MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – University High School graduate and Preston County resident Bailey Olinger has been awarded an Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholarship. The scholarship will pay up to $10,000 per year for eligible college expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, and textbooks.
The scholarship will pay education expenses for those who decide to help fill the teacher shortage in the areas of math, science, special education and elementary education. Also, the scholarship winners commit to teaching in the state for five consecutive years in the public school system.
Olinger is one of 27 selected as part of the third class of Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholarship winners in the state.
On MetroNews Talkline, Olinger said she plans to attend West Virginia University in the fall and wants to help ease the teacher shortage.
“That’s really big, because I’m putting myself through college and that’s going to help me so much to have that big scholarship,” Olinger said.
Olinger said the five year commitment was not a concern for her at all through the application process.
“It is five years, and no it didn’t because I plan to stay in West Virginia anyway,” Olinger said. “I moved here when I was a baby and I’ve lived here since and I love it.”
Olinger will prepare for a career in special education in Morgantown. Each of the 27 students will be paired with a teacher mentor to provide insight and guidance through college.
“I’m actually going into elementary special education,” Olinger said. “I’ve always loved special education- I’ve always been drawn to it and having an older brother with autism helped me with that.”
Olinger said a family member told her about the program and she quickly applied as the first deadline quickly closed in.
“I quickly applied and didn’t think much about it,” Olinger said. “Then I got into the second round and the third round and then I got it- it was really crazy.”
Olinger said she wants to make the state a better place and helping those with special needs is a good start.
“I do love it here and I do want to see improvement,” Olinger said. “I want to do good for the state and with the shortage of teachers I think it will help a lot.”
“I’m incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education.