HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Five new academic scholarships have been announced at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine which will assist medical students with educational costs. The following is a listing of the newly created scholarships:

• The Peggy (Margaret) Theis Scholarship is a scholarship fund established by the family of Peggy Theis, a long-time employee of the School of Medicine who died in 2013. In creating the scholarship, her family noted Peggy’s compassion and interest in others which was exhibited through her daily service to students, faculty and staff. Once fully endowed, the scholarship will be awarded to a female, first-year medical student who is the first physician in her family and has a financial need as per standards set by the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
• The Thomas and Dora Cyrus Memorial Scholarship is an expendable scholarship created by Dr. Pamela A. Cyrus, SOM Class of 1989. Dr. Cyrus established the scholarship in honor of her parents. It will assist a first-year medical student and is renewable.
• The Kowalski Family Scholarship is an endowed fund established by Dr. David C. Kowalski, Class of 1987, Dr. Joseph M. Kowalski, Class of 1984, Dr. Paul V. Kowalski, Class of 1984, Dr. Bruce J. Kowalski, Class of 1991, and their mother, Kathleen Reedy. In creating the scholarship, the family requested the recipient be a first-year medical student who has a strong academic record and a common sense grasp of and use of academic and clinical material. The award is renewable for three years pending normal academic progress.
• The Dr. Franklin D. Shuler Expendable Scholarship is a scholarship fund established by Cynthia Howe Murray and Thomas J. Murray in honor of Dr. Shuler for outstanding medical care. The recipient of this one-time award will be a 4th -year medical student who has demonstrated an interest in orthopaedics. The award will be given for five years.
• The Dr. Mark and Monica Hatfield “Adopt a Medical Student” is a fund endowed by Dr. R. Mark Hatfield, Class of ’83, and Mrs. Monica Hatfield, both loyal supporters of the School of Medicine. The recipient of the award will be a medical student selected by the School of Medicine’s Scholarship Committee in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Linda Holmes, director of development and alumni affairs, said creation of the scholarships, particularly the Adopt a Medical Student concept, is absolutely essential to assist students in defraying the cost of a medical education and also helps students reduce their medical school debt.

“We are so pleased at the School of Medicine to develop scholarships and scholarship programs that assist our students with the cost of their education,” she said. “Along with the usual endowed and expendable scholarships, we have added another program, ‘Adopt a Medical Student,’ thanks to the generous contributions of the Hatfields. This program allows the donor to support a medical student for four years while also endowing a scholarship.”

For more information on making scholarship gifts to the School of Medicine, contact Holmes at 304-691-1711.

Date Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2013