Scholarship

The GO-WV 2026 scholarship program is now open for both colleges/universities and vocational/technical schools.

All scholarship applications are due March 13, 2026.

Formed in 1997, the Scholarship Program was specifically created to reward the outstanding scholastic achievements of high school seniors whose parents work in the oil and natural gas industry for GO-WV member companies. The Association now includes deserving high school “student employees” who have completed a required number of working hours at a GO-WV member company. Since the Scholarship Program’s inception, a total of $261,000 in scholarships has been awarded to these very deserving students.

Beginning in 2020, we began offering two scholarships to students attending vocational and/or technical schools.

1. Applicant must be a West Virginia high school senior.

2. Applicant must be a dependent of an employee/retiree of a GO-WV Company in good standing OR be employed by a GO-WV Company in good standing (Student employee must have worked a minimum of 400 hours. Validation of hours worked and a letter of recommendation from the employer must be provided).

3. Applicant must enroll in a two-year or four-year West Virginia college or university.

4. Applicant must compose a 300-500 word essay answering the question: “Describe your community’s perception of the Oil and Gas Industry and explain how you would improve it.”

5. Application must be signed by the high school counselor.

6. The completed application (including the AP and Honors Courses, Extracurricular Activities Including Employment, and Community Service and Other Activities forms) along with the student’s essay, transcript and ACT scores must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 19, 2021 GOWV will accept applications and accompanying essays postmarked between January 2, 2026 and March 13, 2026. From all the applications received, a GO-WV Scholarship Review Committee will review the qualifying applications and award scholarships in the early part of April 2026. The winners will be announced at their respective high school awards assemblies or commencement programs. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Katie McCracken at 304-344-9867 or via e-mail at kmccracken@gowv.com.

1. Applicant must be a West Virginia high school senior choosing a career path that benefits the oil and gas industry.
2. Applicant must be a dependent of an employee/retiree of a GO-WV Company in good standing OR be employed by a GO-WV Company in good standing (Student employee must have worked a minimum of 400 hours. Validation of hours worked and a letter of recommendation from the employer must be provided).
3. Applicant must enroll in a four year West Virginia community college or vocation/technical trade school.
4. Applicant must complete both pages of this form.
5. Application must ensure that this application and all necessary documents are postmarked no later than Friday, March 13, 2026.

ATTENTION STUDENT

After completing both pages of this form, deliver these documents to your high school guidance counselor.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Two pages of forms below must be filled out in their entirety and signed by the school guidance counselor. Please do not staple.