scholarship Criteria

Eligibility & Selection Guidelines

Each year, the West Virginia Troopers Association (WVTA) awards monetary scholarships to dependents (children) of active, retired, or civilian members of the WVTA.

To clarify prior misunderstandings regarding eligibility requirements, applicants may receive a WVTA Scholarship a maximum of four (4) times (per Board Meeting 1/11/2009).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA), or
• Be a student currently enrolled in a college or university maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA

Selection Criteria

Scholarships are awarded based upon:

• Composite ACT/SAT scores
• Academic achievement
• Participation in extracurricular academic and social activities
• Responsibilities and accomplishments detailed in the application
• Completion of the required essay

Preference will be given to applicants who:

• Intend to pursue a degree in law enforcement or a related field
• Plan to attend or are attending a West Virginia college or university

Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee consists of a retired teacher selected from a West Virginia college, university, or school.

The Committee operates independently and makes all selections without involvement from the WVTA. The WVTA does not participate in the decision-making process.

GPA Standardization

Prior to April 9, 2001, high school seniors were required to maintain a 3.5 GPA. By Board vote, the GPA requirement was standardized to 3.0 for all applicants to simplify the eligibility determination process.

Award Determination

The Scholarship Committee will evaluate and rank all qualified applicants and provide the WVTA with a list in rank order. Based on this ranking:

• The highest-ranked applicant will receive $1,000
• Additional selected applicants will receive $500 each

The number of scholarships awarded and the monetary amounts distributed each year are determined by the WVTA Board of Directors based upon the annual budget.

Application Deadline

Due to the increasing number of applications received each year, all deadlines must be strictly observed. Applications not received by the WVTA office by the stated deadline will not be considered.

Submission Instructions

Applicants must complete the Scholarship Application for the current year and submit it to the WVTA Office along with an official transcript by the stated deadline.

Upon receipt of the completed application, the essay question and corresponding deadline will be provided to the applicant.

Please remember: this is a competitive scholarship program.

Sgt. C. C. Lively Memorial Scholarship

Honoring Service • Supporting Education • Building Futures

1. Purpose

The Sergeant C.C. Lively Memorial Scholarship was established by the West Virginia Troopers Association to honor the legacy of Sgt. C.C. Lively and tosupport students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, andcommitment to community service.

2. Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a junior or senior in high school, or a college student.
• Be enrolled, or planning to enroll, full-time in an accredited college, university, or technical school.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Be the child or dependent of a living, deceased, retired, or disabled West Virginia State Trooper, or a non-uniformed (civilian) member of the West Virginia State Police, who is a member in good standing of the West Virginia Troopers Association.
• Be a resident of West Virginia.
• Preference will be given to applicants attending an in-state college or university.

3. Application Requirements

All applicants must submit:

1. A completed scholarship application form.
2. An official transcript.
3. Two letters of recommendation (teacher, counselor, employer, or community leader). o A personal ess

• A personal essay (500–750 words) addressing: Career goals and aspirations.
• Contributions to school, community, or extracurricular activities.
• Why this scholarship is important to them.

4. Selection Criteria

Applications will be judged on the following:

• Academic achievement (GPA, coursework).
• Leadership and extracurricular involvement.
• Community service or volunteer work.
• Quality and clarity of essay.
•  Recommendations.

5. Award Details

• The scholarship award is $2,000.
• The award will be sent directly to the recipient’s college or university.
• The scholarship is non-renewable.

6. Application Deadline

• All applications must be submitted by May 1 of the current year to be eligible for consideration.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

7. Notification

• Recipients will be notified at the West Virginia Troopers Association Annual Conference.

8. Obligations of Recipients

Recipients must:

• Provide proof of enrollment before funds are released.
• Agree to allow their name and photo to be used in WVTA promotional materials.
• Maintain good academic standing during the semester of the award.

9. Administration

The West Virginia Troopers Association Scholarship Committee reserves the right to:

• Verify eligibility requirements.
• Withhold the award if no qualified candidates apply.
• Make final decisions regarding all applications.