2017-18 David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship Winner

Abigail Toney of Beckley, WV, is the recipient of the 2017-18 David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship.
Photo Courtesy of Tara Taylor

The Department of Humanities is delighted to announce that sophomore Abigail Toney of Beckley, WV is the recipient of the 2017-18 David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship. 

Abigail was selected as the recipient of this scholarship on the basis of the strong writing skills she demonstrated as a participant in the annual Roth Scholarship Writing Competition. “I am extremely honored to have been chosen for this scholarship,” Abigail said. “Those that entered and were chosen for each round of the writing competition were excellent writers, and I respect all of them,” she added. “I am happy to know that my writing skills are good enough to win a scholarship like this!” 

Instructor of English Dr. Anthony Patricia encouraged Abigail to enter the Roth Scholarship competition on the basis of her “exceptional writing skills.” He recalls, “I had the privilege of teaching Abigail in ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Composition II in the Spring 2017 term at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center. I realized right away that she was an outstanding writer. So I was thrilled but not surprised when I learned that she had won the Roth Scholarship.” 

A graduate of Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County, Abigail chose to attend Concord University chiefly because of the opportunities it provides for one-on-one interactions between professors and students. She was also attracted by the reasonable cost of attendance and by the opportunity to take CU Beckley classes at the Erma Byrd Center. 

Abigail has earned the distinction of becoming the first CU Beckley student to be awarded the David S. Roth Memorial Scholarship since its inception in 2001.

As a Business major with an emphasis in management who is exploring the possibility of an accounting minor, Abigail intends to pursue a career in business upon completing her bachelor’s degree program at CU. Her future plans include making sure her parents and grandmother “can relax and have leisurely lives.” 

Abigail is using the $1,000 Roth scholarship toward the purchase of books for her courses, as well as toward the cost of tuition and fees during the 2017-18 academic year.

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

Dr. David S. Roth taught English and journalism courses at Concord from 1969 to 1986. 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; and 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 all the donations that have been made to this fund, which has been managed since its inception by the Concord University Foundation.