WV Invests Success Stories

Maggie Ellis
Maggie Ellis, a first-year nursing student at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, is thankful for the WV Invest Grant Program because it has made her dream of being a nurse a reality by lifting the stress of paying for tuition off her shoulders. She has an expected graduation date of May 2025.

Maggie says, “I want to remember that everything should be taken day by day and that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my parents, family, and friends. I’m so excited to see where the next few years will take me, and thanks to WV Invest for making my college experience a breeze.”

Maggie plans to work as a labor and delivery or a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Huntington after graduation to give back to West Virginia.

Alexis Lusk
Alexis Lusk, a Medical Laboratory Technician student at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, says the WV Invests Grant Program has made it easier to focus on her studies and externship. She expects to graduate in May 2023.

“I was able to obtain my goals without any debt or student loans. I owed a minimum of a few hundred dollars toward books. It took much weight off my shoulders, not worrying if my tuition would come out of my pocket,” Alexis says.

Alexis plans to pursue her career in West Virginia upon graduating from Southern debt-free.

Katelyn Miller
Katelyn Miller, a paralegal student at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, says the WV Invests Grant Program allowed her to earn a college degree. She is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2024.

“If I didn’t find the WV Invests Grant, I would not have been able to go to college at all. It has given me the opportunity to study what I want and work towards something that I previously did not think would be possible.”

After graduation, Katelyn hopes to get a job as a paralegal and get a few years of experience before pursuing law school.

Jacob Ouimet
Jacob Ouimet, a Computer Network Engineer Technologies (CNET) student at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, says the WV Invests Grant Program has allowed him to achieve his goals. He has an expected graduation date of Fall 2024.

“The WV Invests Grant has helped me achieve my goals by providing the necessary funding for my CNET coursework, including the Network+ course. The WV Invests Grant has taken immense financial pressure off of me and allowed me to focus more on my classes and less on paying for them.”

Along with his degree, Jacob plans to pursue additional certifications, including CompTIA Network+, Cloud Essentials+, Cloud+, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner, and the CISCO Certified Network Associate. Jacob currently works as a part-time support desk administrator. After graduation, Jacob plans to pursue a more networking-focused position, such as a CISCO Switch administrator.

Abigail Warden 
Abigail Warden, a student pursuing a Health Care Professional Associate Degree from Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, says the WV Invests Grant Program has paved the path for her successful future. She has an expected graduation date of May 2024.

Upon graduating high school, Abigail was not eligible for financial assistance outside of student loans. The WV Invests Grant Program has allowed her to love college without worrying about how she will be able to pay off debt. She aims to assist people in any way possible and work with children, “for they are our future,” she comments.

Levi Watts
Levi Watts, a nursing student at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, says the WV Invests Grant Program eases the financial burdens of higher education and motivates him to keep his grades up. He expects to graduate in 2024.

“I have learned and am still learning so much in college, not just about my major, but about making friends and meeting new people,” says Levi. “I don’t know what I would have done without this grant’s financial assistance. All of this wouldn’t be possible without WV Invests!”

Upon graduating from Southern, Levi plans to continue his education to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Billy Wiegle
Billy Wiegle, a Spring 2021 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduate, says the “phenomenal” WV Invests Grant Program helped him further his education. Billy is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education from Shepherd University and expects to graduate in 2024.

“WV Invests has provided financial assistance to both myself and my family,” says Billy. “The WV Invests Grant Program is free and focuses on the success of the individual. I want to thank everyone at the WV Invest Grant Program and Blue Ridge CTC for guiding me during the process.”