Roth Scholarship Recipient Announced

Jeremy Wood is proud and grateful to receive the award.
Photo Courtesy of Lynnis Hill

The Concord University Division of Humanities has announced that junior Jeremy Wood of Nimitz, West Virginia is the winner of the 2016-2017 David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship. Jeremy says “If someone would have told me a few years ago that I would be a finalist in a writing competition – let alone the winner – I would never have believed them.” 

    Jeremy goes on to say, “Thankfully, I have had some very encouraging teachers and professors that have helped shape me as a writer, and I could not be more thankful for them.” But perhaps none more than English Professor Dr. Michelle Gompf. Dr. Gompf encouraged Jeremy to enter the Roth Scholarship competition on the basis of his “solid writing skills” and attentiveness to detail in all aspects of the writing process, especially in peer reviewing.  Though not surprised, Dr. Gompf was “quite happy,” when she learned that Jeremy won the award.

       As a home-schooled student, Jeremy chose to attend Concord University because of its high quality academics. He says he was sure that Concord’s demanding curriculum “will help better prepare me for what comes after my undergraduate studies.” As an English major with an emphasis in literature, as well as a business minor, Jeremy intends to pursue a master’s degree in education or literature once he has completed his bachelor’s degree program at Concord University.

    Because the $1,000 Roth Scholarship is helping to cover his tuition and fees during the 2016-2017 academic year, Jeremy has been  able to replace his “library in a duffel bag” - which he “used to carry around everywhere” - with a brand new Kindle.

    Jeremy has also been able to purchase tickets to see two Shakespeare plays he will study in class this fall. He will be seeing King Lear and Twelfth Night both performed at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia.

    The purpose of the David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship is to encourage retention of currently-enrolled Concord University students who, like Jeremy, demonstrate strong writing skills. The recipient of this scholarship is chosen on the basis of an annual writing competition held each spring semester.

    According to www.concord.edu/rothscholarship, “Dr. David S. Roth taught English and journalism courses at Concord from 1969 to 1986. His influence as a teacher is gratefully remembered by many of his former students. Beyond the classroom, his contributions to the life of the university included enthusiastic support for Concord University athletics in his roles as a statistician, reporter, announcer at football games, and ardent Mountain Lions fan. His zest for life and the courage he manifested during several years of struggle against cancer were an inspiration to the university community.”

    After his death in 1986, Dr. Sheila M. Chipley, Dr. William K. Finley, and Dr. William J. Ofsa were instrumental in launching the David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship Fund; in 1990 Dr. Roger Sheppard established the Roth Memorial Scholarship 5K as an annual fundraising event. The members of Dr. Roth’s family have greatly appreciated the donations that have been made to this fund, which has been managed since its inception by the Concord University Foundation. 

    Jeremy Wood has a bright future ahead, in part due to the generosity of The Concord University Division of Humanities awarding Jeremy the David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship. With such encouragement and backing for an already talented and high achieving student there is no limit to what Jeremy can do.