This article was originally published in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Publication, The Catholic Spirit, on April 5th, 2013.

WHEELING, W.Va. - In 2011, The Most Rev. Michael J.
Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston announced a $1.2 million grant from the Diocese to Wheeling Jesuit to help make higher education more affordable for students of the Diocese’s seven Catholic high schools. Less than two years later, the impact of this grant is beginning to turn dreams into reality.
Upon announcing the major gift to Wheeling Jesuit in 2011, Rev. Bransfield spoke of the importance of the funding to the West Virginia Catholic community. “So many parents, both Catholic and non-Catholic alike, look to our Catholic school system for outstanding instruction, quality curriculum and a faith-based environment from preschool though high school. It is important for these and all families in West Virginia to have continued access to the world-class opportunities that Wheeling Jesuit provides at the undergraduate and graduate levels, all offered in our finest Catholic tradition."

In conjunction with the Bishop’s gift, Wheeling Jesuit created the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (DWC) Grant, a scholarship program designed to give promising students from the seven Diocesan high schools a $14,000 grant to attend WJU.

This year, the first class of DWC Grant recipients is working their way through their freshman year at Wheeling Jesuit. “This grant has allowed me to focus more on studies and less on money worries,” said Graham Davis, a freshman from Charleston Catholic High School, in Charleston. “I went to a Catholic high school. I received a great education there and knew I would receive the same at a Jesuit University. Education is the most important thing in our world and I knew WJU would set me up for success.”

In it’s first year, 16 students have received the $14,000 grant, totaling more than $220,000 dollars in financial aid. The students attending WJU and receiving the scholarship hail from Bishop Donahue High School, Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Charleston Catholic High School, Madonna High School, Notre Dame High School, Parkersburg Catholic High School and St. Joseph Central Catholic High School.

Tyler Zahnow, a freshman who attended Bishop Donahue credits the DWC Scholarship for allowing him to pursue his academic dreams. “(The DWC scholarship) has allowed me to pursue my education at WJU and help me pay for the best education in all of West Virginia,” he said. “My experience has been great, and I am very happy with my college decision.”

Vienna, West Virginia native and Parkersburg Catholic graduate Jim Ferrell said, “Without this scholarship I probably wouldn't have attended WJU. I chose WJU because of the academics. I knew Jesuit was a good school and that a Jesuit education would benefit me greatly.” In addition to his academic pursuits, Ferrell is a member of the Cardinal golf team.

To learn more about the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston grant, visit www.wju.edu


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Photo Caption: Recipients of the DWC Grant Graham Davis, James Ferrell, and David Stanley are currently pursuing their dreams of higher education at Wheeling Jesuit