Endowed Scholarships

Each spring, UVA Wise hosts the annual Spring Scholarship Luncheon where students meet their scholarship donors, enjoy conversations over a delicious meal, and celebrate the impact of scholarships.

UVA Wise is pleased to announce the 2022 Tice Total Achievement Awards. The awards are presented to students who honor and encourage family values, community service, cooperation, creativity and scholarship. Students displaying these qualities are nominated by College faculty and staff members and selected by the Tice Award Committee. The award is made possible through a generous endowment created by Dr. Frederick Gordon Tice, a 1939 alumnus of the University of Virginia.

Tice Total Achievement Recipients

Kayla B. Deel, is a third-year student, majoring in Biology, with a minor in Secondary Education. Her honors at UVA Wise include being a National Science Foundation STEM Scholar and member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Kayla has interned at the Wetlands Estonoa Learning Center, giving a presentation at the Symposium in fall 2021 and was the keynote speaker at the Youth Summit in spring 2022. She completed research with Dr. Bruce Cahoon through NSF S-STEM on sampling methods to collect diversity in a karst spring. In conjunction with this research, she will present in several venues most notably for COPLAC. As an active member of the local community, Kayla has served as a teacher’s aide in Scott County.
Jahlil Jefferson, is a junior majoring in Exercise Science serves as a role model to his peers, helping in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He is a member of the UVA Wise Highland Cavalier football team. Jahlil has led a men’s bible study group in the Multicultural Center, was a mediator on a Growing up Black in Southwest Virginia Panel, and conducted a program called, The Shop, in the Multicultural Center, where he had a barber provide free haircuts to students.
Brittany Johnson, is a junior majoring in Psychology, with a minor in interdisciplinary leadership studies. Brittany is a member of the Peake Honors Program, the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Tri Alpha First Generation Honor Society, and currently serves as secretary of Circle K International. Brittany also volunteers with the College’s Upward Bound Program. In her community, Brittany has assisted with food drives, donations to homeless shelters and nursing homes, makes gift baskets for the elderly and volunteers at her local elementary school.
Leah Kestner, is a junior majoring in Liberal Arts and Sciences, is our next Tice Award honoree. A member of the women’s basketball team, Leah is Secretary and Social Media Chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Council and Co-Captain of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Through the Student Athlete Advisory Council, Leah has helped raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Leah also attended the APPLE Conference in Florida, helping develop a plan for UVA Wise to address substance misuse and abuse, and mental health considerations on campus.In her community, Leah has volunteered at the Elementary School, worked the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Senior All-Star Volleyball Game, created socks and cards for nursing homes and helped raise funds to build a new church in her hometown.
Kaila Lacy is a sophomore majoring in Art. As a captain on the UVA Wise lacrosse team, Kaila is a positive role model for her teammates and leads many of the team’s community service projects. Additionally, she is the head of a youth group on campus and involved with Mt. Olive Church.
Isabella Maggard is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Biology. While at UVA Wise, Isabella has served as a justice on the Student Conduct Board, a Freshman Success Seminar Student Mentor, and an Expedition Leader. Isabella is a National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholar, a Virginia Space Grant Consortium Scholar, and has recently been inducted into the Darden Society.
Charity Smith is a freshman majoring in Sociology, with a minor in Administration of Justice. Charity has been involved in the National Honor Society and Key Club, which sponsors events such as community cleanups, food bank drives and blood drives. She is an active member at her church and is a member of Sigma Alpha Omega, a sorority that prioritizes giving back to the community.
Christopher Logan Smith is a sophomore majoring in Nursing and minoring in Business. Besides tutoring Chemistry for Nurses, Logan is currently a Telemetry Technician and CNA at Russell County Hospital. In addition to his many activities mentioned earlier by Chancellor Henry, Logan is a member of Alpha Gamma Omega, a Christian-centered fraternity. During the Spring 2021 Week of Service event, Logan participated in a number of events, including packaging essential worker care kits, mulching the Big Glades amphitheater in Wise and helping with the cleanup at the Oxbow Lake in St. Paul, VA.
Chase Templeton is a senior majoring in Psychology. Chase is a member of the UVA Wise Cross-Country team. He is President of the Wesley Foundation, where he promotes a safe place of worship and community, a tutor in the Writing Center, a member of Psi Chi, the College’s psychology honors program, a member of TRIO, as well as a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, which serves the community by holding musical events in the community. Chase also helped create a psychology video on positive reinforcement for parenting that was presented to local elementary schools.

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UVA Wise is pleased to announce the following newly endowed scholarship funds and the newly endowed operational funds as well as the donors who have made them possible.

2022 Newly Endowed Scholarship Funds

Eighteen New Endowed Scholarship Funds and Two new Endowed Operational Funds were announced at the March 26, 2022, Scholarship Luncheon

The Gary F. Adams Tennis Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2021 by Marsha and Marvin Gilliam, family and friends. The scholarship was created in honor and memory Gary, who served the College at Wise as an Assistant Tennis Coach for many years. The scholarship will be awarded to students who participate in the tennis program and who exemplify dedication in the classroom, passion on the court, and a commitment to excellence.

The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2022 by Don Caudill. The scholarship will used to provide experiential opportunities for students pursuing careers in the entrepreneurial field.

The James Cox & Susan Cox and Shelia Cox Combs & Mike Combs Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2021 by James and Susan Cox and Sheila Cox Combs. The scholarship will be awarded to students majoring in software engineering and mathematics.

