New class of Erma Byrd Scholars selected

HUNTINGTON - The new class of Erma Byrd Scholars at Marshall University, which consists of six incoming freshmen from West Virginia, has been selected.

Dr. Barry Sharpe, executive director of Marshall's John R. Hall Center for Academic Excellence, said the new class of Erma Byrd Scholars includes Karen Barnett of Craigsville in Nicholas County; Erin Dzaack of Davis in Tucker County; Laura Good of Charleston and Sahana Fischer of Cross Lanes in Kanawha County; Veronica A. Loss of Fairmont in Marion County; and Alicia Petrarca of Sandstone in Summers County.

Every year two scholars are selected from each of the state's three congressional districts. Dzaack and Loss represent District One, Good and Fischer represent District Two and Barnett and Petrarca represent District Three.

The program, which was established in 1994, honors Erma Byrd, the late wife of West Virginia's senior U.S. senator, Robert C. Byrd.

The scholars are selected on the basis of an essay, their high school grade point average and two recommendations. They are required, while at Marshall, to maintain a grade point average of 3.5. The scholars also will have the opportunity, when schedules permit, to visit Washington, D.C., and meet Byrd.

Erma Byrd Scholars are not limited to a particular field of study at Marshall. Current and past scholars have been majors in physics, chemistry, biology, English, history, integrated science and technology, communications studies, political science and teacher education.