YCF Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2026-27 Academic Year; New One in Place for Harrison County
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on January 14, 2026
Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia, Inc. (YCF) is accepting scholarship applications for the 2026-27 academic year. YCF oversees over 45 diverse scholarship funds primarily to benefit students in North Central West Virginia. Some scholarships are designated for graduating seniors of specified schools or those who reside in specific counties. Others are awarded for athletics or specific fields of study such as art, veterinary medicine, or engineering. While the majority of YCF scholarships are for graduating high school seniors, some are available for those currently enrolled in college.
Two new scholarships are available for the first time in 2026:
• John and Mildred Peluso Italian-American Scholarship provides a $1,000 scholarship to a West Virginia resident of Italian-American heritage attending West Virginia University in Morgantown as a full-time student. Current undergraduate students are eligible; incoming freshmen receive priority. Applicants must demonstrate pride in their Italian-American heritage, leadership qualities, solid academic achievement (minimum 3.0 overall GPA), commitment to service, and a strong work ethic.
• Michael F. Viglianco Scholarship provides a $1,000 annual scholarship to a Harrison County, West Virginia resident attending a West Virginia public college. Open to current high school seniors only. The scholarship may be renewed for up to four years provided the student
continues to meet the requirements.
Prospective applicants may review all YCF scholarship descriptions and requirements at https://ycfwv.org/scholarships/. Interested students will complete a universal online application that matches them with eligible scholarship opportunities. Each scholarship opportunity requires an essay and at least one recommendation. Applicants will also be required to upload a school transcript. Many scholarships require demonstration of financial need. If applying for a need-based scholarship, students will be asked to upload a copy of their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Submission Summary.
Applications are due March 2, 2026, and recipients will be announced in May.
“YCF is proud to connect deserving students with scholarship opportunities made possible through the generosity of our donors,” said YCF President Patty Showers Ryan. “For the 2025–26 academic year, YCF awarded $303,000 in scholarships to 109 students throughout North Central West Virginia.”
Established in 2011, YCF’s mission is to promote philanthropy and build endowment funds to benefit our communities. YCF supports people, programs, and projects in North Central West Virginia through grants and scholarships made possible with charitable donations.
For more information please call (304) 296-3433 or visit YCF’s website at: http://www.ycfwv.org.
