Scholarships Determined By Luck

At last, scholarships with none of the usual requirements.

Stellar grades? Nah.

Leadership skills? Not necessary.

Membership in an organization, or a well-written essay? Forget it.

The scholarships - five of them worth $2,000 each - are based on luck, not achievement, with winners determined by ticket stubs drawn from a big drum Saturday night at West Virginia University.

“This is the first time I’ve won anything,” said freshman Josh Shreve of New Cumberland, who accepted his prize in a packed ballroom.

All 2,700 West Virginia University freshmen were eligible for the drawing, as long as they were not on academic probation.

One thing did count: attendance. Winners had to be present to claim the prize. One student missed out because he was a no-show.

An anonymous donor provided $10,000 for the giveaway, plus an additional $10,000 for five scholarships based on need.