McKowns Honored by New Scholarship

by Patty Ryan, Development Officer


Dr. Gary L. McKown and his wife, Jill M. Meuser, have created a scholarship in honor of his parents that directly benefits Calhoun County students and helps create skilled and caring teachers for our schools. The Leon and Mae Newell McKown Endowed Scholarship will provide graduate or undergraduate scholarships for students in WVU’s College of Human Resources and Education who are majoring in education. First preference will be given to students residing in Calhoun County.

The endowed scholarship honors the McKowns for their hard work, their sacrifice, and their belief that education is one of the surest means that people have to better their lives. The couple valued scholarship and the profession of teaching throughout their long lives despite personally having had only the benefit of a rural elementary education. In 1935, Leon McKown and his business partners bought the General Store and Post Office at Orma, WV. Leon and Mae were married in 1937 and together continued to operate the store and serve as Postmaster until 1950, when they moved with their two sons to a large farm in Wood County. Leon passed away in 1995, and Mae continued to live on the farm until her death in 2003.

Undergraduate students receiving this scholarship will participate in a five-year, dual degree teacher education program that leads to a bachelor’s degree in a content specialization and a master’s degree in education. Each student graduates with over 1,000 hours of clinical experience in the schools before they assume responsibility for their own classrooms. WVU’s Benedum Collaborative, a unique partnership with 28 public schools, includes a three-year placement at one school where students will observe and assist in classrooms, tutor students, plan instruction, conduct action research, and teach classes.

The gift was made to the WVU Foundation in conjunction with the $250 million Building Greatness Campaign, which has generated more than $262 million and concludes December 31. The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.

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