On Tuesday evening, more than sixty attendees representing ACEC-WV, NSPE-WV, and ASCE gathered at Edgewood Country Club in Charleston for the annual Discover Engineering Scholarship Dinner.
A total of seven scholarships were awarded to students representing engineering programs from across West Virginia. The ACEC-WV Board of Directors selected recipients following a thorough review and deliberation of submitted applications. Once selected and notified, scholarship recipients were honored during the dinner and given the opportunity to connect with engineering firm representatives from dozens of companies across the state to discuss their academic goals and professional aspirations. According to board members, discussion surrounding ACEC-WV’s two scholarship recipients was minimal given the strength of their academic performance, leadership involvement, and clear passion for the profession.
ACEC-WV President-Elect, Billy Varney, Presenting a Scholarship to Micah Foster of Marshall University
The first student recognized by President-Elect Billy Varney was Micah Foster, a senior at Marshall University majoring in Civil Engineering with a 3.41 GPA and an active member of the ASCE Student Chapter. In his application, Micah reflected on how his understanding of engineering evolved during his undergraduate experience.
“Growing up, engineers appeared to be people who could create anything from nothing,” Foster wrote. “But over time I realized that what truly makes engineers remarkable is not simply creation — it is problem solving.” He explained that hearing from practicing engineers across West Virginia helped him recognize that communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving the public’s quality of life are central to the profession. Foster plans to graduate from Marshall’s BSCE program and pass the FE exam by Fall 2026, with aspirations to remain in West Virginia by either joining a local engineering firm or pursuing a master’s degree at Marshall University. He noted that receiving the scholarship will help him continue working toward completing his degree debt-free.
ACEC-WV President-Elect, Billy Varney, Presenting a Scholarship to Micah Harris of Marshall University
The second ACEC-WV scholarship recipient was Micah Harris, also a senior in Civil Engineering at Marshall University, who maintains a 3.78 GPA and serves as Secretary of the ASCE/SAME Student Chapter. Harris shared that engineering was not initially his intended path when he began college.
“I originally planned to major in biology and pursue research,” he wrote. “However, encouragement from a teacher and a Marshall University representative led me toward engineering — and it has proven to be the right decision.” Harris emphasized that engineering’s focus on problem solving and designing solutions that benefit communities has become a driving force in his academic journey. He has developed particular interests in structural steel design and water resources engineering, supported by internship experience with the City of Weston as a municipal engineering intern and with Chapman Corporation in Washington, Pennsylvania. Harris noted that both experiences reinforced his excitement for the profession and the opportunity to contribute to shaping the built environment.
Bryan Hoylman and Billy Varney had the opportunity to visit with both scholarship recipients and their families before and after the banquet. The students expressed sincere appreciation for the recognition and asked that their thanks be shared with the ACEC-WV membership for helping make these scholarships possible.
ACEC-WV congratulates Micah Foster and Micah Harris on being recognized at this year’s Discover Engineering Scholarship Dinner and on receiving $1,500 scholarships to support the continued pursuit of their academic and professional goals.