The Nancy Bise Culbertson Scholarship was established in 2021 by George and Nancy Culbertson. The scholarship honors Nancy, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia in 1977 and went on to earn a Master of Science degree from Radford University.

The Stephen R. Dixon Scholarship was established in 2021 by Jonette “MJ” Dixon Carpenter and husband Shawn in honor of MJ’s brother, Stephen, who graduated from Ervinton High School, earning the honor of Salutatorian; he was the first Black male to achieve this accomplishment. The scholarship will be awarded based on financial need and merit. First preference will be given to students from Dickenson County, with second preference for students from southwest Virginia and far northeast Tennessee.

The J. Brent Fleming Memorial Scholarship was established in 2021 by Freddie Mullins and Rachel Puckett, and Brent’s family and friends. The scholarship is in honor and memory of J. Brent Fleming who passed away suddenly in the spring of 2021. Brent, an accomplished and well-respected attorney in Wise, VA, graduated from UVA Wise, then Clinch Valley College, in 1991 after graduating from Clintwood High School. Brent’s scholarship will be awarded to graduates of high schools located in Dickenson County, Wise County and the City of Norton.

The Barbara Ann Harris Bicentennial Scholarship was established in honor and memory of Barbara Ann who passed away in 2021. Barbara was a 1978 graduate of UVA Wise, then Clinch Valley College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Public Administration. The scholarship will be awarded to students who are aspiring business majors, with a second preference for graduates from high schools in Buchanan County or Wise County.

The Virginia Hatchett Memorial Scholarship was established in 2021 by the Lillian Beatrice Hutzler Declaration of Trust. The scholarship was named in honor of Beatrice Hutzler’s mother, Virginia Hatchett Hutzler, who loved her family heritage and valued lifelong learning until her death in 1960 at the age of 58. The scholarship will benefit women pursuing studies in the fields of science, math, engineering, or agriculture.

The Michael “Bert” Lambert Bicentennial Scholarship in Business is being established by Dustin T. Lambert and wife Sarah, in memory and honor of Dustin’s father, Bert. Bert was a 1978 graduate of the UVA Wise, then Clinch Valley College where he earned a degree in Business and Public Administration. He passed away suddenly in early January 2022. The scholarship will be awarded to students majoring in business.

The Luda Angeline Hope Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2022 by C. H. Bray. The scholarship will be awarded to students who are non-traditional females who are pursuing a degree at the College at Wise.

The Maria Theresia Gabriele Mason Scholarship was established in 2021 by Ben Mason. The scholarship was established in honor and memory of his beloved wife, Theresia, who graduated from Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1972. The scholarship will be awarded to non-traditional or returning students who are pursuing a higher education while also raising a family.

The Ella Jane Mullins Scholarship was established in 2021 by Lawton Mullins. The scholarship honors his grandmother, a lifelong resident of Wise County. The scholarship will be awarded to members of the Women's Basketball team, with second preference for students who are residents of Wise County, Far Southwest VA or Northeast TN.

The Ralph Wayne Mullins & Mary Allen Mullins Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2021 by Ralph Wayne Mullins & Mary Allen Mullins. The scholarship will be awarded based on merit to undergraduate students at UVA Wise, with preference given to students from Dickenson County, Buchanan County, Wise County, Lee County, Russell County, Scott County, and the City of Norton in Virginia.

The James L. Oleson Napoleon Hill Foundation Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2021 by Don Green and the Napoleon Hill Foundation. The scholarship will be awarded to students who have distinguished themselves as leaders, having been selected for membership in the Napoleon Hill Scholars Program at the College at Wise.

The Jennifer Lockhart Quillen Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2022 by Chris and Jennifer Quillen. The scholarship will be awarded to students who have graduated from schools in Scott County, Virginia or Dickenson County, Virginia.

The Norma Amer Siemen Scholarship in Business was established in 2021 by Tami and Winston Ely, in memory of Tami’s mother who earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Public Administration from UVA Wise, then Clinch Valley College, in 1985.

The Street Family Higher Education Scholarship was established in 2022 by the family of Dr. Tommy and June Street in their honor. Dr. and Mrs. Street worked as educators and believed in the power of higher education. The Street Scholarship will be awarded to students who are residents of southwest Virginia with preference for those majoring in education.

The Andrew Derrick Vickers “Hope and Courage” Memorial Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2021. To honor Andrew’s life-long passion of giving to others, Andrew’s parents, Carl and Clara Vickers, in concert with his surviving spouse, Morgan Bobinski, established this endowed scholarship to forever memorialize their son and Morgan’s loving husband. The scholarship will be awarded to students who are currently undergoing treatment for cancer or who are a survivor of a childhood cancer diagnosed before his/her 18^th birthday.

New Endowed Operational Funds

Two new endowed operational funds will provide funding in support of academics.

The Don M. Green Napoleon Hill Scholars Operational Fund was established in 2021 by Don Green. The income of the fund shall be used to provide support for the operation of the Napoleon Hill Scholars Program. This will become one of our most meaningful funds and we aspire to create more like it.

The Sylvia Endowment for the Humanities Fund will be funded through a generous estate plan documented in 2021 by anonymous donors. The donors are passionate about the importance of experiential learning and wish to provide additional opportunities for students and faculty. The fund will provide support in perpetuity that inspires scholarly work among faculty and students leading to an expanded knowledge of the significance of the Humanities. Priority will be given to initiatives for students majoring in English. Experiences may include undergraduate research, domestic travel, study abroad and internships.

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