West Virginia University student Lucas Moreland is able to immerse himself in student teaching for two semesters while continuing classes online thanks to the Highlands Bankshares Davis College Fellowship.
Made possible by a $50,000 gift from Highlands Bankshares Inc., this fellowship allows students to explore career possibilities in the agricultural field through experiential education and research while still maintaining their coursework via online classes.
“This fellowship is an acknowledgment of the dedication of the WVU Davis College, the hard work of its students and our commitment to one of America’s most necessary industries,” Jack Walters, chairman of the Board of Highlands, said. “We are honored to partner with the College to fund a fellowship for agriculture and forestry students in the Potomac Highlands.”
Moreland, the first recipient of the fellowship, will graduate in May 2024 after he completes his student teaching at Pendleton County High School in Franklin, West Virginia, fulfilling the requirements of his agricultural and extension education major in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.
With a $1,000 scholarship and an $8,000 stipend, the funds help cover his rent, living expenses and tuition, as well as school supplies for his agricultural and extension education students.
“The Highlands Bankshares Fellowship is making it possible for me to do this internship,” Moreland said.
Without the financial stress, Moreland can better focus on his education and the education of his high school students. This fall, he is taking online classes two days a week and spending three days observing the class he will teach full-time in the spring semester.
“It gives me an opportunity to encourage others to be agricultural educators and expand their idea of what agricultural education is,” Moreland said. “I want to show them that there are multiple paths agricultural education can take. Nearly everything ties back to agriculture in some way.”
The Romney native is no stranger to agricultural education. Both his mother and uncle were agricultural education teachers in West Virginia. When Moreland entered high school, he took his first agricultural class and soon fell in love with it. He continued in agricultural classes throughout his four years, even co-teaching his senior year.
Although it would seem easy, choosing his college major was a difficult decision, because Moreland was active in both FFA and the Hampshire County Teen Court Program.
“I really enjoyed the teen court program,” Moreland said. “I loved helping younger students learn from their past mistakes and seeing them become better people.”
Unsure how pre-law would allow him to help students specifically, he chose to attend WVU Potomac State College to study agriculture and extension education. After earning an associate of arts degree in agricultural and extension education, Moreland transferred to WVU Morgantown to continue his education.
After graduating, Moreland plans to teach in West Virginia and pursue a master’s degree.
"I appreciate any organization that supports what agricultural and extension educators are doing across the state to teach youth about the agriculture industry,” Moreland said. “I’m extremely thankful for programs and businesses that support students as they find their passion in life.”
Highlands Bankshares’ gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design envisions a world sustainably fed, clothed and sheltered. To learn more about the Davis College, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube by following @WVUDavis.
-WVU-
ls/10/11/23
CONTACT: Leah Smith
Communications Specialist
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
304-290-8680; lnestor2@mail.wvu.edu
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