Pictured from left to right: Ray Scites, TVMI Treasurer; John Vance, Man High School; Chelsea Phillips, Tug Valley High School; Erica Hatfield, Williamson High School; John Price, Burch High School; Issac Picklesimer, Williamson High School; Dakota Farley, Belfry High School; John Goroncy, TVMI President; and Lt. Gen. Robert H. Foglesong.
At the May 21, 2009, Tug Valley Mining Institute (TVMI) dinner meeting, the six 2009 scholarship recipients were named. The two top $6,000 scholarship awards went to Dakota Farley from Belfry High School and Issac Picklesimer from Williamson High School. Four $750 scholarship awards went to John Vance, Man High School; Chelsea Phillips, Tug Valley High School; John Price, Burch High School; and Erica Hatfield, Williamson High School.
The guest speaker was Lt. Gen. Robert H. Foglesong, and he provided an inspirational speech directed toward the scholars regarding the educational journey they are starting. He encouraged the scholars to invest in themselves now with education so that they could be the leaders and decision makers of tomorrow. Hi-Tech Construction sponsored the meeting and has been a long time supporter of the scholarship program.
Over the last fourteen years, TVMI has awarded 84 (eighty-four) students $160,000 in scholarship monies. The TVMI scholarship is open to students from Mingo, Logan, Pike, and Martin counties. The applications are available in November of each year and may be obtained from Marsha Williams at the First National Bank of Williamson or from the TVMI website (www.tugvalleymi.org).