recipients for 2021:

Dakota James Lough is a freshman at Glenville State College and a 2021 graduate of Lewis County High School. He is the son of James and Crystal Lough of Weston. He was a member of the Lewis County High School Cross Country and Track teams, National Honor Society, Robotics, and a member of New Life Southern Baptist Church, where he has volunteered for the church food pantry. He has also served his community by serving hot meals to those in need, spending time at nursing homes, and volunteering for Adopt-a-Highway. Through his volunteer work, he has encountered individuals with drug addictions. His passion to educate children about substance abuse and keep drugs off the street has helped inspire his career choice as a law enforcement officer. Dakota describes himself as determined and he is set on completing his degree in Criminal Justice at Glenville State and thereafter becoming a law enforcement officer.

Tyler John Blythe is the son of Christopher and Monica Blythe of Bridgeport. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 2021 and is currently in his freshman year of Forensics Studies at Fairmont State University. While at BHS, Tyler was involved in sports including Cross Country, Track, Freshman Basketball and Soccer. He was active in the Drug-Free Club, French Club, Young Life, and Shop for Tots, among other activities. He is a volunteer for Bridgeport Little League Challenger Division and a member of All Saints Catholic Church, where he has been an altar server and taught Sunday School. He has dreamed of becoming a homicide detective or crime scene investigator since he was in middle school. He describes himself of driven and is passionate and motivated to complete his goal of serving his community. His believes his experiences with sports, church, clubs, and volunteering have provided him with the tools to accomplish that.

Lindsay Maxwell is a 2021 graduate of Elkins High School and is the daughter of Ken and Michelle Maxwell. She is attending West Virginia University, where she is enrolled in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences as a Criminology major. In recent years, Lindsay has been active in Band, Shotokan Karate, Band Club, SkillsUSA and 4-H. She is a certified in lifeguarding, CPR/AED and first aid through the American Red Cross and has been employed as a lifeguard for the Elkins Otters Swim Team, RAYS Swim Team and Elkins YMCA. She competed in the Crime Scene Investigation competition for Skills. She aspires to become an FBI Agent and is interested in studying causes of criminal behavior and how to prevent it. She describes herself as persistent and said she will do everything necessary to achieve her goals which include earning a master’s degree in criminology, participation in the ROTC program, serving as an Army pilot and ultimately becoming an FBI Agent.

Blythe

Nathaniel Whetsell is a 2021 graduate of Elkins High School. He is the son of Robert and Carol Whetsell of Elkins. He is attending Fairmont State University as a freshman, pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. Nathaniel has been involved in Boy Scouts — advancing to Eagle Scout — and Civil Air Patrol. Through both organizations, he has been involved in extensive service work. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, he was trained to operate as a ground team member for search and rescue missions. He was a member of Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Swim Teams, Elkins High School Marching and Concert Bands, and National Honor Society. During the summer of 2020, he hiked 267 miles of the Allegheny Trail in 24 days. He also worked as a lifeguard for the YMCA. Staying true to moral values is important to Nathaniel, who looks forward to a career in Criminal Justice.

Future applicants can get information about applying for the scholarship from their school counselor or online at www.hotsinpillerscholarship.com.

Held in Bridgeport annually in June, the Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars Memorial 5K is a major fundraiser for the scholarship fund. Private and corporate donations are also instrumental.

Donations to the scholarship fund can be made payable to the “Jim and Derek Hotsinpiller Scholarship Fund” and mailed to PO Box 392, Bridgeport, WV 26330.

Lough

D. Hotsinpiller

J. Hotsinpiller