Claire M. LaPlante Engineering Scholarship
Offered by Elizabeth & Claire LaPlante Foundation
About this scholarship
The Claire M. LaPlante Engineering Scholarship is a $50,000 merit award for one West Virginia high-school senior entering West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering. A recipient in the five-year Track 1 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering dual-major path receives $10,000 annually; a recipient in the four-year Track 1 Biomedical Engineering path receives $12,500 annually. The scholarship is need-blind and supports only those two academic routes. Applicants must have completed all four years of high school in West Virginia, hold at least a 3.8 cumulative GPA, and present a minimum 1400 SAT or 32 ACT score. They must submit evidence of acceptance to both WVU and the WVU Honors College with the online scholarship application. The live form also requests four years of transcripts, test scores, academic honors, activities, and a 300–500 word essay. The Foundation receives applications by February 21 each year and plans to notify candidates by April 21. Renewal requires continuous full-time enrollment in the designated Statler College program and continued WVU Honors College membership, including completion of the Honors Foundations and EXCEL programs. The recipient also completes an EXCEL research project related to ECMO or another life-saving device. Students receiving the WVU Foundation Scholarship or Bucklew Scholarship are ineligible.
Eligibility
- Be a resident of West Virginia and complete all four years of high school in West Virginia
- Be accepted by West Virginia University and the WVU Honors College
- Enter the Statler College Track 1 biomedical engineering major or mechanical and aerospace engineering dual major
- Have at least a 3.8 cumulative high-school GPA
- Have at least a 1400 SAT score or a 32 ACT score
- Submit transcripts, test scores, acceptance documentation, activities, and a 300–500 word essay
- Not receive the WVU Foundation Scholarship or Bucklew Scholarship
- Remain continuously enrolled full time in the designated major and WVU Honors College for renewal
- Complete the Honors Foundations and EXCEL programs, including the required research project