MetroNews West Virginia Scholar Competition
The MetroNews West Virginia Scholar Competition (“Contest”) is presented by MetroNews in partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College and participating sponsors. The Contest is intended to recognize and support outstanding high school students in West Virginia through scholarship awards.

The Contest and rules are prepared in good faith and administered by MetroNews. A multi-step process that includes application review, semifinalist and finalist selection, sponsor and institutional review, and public voting will be used to determine the winner as described below. All decisions made in accordance with these 
Official Rules are final.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

1. ELIGIBILITY

The Contest is open only to individuals who:

• Are legal residents of the United States
• Reside in the state of West Virginia
• Are currently enrolled in the 11th grade (high school juniors) at the time of entry
• Are between the ages of 16 and 19 at the time of entry
• Are not currently enrolled at West Virginia Wesleyan College

If an entrant is under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must reside within West Virginia and must provide consent as required under these Official Rules.

Employees of MetroNews, West Virginia Wesleyan College, participating sponsors, and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising or promotional agencies, and members of their immediate households are not eligible to enter.

MetroNews reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time and to disqualify any entrant who does not meet the eligibility requirements.

Void where prohibited by law. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

2. ENTRY PERIOD AND HOW TO ENTER

The Contest entry period begins February 16, 2026 and ends May 3, 2026.

There is one method of entry:

• Online submission at www.wvscholar.com

Applications may be printed for reference or preparation, but all entries must be submitted online by the stated deadline to be eligible.

Entrants must complete the application form in full, including full name, address, phone number, date of birth, and all required written responses. Incomplete or inaccurate applications may be disqualified.

Applications must be received by 11:59 PM ET on May 3, 2026.

3. PRIZES

Grand Prize:
One (1) four-year undergraduate scholarship including tuition, fees, room, and board at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
The Grand Prize winner must enroll at West Virginia Wesleyan College beginning with the Fall 2026 semester. The scholarship will be awarded for four consecutive academic years and will terminate at the conclusion of the fourth consecutive school year.
Estimated total value: $160,000.

Second Prize:
One (1) four-year $5,000 scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College beginning Fall 2026.

Third Prize:
One (1) four-year $2,500 scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College beginning Fall 2026.

Second and third prizes may be combined with other Wesleyan academic scholarships, subject to West Virginia Wesleyan College’s institutional scholarship and financial aid maximums and policies.

Prizes are non-transferable and may not be substituted or redeemed for cash. MetroNews will not provide any monetary alternative to the awarded scholarships.

4. WINNER SELECTION AND JUDGING PROCESS

After the Application Round concludes, qualified applications will be reviewed and narrowed to semifinalists, and then finalists.

Finalists will be evaluated through a weighted scoring process consisting of:

• Review and scoring by West Virginia Wesleyan College
• Review and scoring by participating sponsors
• Review and scoring by MetroNews
• Public listener voting conducted online

Each component will be weighted as part of the overall scoring process to determine the Grand Prize winner. The finalist with the highest combined weighted score will be declared the winner.

Public voting is one element of the selection process and does not solely determine the winner. Measures may be implemented to protect the integrity of voting, including limits on voting frequency and safeguards against automated or fraudulent activity.

All judging decisions made in accordance with these rules are final.

If a selected winner is found to be ineligible or non-compliant with these Official Rules, MetroNews and West Virginia Wesleyan College reserve the right to select an alternate eligible finalist.

5. FINALIST REQUIREMENTS

Finalists will be announced on June 1, 2026 and will be required to submit a biography and color photograph for promotional and voting purposes. Failure to submit required materials by the stated deadline may result in disqualification.

6. WINNER NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION

Potential winners will be notified and may be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, and Publicity Release within seven (7) days of receipt.

If the Grand Prize winner is under the age of 18, all required documents must be completed and signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Failure to comply with documentation requirements, inability to contact a potential winner, or failure to enroll at West Virginia Wesleyan College as required may 
result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

7. PUBLICITY AND RIGHTS

By entering the Contest, entrants grant MetroNews and its partners the right to use their name, city and state of residence, likeness, photograph, voice, and submitted 
materials for purposes related to administering and promoting the Contest, both online and offline, without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

For entrants under the age of 18, parental or legal guardian consent is required for any use of name, image, or likeness for promotional purposes.

8. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND OPT-IN

Participation in the Contest does not require consent to receive marketing or promotional communications.

Entrants may optionally choose to opt in to receive future communications from MetroNews, the West Virginia Scholar program, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and participating sponsors by checking a separate consent box on the entry form.

For entrants under the age of 18, parental or legal guardian consent is required to receive marketing or promotional communications. Consent may be withdrawn at any time through standard unsubscribe or opt-out methods.

9. COLLEGE ELIGIBILITY AND ADMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

As part of the MetroNews West Virginia Scholar Competition, applicants acknowledge that eligibility for the scholarship is contingent upon meeting the admissions criteria of West Virginia Wesleyan College. The application questions may request academic information, including but not limited to test scores, test dates, GPA, coursework, and related materials, for the purpose of evaluating eligibility in accordance with West Virginia Wesleyan College’s standards.

By submitting an entry into this competition, entrants acknowledge and agree that:

• Their application information may be reviewed by West Virginia Wesleyan College as part of the finalist and scholarship selection process.
• Submission of an application does not guarantee admission to West Virginia Wesleyan College.
• Submission of an application does not constitute a commitment to enroll at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
• Final award of any scholarship is contingent upon the selected winner being admitted to West Virginia Wesleyan College in accordance with the college’s standard admissions policies and requirements.

If a selected finalist or potential winner does not meet the admissions requirements of West Virginia Wesleyan College, MetroNews and West Virginia Wesleyan 
College reserve the right to disqualify that entrant and select an alternate eligible finalist.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

MetroNews, West Virginia Wesleyan College, participating sponsors, and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents (“Released Parties”) are not responsible for:

• Technical failures, data transmission errors, or website malfunctions
• Lost, late, incomplete, or corrupted entries
• Human error
• Unauthorized intervention or fraud

Entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any claims arising out of participation in the Contest or acceptance or use of any prize.

11. CONTEST INTEGRITY

MetroNews reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process, voting process, or violates these Official Rules. Any attempt to deliberately damage or undermine the operation of the Contest may result in legal action.

If technical failures or misconduct compromise the integrity of the Contest, MetroNews reserves the right to suspend, modify, or terminate the Contest in a manner consistent with applicable law.

12. RULE CHANGES

MetroNews reserves the right to amend these Official Rules for administrative or technical purposes that do not materially affect eligibility requirements, judging criteria, odds of winning, or prize awards. Any material changes will be communicated publicly.

13. WINNER LIST

For the name of the Grand Prize winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by May 3, 2026 to:

MetroNews
Attn: Larry Pfost
1111 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301

14. QUESTIONS

Questions regarding the Contest may be directed to:

MetroNews
Attn: Larry Pfost
1111 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: 304.346.7055
Email: larry.pfost@wvmetronews.com

Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

15. CONTEST SCHEDULE

Announcement Press Release
February 16, 2026

Application and On-Air Promotion Begins
February 16, 2026

Application Deadline
May 3, 2026

Application Review Process (West Virginia Wesleyan College)
May 4 – May 14, 2026

Semifinalists Announced
May 15, 2026

Semifinalist Interviews and Review Process
May 18 – May 22, 2026

Sponsor Reviews
May 25 – May 29, 2026

Finalists Announced
June 1, 2026

Online Voting
June 2 – June 14, 2026

2026 WV Scholar Awarded (Luncheon)
Week of June 17 or June 24, 2026 (Tentative)