Southern NJ Alumni Chapter Scholarships

In February 2014, a group of WVU alumni, parents and friends of WVU created the WVU Southern NJ Alumni Chapter to serve the growing number of students, parents and alumni living in Southern NJ. One of our long-term goals is to establish a permanently endowed scholarship fund for WVU undergraduate students from Southern NJ. Through the efforts of WVU Foundation, Inc., we have created of the Southern New Jersey Alumni Chapter Scholarship and Eric S. Schaetzle Memorial Scholarship, which are both tax-deductible scholarship funds.

Through June 2025, our scholarships have award $33,200 to Southern NJ students.

Chapter Endowment Scholarship (Est. August 2014)

In May 2018, we finished raising the required $25,000 to fully endowed this scholarship, which will provide in perpetuity at least one annual scholarship to a WVU student from Southern New Jersey. As of June 2025, the Chapter Scholarship Fund (3Z583) had a market value of $46,420.51 and has awarded $19,200 in scholarships. 

The "Pride" Scholarship (Est. January 2015)

In January 2015, we established a demand fund for the Southern NJ Alumni Chapter "The Pride" scholarship which will accept donations throughout the year and award an annual scholarship of $1,000 (if sufficient funds exist) for a WVU student from Southern New Jersey who is a member of marching band. As of June 2025, the Chapter Scholarship Fund (2S532) had a cash balance of $703.12 and has awarded $8,000 in scholarships. 

Eris S. Schaetzle Memorial Scholarship (Est. February 2019)

In March 2023, we finished raising the required $25,000 to fully endowed this scholarship, which will provide in perpetuity at least one annual scholarship to a WVU student from Southern New Jersey.  Eric, from Camden County passed away shortly after graduating from WVU in December 2014 in a car accident on his way home from Morgantown.  As of June 2025, the Memorial Scholarship Fund (3Z913) had a market value of $37,539.18 and has award $6,000 in scholarships. 

Fundraising Details

These endowments will provide scholarships for undergraduate students enrolled at West Virginia University who have graduated from a Southern NJ High School in any of the following counties:

Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem Counties.

The recipient(s) will be determined by the WVU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and will be awarded in the name of the Southern New Jersey Alumni Chapter Scholarship or the Eric S. Schaetzle Memorial Scholarship.  Upon authorization for the recipient(s), we will publicly acknowledge the name of the recipient(s). 

Donate to Scholarship Fund

Donate Online Now - use this link to donate on-line to either of the two available scholarship funds.  Both are available on the link provided.  Just click the scholarship you wish to donate to show the donation options (gold). 

Recognition

All donors will be recognized by the WVU Foundation via an email and/or letter.  We would love to recognize donors on the Chapter's website, so if you wish to be recognized please email us at the address below.  

We hope you consider participating in this endeavor. With the growing number of Southern New Jersey students attending WVU, as well as our growing alumni base, it is important that we create a permanent vehicle to ensure WVU's legacy in Southern NJ.

If you have any questions or interest in either chapter membership, or participating in our scholarship fund, please contact us at scholarship@wvusnjalumni.org. Let’s Go Mountaineers!