News & Updates

By Becky Crabtree Vernon and Carol Ellison Kittle were well known throughout Monroe County as the owners of the "Kittles Hardware Store" in Union. Both had parents who were Monroe County teachers, and both received strong encouragement to attend college. As was typical in the 1930s, both Vernon and Carol attended one-room schools in their local communities until they were ready to complete high school. While students at Union High School, Vernon participated in football and b

By Becky Crabtree Michael and Rebecca Allen began sponsoring a Monroe County Education Foundation scholarship several years ago after the death of their son, Joseph Preston Allen. Both former Monroe County educators, Mike, a high school English teacher and principal, and Becky, a teacher and county reading specialist, understand and appreciate the importance of scholarships. Becky commented, "We both have had students who might have been considered as less than able to do wel

By Becky Crabtree In 2011, a petite, smiling high school senior, Hannah Deskins Boone, was awarded the Leona Lynch Kessel Scholarship. She used the scholarship to help pay tuition at Concord University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Later, Boone earned a Master's Degree in Special Education. She says, "I was very honored to receive this award and make Monroe County proud. I love Monroe County and am proud to live here and watch my children grow up here.

By Becky Crabtree It is always the season to plan for the future, but now is the time to think about your legacy (or that of a person you want to honor) by adding to the Monroe County Education Foundation's list of scholarships. WHY? There are a variety of reasons to "pay it forward" by sponsoring a scholarship for a Monroe Countian to further their education: Men from the past have shared their global thinking on the subject: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you

By Becky Crabtree If we could visualize all the full circles of success during the quarter-century the Monroe County Education Foundation has been in business, it might look like dozens of rings scattered randomly about, representing a variety of professions and locations. Several recent award winners can be found in classrooms of colleges and trade schools, and some are working in hospitals and businesses. Several are serving proudly in the military. You can walk into every

By Becky Crabtree The Monroe County Education Foundation's long-standing support reflects its commitment to helping dreams come true and uplifting Monroe Countians. The list of scholarships has expanded over the years, offering awards worth $250, $500, $1,000, and up to $2,000 for various educational pursuits, inspiring hope for many students. (Most are awards of $1000.) This support is open to ALL Monroe County residents, regardless of age, and applies to high school student

By Becky Crabtree To be eligible for any of the nearly thirty Monroe County Education Foundation scholarships currently available, you have to let the awarding group know that you want one! For this year, an application should be submitted before Friday, February 13, 2026. You must be a Monroe County resident, but age, gender, or current school status does not matter. You can be a high school senior, out of school, between jobs, or simply looking to improve your life with spe

By Becky Crabtree In 2001, a perfect storm of creation whirled into the area: a gracious donor offered to include Monroe County students in a scholarship designed primarily for Greenbrier County residents, and at about the same time, two tutors at the Union library's literacy program spoke of their gratifying experiences of donating to scholarship foundations in their former community and expressed a need for local scholarships. Monroe County leaders became aware that no Monr

By Becky Crabtree Surrounded by history, residents of Monroe County have solid reminders of the past. Many live in sight of the barn their grandpa and great-uncles built. Most kitchens have a recipe box or cookbook with faded, handwritten directions for dishes like apple butter or blackberry no-fool cobbler tucked inside: mamaw's love notes spanning the years. Well-maintained cemeteries dot the land with graves dating back to the 1700s, and the spine of Monroe County, rounded

By Becky Crabtree George and Helen Guy both graduated from Waiteville High School in 1946 and 1948, respectively. George graduated from Concord College in 1950 and married Helen Hall that September. He served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 55, then graduated from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1959. Helen received on-the-job training in both accounting and secretarial work at the Air Force Base in Texas and at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare i

By Becky Crabtree Margie Green Allen was born in Rock Camp, West Virginia, in 1933. She grew up in extreme poverty and quit school in 4th grade to care for her invalid mother. Margie married young; she and her husband Gene raised a family of five children. She always told her children to value education, as she did not have the opportunities it offered. She encouraged her children to explore the world and become lifelong learners. Mrs. Allen worked hard her entire life and wa

On January 29, 2026, WVVA News featured a story about how Monroe County residents have provided over $200,000 in scholarships over the past 25 years to support a lifetime of learning through the Monroe County Education Foundation. “Monroe County residents want to help Monroe County residents,” said Laura Rice, administrator for the Monroe County Education Foundation. 2026 scholarship applications are open until February 15th. If you're a Monroe County resident pursuing educ

Margie Green Allen with her son Melvin Allen at his graduation from Concord College The Monroe County Education Foundation is pleased to...

May 19, 2023 | Lindside, WV – The Monroe County Education Foundation announced $20,200 in scholarships for 23 Monroe County residents...

The Monroe County Education Foundation is pleased to announce the “Pegasus Scholarship,” a first-of-its-kind scholarship that will...