LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – Students at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) may be feeling some financial relief with more money in their pockets to pay for their medical education.
The school celebrated students for their achievements in academics and community involvement during the annual Spring Awards Ceremony, which took place March 23. A total of $177,248 was awarded through 42 scholarships, awards and certificates of appreciation, many by endowments or funds established through the WVSOM Foundation. That organization, along with the WVSOM Alumni Association, are the main groups responsible for fundraising at WVSOM.
This year, six new awards were distributed. They were the Professor Appreciation Award, Global Health Scholar of the Year, WVSOM Alumni Association Pathway to Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship, The Health Plan Medical/Nursing Scholarship, Drs. David and Bonita Barger Campus Preservation and Sustainability Endowment Scholarship, and Patricia Louise McClung Nemitz Memorial Scholarship.
WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said while longstanding scholarships have helped to sustain WVSOM’s philanthropic generosity for years, it’s exciting to introduce new scholarship opportunities.
“Every scholarship dollar is important and has a profound impact on medical students, many of whom carry a financial burden long after they begin their careers,” he said. “It’s incredible to continue to grow the number of scholarships we can provide to our students to ease that burden, and that would not be possible without the work of the WVSOM Foundation and WVSOM Alumni Association, who cultivate and nurture relationships with potential donors.”
Two of the six new scholarships were established through the WVSOM Foundation. Donette Mizia, WVSOM’s executive director of foundation relations, said securing new donor dollars is an example of alumni and businesses understanding the importance of making an investment in the future of health care professionals.
“Investing in our students now means prioritizing health care in the future,” she said. “Donor support helps reduce financial barriers, allowing students to focus on their medical education and making an impact in the communities they serve. New scholarships set WVSOM on a trajectory of fulfilling one of its strategic pillars: ensuring financial sustainability to support ongoing operations and long-term growth.”
The Patricia Louise McClung Nemitz Memorial Scholarship is a new award created in memory of WVSOM President Nemitz’s late wife Patricia, known by most as “Patty,” who passed away in 2009. It was created by two WVSOM Class of 1992 graduates: Joseph Cincinnati, D.O., and Troy Foster, D.O., as a way to give back to the school that shaped their lives and careers.
The scholarship will be awarded to a WVSOM student who demonstrates strong character and dedication to their community. Preference is given to a student who earned an undergraduate degree from Cincinnati’s alma mater, Concord University, or Foster’s alma mater, West Virginia University. Preference is also given to a student from Berkeley, Jefferson or Morgan counties in West Virginia.
“The price of medical school is much higher than when we were students, and we know that today’s young doctors are accruing a lot of debt,” Cincinnati said. “We want to help people from the Eastern Panhandle in the hope that they will come back to the area and work here.”
Erin McGowan, a WVSOM Class of 2027 student from Harpers Ferry, W.Va., was the first recipient of the endowment. She said she is grateful for scholarship dollars that help lessen the financial burden of medical school, especially as a first-generation medical student.
“No one in my family has done this before. I’m living off loans and recently got engaged, but that is being put off because medical school funds come first,” she said. “I’m so grateful to donors who support WVSOM students. I got to know the physicians who donated to the scholarship that I received today. They were my preceptors during my very first clinical rotation.”
The WVSOM Alumni Association Pathway to Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship is a new award created for students who completed the school’s Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences graduate program and used it as a pathway to enter medical school. Four students received the inaugural scholarship.
Shannon Warren, WVSOM’s executive director of alumni relations, said the master’s program is a useful pipeline for preparing those interested in a medical education.
“Last year marked a meaningful milestone for WVSOM as we welcomed the first alumni of our Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program,” Warren said. “This scholarship reflects the WVSOM Alumni Association’s commitment to recognizing and supporting those students. The program is an important pathway for aspiring physicians, and we’re proud to celebrate the alumni who began their journey there and are now advancing in osteopathic medicine.”
The Spring Awards Ceremony focuses on first-, second- and third-year students. Additional awards and funds are provided to fourth-year students at WVSOM’s annual Graduation Awards Ceremony.
