Steven Hollenback, a senior majoring in biology and chemistry, received the Ramsey Family Scholarship, which will pay in-state tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year. Hollenback graduated from Fruitport High School in Fruitport, Mich., in 2000, and his parents are Anita Hojberg and Dale Hollenback. Upon graduation from Western, he hopes to attend medical school. The Ramsey Family Scholarship is given in honor of the late Donald W. Ramsey, the first full-time optometrist to practice in the town of Sylva.

Stephen Jaqua of Franklin is the recipient of the Anastasia “Stacy” O’Connell Research Scholarship, which pays $1,000 toward tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year and $500 for research-related expenses. This fund, established by biology professor Sean O’Connell and sister Monica Fleming of Enfield, Conn., honors the memory of their sister, who died of cancer in 2006. It provides financial assistance to a student with interests in pursuing further study in fields related to breast cancer or a project related to cancer research, such as the molecular genetics of disease. Jaqua, a senior majoring in biology and philosophy, graduated from Franklin High School in 2004. His parents are Donald Jaqua and Lia Nelson. Upon graduation from Western, he hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Christopher Killen, a senior majoring in biology and chemistry, received the Don Yopp Scholarship, which pays $500 toward tuition for spring 2008. From Wilkesboro, Killen hopes to attend medical school upon graduation from Western. Established by the Yopp family, the scholarship honors Don Yopp, a distinguished WCU biology student who died of an apparent heart attack just weeks after graduating with honors in 1979. Recipients are selected by the biology department on the basis of academic excellence and student potential.

Raleigh Rumley of Ruffin is the recipient of the Gerald Eller Scholarship, which pays $500 toward tuition for the spring 2008 semester. Rumley is a freshman majoring in biology with a minor in anthropology. This scholarship honors Gerald Eller, who served as chairman of the biology department and was the first dean of WCU’s School of Arts and Sciences.

Tianna Spear, who is majoring in biology with a minor in English, received the John C. Rice Family Scholarship, which pays $1,000 toward tuition for spring 2008. From Etowah, Spear graduated from North Central High School in Spokane, Wash., in 1991, and her parents are Keith and Barbara Decker. Upon graduation from Western, she hopes to pursue a career in teaching. Rice, a retired professor of crop science from N.C. State University and friend to former chancellor H.F. Robinson, made a donation to WCU and specified that it should be used for biology scholarships.

Karla Wright of Indian Trail is the recipient of the Biology Department Scholarship, which pays $1,000 toward tuition for the spring 2008 semester. An endowed, merit-based scholarship, the scholarship was established by the biology department using funds received in 1986 as the first recipient of the WCU Excellence Award. Wright, a senior majoring in biology and chemistry, graduated from Sun Valley High School in 2005. Her parents are John and Sandra Wright. She hopes to attend veterinary school upon graduation from Western.

For more information about WCU’s biology department, call (828) 227-7244.

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Last Modified: Friday, April 4, 2008