Trade Schools

Trade schools include vocational education programs which offer certification or degree programs designed to teach students skills for a specific segment of employment. Many programs are available statewide, through New River Community & Technical College, WVU-Parkersburg, Ben Franklin Career Center, and other private institutions. Vocational education programs include, but are not limited to, training in healthcare assistantship, culinary arts, auto repair, diesel mechanics, cosmetology, computer graphics, heavy equipment operation, electrical repair, welding, drafting and design, computer programming, and assistive medical technology among many others.

Scholarship Terms & Amounts

Students presented with the award will receive up to $1000 per semester for a total of two consecutive years to be used toward tuition, books, fees, or supplies. Scholarship checks will be mailed directly to the financial aid office and are disbursed upon verification of enrollment. Students are eligible for vocational education scholarship for a maximum of two academic years or four semesters. The actual award amount may vary, depending on cumulative contributions to the Trades Fund, interest generated the previous year, and the actual price of the student's proposed program of study. The fund is managed by Webster County Community Fund in coordination with the Beckley Area Foundation.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be Webster County residents with a 2.0 GPA who have been accepted into a vocational degree or certification program in West Virginia or adjacent states—OH, VA, PA, KY, MD—with preference given to those applicants who have chosen a program in WV or who plan to return to WV after completing the program.