ISSUED: 2 April 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd University Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship Reception on Sunday, March 29 in the University’s Storer Ballroom. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate student scholarship recipients and recognize the donors whose generosity makes their success possible.
Almost 200 guests attended the reception, including student scholarship and faculty excellence award recipients; their family and friends; representatives from University leadership boards, faculty and staff; and Shepherd alumni and friends.
Following opening remarks by Shepherd University Foundation President Austin J. Slater, Jr. ’76 and Shepherdstown University President Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix ’74, Slater addressed the donors, thanking them for their continued support of private scholarship and programming funds.
“You, as donors, have so many choices as to where you choose to support with your philanthropic gifts,” said Slater, who, along with wife Carmen, served as a steward of a named endowed scholarship fund. “Thanks to all of you, the Foundation is able to serve these wonderful students and faculty who have benefited from financial awards.”
Slater also announced the creation of a new endowed scholarship fund established through an estate bequest from alumni W. Glenn ’52 and Margaret “Peggy” Welsh ’61. The Welsh Scholarship will serve as a general academic award for future generations of Shepherd students.
“Glenn and Peggy loved Shepherd,” said Sandra Ramey, who will serve as a steward of the fund along with Virginia Hoffman. “They will be so proud of the impact this scholarship will make.”
Shepherd University Executive Vice President Sherri Janelle recognized all scholarship recipients before inviting Elizabeth Cushwa and Favor Okigweh to speak. Cushwa, a historic preservation major from Martinsburg, West Virginnia, and Okigweh, a business administration and financial planning major from Edgewood, Maryland, both expressed gratitude for the Foundation scholarships they received.
Dr. Heidi Hanrahan, the recipient of the Annette H. Murphy English Faculty Excellence Award for the 2024-25 academic year, also shared her appreciation for donors who support faculty development. Through her award, Hanrahan was able to publish and promote her book American Women Writers of the 19th Century: A Literary Companion.
Following the program, Janelle addressed scholarship recipients and their families.
“You are the students who have competed for and received privately funded scholarships,” said Janelle. “By your presence today, you honor the people who have chosen to invest in your future. We hope you will remember what you received and some day invest in another Shepherd student’s education, as someone else invested in you.”
The Shepherd University Foundation provides more than 600 endowed, annual scholarships and faculty excellence awards.
For more information about creating or supporting scholarship funds, contact the Shepherd University Foundation at 304-876-5043, email sjanelle@shepherd.edu, or visit shepherduniversityfoundation.org.
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