Jillian Griffin, a senior at Wheeling Park High School, has been awarded a $10,000 per year Citizens Bank of West Virginia Emerging Leaders Scholarship to Davis & Elkins College for a total of $40,000 over four years.
Davis & Elkins, Citizens Bank of West Virginia and WDTV partnered to offer the unique scholarship competition. All 2022 West Virginia high school graduates, whether attending a public, private or homeschool, with a 3.25 or higher GPA were eligible to apply. Impressed with the high caliber of applicants, College officials decided to offer multiple scholarships in addition to the selection of one student who received a full, four-year scholarship.
Applicants were required to submit a list of high school and community activities, along with an essay based on the topic, “If you receive this scholarship, how will you pay it forward to the state of West Virginia?”
Griffin is the daughter of Erin Raines-Rollyson and Matthew Rollyson of Wheeling and Dan Griffin and Sara Griffin of Triadelphia. At Wheeling Park High School, she is president of the Psychology Club and a member of Drug Free Clubs of America, National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. She is a freshman mentor, student ambassador and Regional Environmental Action Program counselor, captain of the school color guard and performs with the school orchestra. This past summer, she was selected to attend West Virginia Rhododendron Girls State.
At Davis & Elkins College, Griffin plans to major in psychology.
“I want to work to help the people in my home state towards better mental health,” Griffin wrote in her essay. “I want to assist students, inmates and veterans alike because they all have their own story. I want to ultimately help those who need it the most and sometimes end up without a voice.”
Davis & Elkins College offers more than 45 academic programs. Multiple scholarship opportunities are available including the College’s annual $5.4 million investment in West Virginia students. For additional information, call 304-637-1230 or visit www.dewv.edu/admissions.
Jillian Griffin
