Dan Ryan Builders - News & Press

October 18, 2006 — Dan Ryan Builders Presents College Scholarship

Used by permission from The Journal

Future leaders begin journey, lift financial burden
By DIANA BELL / Journal Staff Writer

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The burden of paying for a college education was lifted for five Shepherd University students chosen to take part in retired Gen. Robert "Doc" Foglesong's Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation.

Brittany Kirkpatrick, an 18-year-old business major, said she has supported herself and having the financial burden lifted from her shoulders is huge.

"It's an amazing feeling not having to worry about paying back all the loans," she added. "It takes off a lot of stress."

Robert McDonough, a 19-year-old elementary education major, admits that saving "14K a year is beautiful."

Wes Jenkins, an 18-year-old business major who also plays baseball for Shepherd, is grateful "just to have the resources that they provide."

The opportunity to go to college and not have debt at the end of it is a big deal, he added.

The first fellows in Gen. Robert "Doc" Foglesong's Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation met at the Yellow Brick Bank Restaurant this week. The Shepherd University students include Brittany Kirkpatrick and Alex Lemley in the front row and Robert McDonough, Wes Jenkins and Jeremy Brock in the back row. (Journal photo by Diana Bell)

The students recently sat down for dinner at the Yellow Brick Bank Restaurant with each other, their sponsors and others affiliated with the new program. Foglesong, a West Virginia native, former commander of all Air Force troops in Europe and current Mississippi State University president, formed the idea for the group because he wanted to train the next generation of leaders.

The students, along with 10 other students at Concord University, make up the inaugural group of fellows in the leader-making endeavor.

Pamela Skaggs, resource development director, said the application process brought in 100-plus applications for 15 spots. Part of the criteria included a strong work ethic, honors, community service involvement, leadership qualities and finding college to be financially challenging.

The students receive full rides to Shepherd, textbooks for four years, laptops donated by the Asam family of the Bavarian Inn and take part in leadership activities.

The students include Alex Lemley, a 17-year-old Huntington High School graduate; McDonough, a Jefferson High School graduate; Jenkins, a Jefferson High School graduate; Kirkpatrick, a Jefferson High School graduate and Jeremy Brock, an 18-year-old Berkeley Springs High School graduate.

Sponsors include Ken Lowe, Dan and Katie Ryan, Jack and Martha Young, Charles Town Races and Slots, Champion Industries, First in Your family and United Bank of Shepherdstown.

Lemley, a mass communications major, said the opportunity means being able to get out on her own. Living so close to Marshall University, she probably would not have had that chance.

She also looks forward to getting to know the other fellows.

"I'm going to grow as a person because of this," Lemley said.

"This experience is a blessing," she said. "I'm so happy with choosing Shepherd."

McDonough also is happy to have the chance to be on his own.

The leadership aspect will also be helpful.

"I hope to polish up my leadership skills," he said.

McDonough looks forward to sharing the experience with the other fellows. "These are a great bunch of people," he said. "Hanging out with them will be awesome."

Jenkins looks forward to honing his leadership skills. "They're already starting us down the path," he said. "They've already proven that they are great leaders. It's amazing to be able to learn from them."

Dan Ryan said he was "totally inspired by the plans the general had."

"It's awfully nice to give back to the community," he added.

Lowe, a Shepherd graduate who has gone on to achieve success with the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, agreed. "It's a way of giving back," he said.

Seeing Brock at Shepherd is "pretty neat," Ryan said. "There our future leaders, folks like Jeremy."

Ryan's wife Katie said it's nice to support a student to enable them to get the education they desire.

Jack and Martha Young, who have been involved with First in Your Family, also like the idea of giving back to the community. Jack Young said ALEF is "a natural extension of that."

"It provides such an opportunity," Martha Young said.

"This opportunity means a lot to me," said Kirkpatrick.

She looks forward to making friends and improving her leadership and communication skills.

Brock, a secondary education major focusing on math and physical education, is grateful to have the other fellows to lean on. "It's a great opportunity to be in a leadership program with 15 other people," he said.

It's equally exciting to be the first group. "We're the leaders of the leaders," Brock said.

— Staff writer Diana Bell can be reached at 263-3381, ext. 127, or dbell@journal-news.net