West Liberty University presented the Carol and Terry Wallace Scholarship to Melanie DiCarlo of Steubenville in a ceremony hosted by President Robin C. Capehart and Dr. Thomas Michaud, Dean of the School of Professional Studies. The presentation took place at the Highlands Center campus.
DiCarlo is an executive assistant to the president at Eastern Gateway Community College. She is earning a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Administration (BLA) and is a member of the ninth cohort of the adult degree completion program.
“I’m pleased to present this award to Melanie, who’s an exceptional student and a great example of our working adult students completing degrees through the School of Professional Studies,” said Michaud, who also is the designer and director of the BLA program. “We are grateful to the Wallaces for their support of higher education and thank them for their generosity.”
Funded by the Carol M. and Terry A. Wallace Fund for Education, the scholarship recognizes the work of adult students, who often face challenges in scheduling classes around a work schedule, family and other duties. This is just the second time it has been awarded.
“Our scholarship is one of many presented in the region by supporters of WLU who know the importance of higher education to our region. We look forward to doing more in the future,” Dr. Terry Wallace said. Residents of Bellaire, Ohio, the couple have worked in and supported higher education throughout their professional careers.
“This is such an honor,” DiCarlo said. “It’s been a comfortable transition from community college work to the university world thanks to West Liberty. The adult program truly works well with adult learners and so much of my classwork is useful in my current position.”
DiCarlo formerly earned two associate degrees from Eastern Gateway, one in business management and the other in administrative assistant technology. She then began her work on a bachelor’s degree in fall 2013 and will graduate next spring.
“The BLA is a wonderful degree because it fits my lifestyle and works well with other responsibilities like work and family,” she said.
DiCarlo knows the world of higher education well, since she already has one daughter who graduated from Robert Morris College in 2010, another daughter who will be a senior at Fairmont State in the fall and a son heading to Ohio State in the fall. One more daughter is still at home and in high school.
“With three of us in college, the scholarship money is so helpful. I am very grateful to the Wallaces,” she added.
DiCarlo’s BLA cohort meets at West Virginia Northern Community College’s Weirton campus. Another cohort will begin there this September and interested students may contact program coordinator, Mary Lou Conley, at the Highlands Center, 304-217-2800, extension 4, or visit westliberty.edu/bla.
The School of Professional Studies offers the BLA and other degrees such as the Regents Bachelor of Arts degree and the Bachelor of Applied Science degree that are specifically designed to serve the adult student who needs a flexible and accelerated schedule.
Led by President Robin C. Capehart, West Liberty is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information on WLU, please call 1.866.WESTLIB.