Scholarship Opportunity

Eligibility:

2026-2027 High school seniors in Wood County, WV, or Washington County, OH, who plan to continue their education.

Recognition:

AWARD: $500

The winner will be announced and invited to attend the festival’s opening ceremony on Friday, June 19, 2026, and the winning essay will be displayed at the festival.

Essay Topic:

The Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival was established to help us all learn about and appreciate various cultures, including our own, whatever culture that may be. If we are exposed to different ways of living, we become more aware of who we are and how we live. So we are asking you to tell your story through essay. Because we want YOUR story and reflections, please do not submit an AI essay. 

What do you know about your heritage? Do you have Native American ancestors? What do you know about them?  Where do your other ancestors come from? What do you know about when they came, and why they left where they were? If you are an immigrant, what is your immigrant story?

Even if you don't know your own story, do you know someone who is an immigrant? What do you know about their immigration story, and what their experience here is?

As we consider immigration, what are the routes to legally immigrate to the US today? Would your ancestors have qualified if they came today?

Please provide the references for any specific sources that you used.

Essay Rules:

• The student must submit a completed entry form (found below).
• Length: 2-3 typed pages, double-spaced. Student’s name should NOT be on the essay.
• Essays are to be student-written.
• MOVMCF Committee members or their designees will judge. Essays will be judged based on authenticity, self-reflection, clarity, effective and thoughtful expression, and addressing the topic.

Questions?  

Contact MOVMCF Representative, Charlotte Owens

Email: cowensus@yahoo.com

Call or text: (304)482-0626

Please submit your essay by May 1, 2026, to cowensus@yahoo.com.

• Type “MOVMCF Scholarship” and the student's name in the subject line. 
• Attach the essay and completed entry form (found below) separately. 
• The format needs to be Word or PDF. Student’s name should NOT be on the essay.