Submitted photo Linda Shomo, President of the Emma Scott Garden Club of Elkins, presents Gracie Jean Bowen of Phillipi with her scholarship check. Not pictured is Kari Hope Gay of French Creek.

The Emma Scott Garden Club (ESGC) has presented its first scholarships from its newly formed scholarship program.

Two $1,000 scholarships are offered for those attending or applying to any two- or four-year colleges and universities in West Virginia.

The scholarships are renewable every year the student attends college.

“One of most important missions of the ESGC is to engage our young people in the outdoors, developing a love for gardening, care for the environment and study of the natural sciences,” said Garden Club President Linda Shomo.

“We hope to encourage more students to pursue careers in these areas by easing their financial burden,” Shomo added.

The applicants must reside in one of the eight surrounding counties — Barbour, Grant, Hardy, Lewis, Mineral, Pendleton, Randolph, Tucker, or Upshur County.

They must also major in the natural sciences such as biology, agriculture, forestry, environmental management or similar majors.

This year’s recipients are Gracie Jean Bowen of Phillipi and Kari Hope Gay of French Creek.

Miss Bowen was a senior at Philip Barbour High School and has a cumulative GPA of 4.06.

Bowen is active in her community and her school, as was described within her letters of recommendation for the honor.

She has been accepted to West Virginia University as part of its Wildlife and Fishery Resources program with a major in Wildlife Biology.

She plans to complete multiple internships while at WVU and plans to find the exact career path best suited to her major. 

Miss Gay was a senior at Buckhannon-Upshur High School and has a cumulative GPA of 3.962.

She is active in her school and community and provided multiple glowing recommendations. She has been accepted to Potomac State College and will be majoring in Agriculture Extension Education.

She plans to pursue a career as an Agriculture Instructor and hopes to eventually open her own greenhouse.

The application deadline is Feb. 1 of each year with the scholarships awarded by May 1.

To learn more, interested students should contact their local guidance counselor or financial aid office.