Three outstanding high school seniors from the Mid-Ohio Valley have been named 2025 Bucklew Scholars by West Virginia University, joining 17 other top-performing students from across the state.
Ava Gorrell of Tyler Consolidated High School, Tyler Watson of Roane County High School, and Gracelyn Fellure of Ravenswood High School earned the prestigious recognition, which includes a $60,000 scholarship award — $15,000 per year for four years — to be used toward their college education at WVU.
Named after former WVU President Neil S. Bucklew, the scholarship honors academic excellence and leadership. Bucklew Scholars are also eligible for the WVU Foundation Scholarship, the university’s highest academic award.
Meet the Mid-Ohio Valley Scholars
- Ava Gorrell is an all-state bassoonist with plans to double major in biomedical and mechanical engineering. Her career goal is to develop more sustainable prosthetics that can improve lives around the world.
- Gracelyn Fellure, deeply involved in FFA and 4-H, will major in agriculture and extension education. She hopes to become an agricultural teacher and give back to rural communities through education.
- Tyler Watson lives on a farm and works with show cattle. He plans to major in animal and nutritional sciences and minor in business. Watson aims to address the shortage of veterinarians in rural areas by becoming a large and small animal vet.
About the Bucklew Scholarship
The Bucklew Scholarship is awarded annually to 20 of the most promising high school seniors in West Virginia. It is one of the state’s most competitive academic honors and may be combined with the state’s PROMISE Scholarship, offering additional support for tuition and expenses.
This year’s full list of Bucklew Scholars also includes:
- Paige Fox – Pikeview High School
- Emily Garrett – Braxton County High School
- Zoey Hoffman – Buffalo High School
- Gabriel Watson – Morgantown High School
- Sophia Frame – Charleston Catholic High School
- Luke Tiu – Wheeling Central Catholic High School
- Ashton Fulton – Lincoln High School
- Samantha Ogden – Jefferson High School
- Grace Robertson-Villamagna – Wheeling Park High School
- Noah Galvin – Martinsburg High School
- Madelynn Jackson – Morgantown High School
- David Hegele – Shady Spring High School
- Hunter Tabler – Spring Mills High School
- Jacqueline Melia – Morgantown High School
- Kaitlyn Speakman – Washington High School
- Julianna Ferrell – Morgantown High School
- Farhan Shaik – George Washington High School
WVU continues to recognize the state’s brightest students through the Bucklew program, and this year’s honorees represent a diverse range of talents and aspirations. Congratulations to all recipients — especially those from the Mid-Ohio Valley who are making their hometowns proud.