2026 Spring Awards Ceremony recipients were:
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Dr. Roland P. Sharp President and Foundation Award of Excellence for Student Achievement — Blair Shaffer
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Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) Integration Teaching Award — Garrett Clemons, Ph.D. (biomedical sciences), Theresa Stepanek, D.O. (clinical sciences) and Pratima Ramkissoon, D.O. (adjunct clinical sciences preceptor)
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Professor Appreciation Award — Karen Wines (Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences), Matthew Williams, Ph.D. (Class of 2029) and Christopher Kennedy, D.O. (Class of 2028)
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U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award — Casey Donahoe
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Student Researcher of the Year — Suren Jeevaratnam
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Global Health Scholar of the Year — Maya Berger
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WVSOM Alumni Association Scholarship — Sabahat Choudhury and Andreus Jordan
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WVSOM Alumni Association Pathway to Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship — Makayla Ball, Logan Boggs, Ellie Lepkowski and James Wilkes
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West Virginia Emulation Endowment Trust/Dr. Olen E. Jones Jr. Scholarship — Niraj Nepal and Elizabeth Rahall
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The Health Plan Medical/Nursing Scholarship — Morgan Christian and Lenzie Stiltner
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Jarrell Family Scholarship — Candace Price
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Weisser Scholarship — Ryder Dalton
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Faheem Family Scholarship — Seth Jude
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Ghiathi Scholarship — Katelyn Cockerham
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Antolini Family Scholarship — Madison Cass
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Loretta Moore Memorial Scholarship — Andreus Jordan
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Anna Marie Counts Memorial Scholarship — Elizabeth Rahall
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Fredric and Linda Smith Memorial Scholarship — Elizabeth Rahall
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Samantha Ketchem Muncy Primary Care Memorial Scholarship — Gray Caldwell
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Dr. William B. Mullen and Jennifer White Scholarship — Emily Shupe
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Libby Kokott, D.O., Memorial Grant — Mavis Okoye
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Ron Billips Memorial Scholarship — Isabella Edwards and Preston Nipper
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West Virginia State Medical Association Alliance Scholarship — Jacob Bartlett and Niraj Nepal
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Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association Scholarship — Jaret Geston and Sean Timony
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Drs. Cheryl and Michael Adelman WVSOM Leadership Scholarship — Barry Ndeh
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Paul G. Kleman, D.O., Family Practice Student Award — Sagar Patel
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MOSS Scholarship — Lauren Britton, Samantha Handmaker, Ifeoma Iloka, Abigail Mills, Kristin Neeley, Leann Seidel and Mukesh Sivakumaran
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James R. Stookey, D.O., Manipulative Medicine Scholarship — Zachary Collins
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Marlene A. Wager 10-Fingered OPP Scholarship — Michael Reese
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John and Nancy Chambers Memorial Scholarship — Breanna Onusko
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Eugene McClung, M.D., Family Scholarship — Carson Doan
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Triplett Scholarship — Trevor Takubo
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Drs. David and Bonita Barger Campus Preservation and Sustainability Endowment Scholarship — Kevin Arguelles Dominguez
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Patricia Louise McClung Nemitz Memorial Scholarship — Erin McGowan
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WVSOM Family Practice Scholarship — Raegan Good
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Eva Teter Hammer Diversity Award — Kamran Farouq
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Hamza Syed Recognition Award — Samuel Fuller
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Student Government Association Student Leadership Scholarship — Hadley Faith from the Class of 2029, John Franklin from the Class of 2028 and Barry Ndeh from the Class of 2027
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Student Government Association Student Collegiality Scholarship — Kevin Arguelles Dominguez from the Class of 2029, Mina Parsa from the Class of 2028 and Gaspareantonio Fabio Greco from the Class of 2027
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Fredric W. Smith Community Service Award — WVSOM chapter of the Student Association of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians
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Student Government Association Appreciation Recognition — Aaron McGuffin, M.D., and Kathy Hoke
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Special Award Presentation — Student Government Association President Bryn Hawbaker and Vice President Andreus Jordan
