100 Campus Drive, Elkins, WV 26241 ¥ 304/637-1338 ¥ www.davisandelkins.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2008

CONTACT: Carol Schuler, Director of Communications, 637-1338

Appalachian Leadership & Education Foundation Selects Davis & Elkins

Foglesong Names D&E First Private College Partner

Elkins – The Appalachian Leadership & Education Foundation has selected Davis & Elkins College as its newest partner for the ALEF College Fellowship Program. Founded by retired four-star general and native West Virginian Robert “Doc” Foglesong, the program provides full scholarships to partner schools for a select group of academically qualified West Virginia high school graduates with leadership potential.

Foglesong announced the selection at a recent meeting with D&E President G.T. “Buck” Smith and D&E Trustee Joyce Allen.

“We are honored that Davis & Elkins has accepted our invitation to help advance leadership development in West Virginia,” said Foglesong. “The College’s personal attention to each individual student is very compatible with the Foundation’s expectations.

“ALEF offers talented young men and women of West Virginia an extraordinary opportunity,” Foglesong added. “We make it possible for these students, who find college financially challenging, to join a fellowship which includes a full scholarship accompanied by a leadership and character development curriculum and meaningful activities throughout the four-year scholarship.”

ALEF’s goal is to develop young men and women into skilled citizens and future leaders for Appalachia and the nation. Its core values are to develop a sense of integrity, instill an ingrained belief in service before self, and guide fellows to strive for character, leadership, and technical excellence.

D&E President Smith called the program a great opportunity for students applying to Davis & Elkins College. “This program will benefit our new freshmen as well as our larger campus community. Already, we are reaching out to student leaders through our Highlands Scholar Program. The ALEF scholarship and curriculum promise to enhance further the many ways we provide and develop the leadership potential of our students, while at the same time making a private college education affordable to deserving students.”

Applicants for the ALEF scholarship program must be a graduating high school senior; have a completed FAFSA form; achieve a 2.8 GPA or higher; exhibit character and leadership skills through academic or athletic extracurricular activities; express an interest to remain in West Virginia following graduation; and be accepted to Davis & Elkins College or another ALEF partner institution.

Fellows who study at Davis & Elkins may major in any academic field. They also will attend ALEF classes specially designed to develop character and leadership skills.

ALEF receives support from the Benedum Foundation, Francis Foundation, Hamilton Foundation, Huntington Foundation, Verizon Foundation, and 201 corporations and private individuals. Now entering its fourth year,ALEF has impacted more than 3,000 K-12 students across West Virginia. For more information on ALEF, go to www.alefwv.com or contact Pamela Scaggs, ALEF Resource Development Director, at 304-544-6373.

Related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins 2 hours east of Charleston, 3 hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 hours west of Washington, DC. For more information about admission to Davis & Elkins College, please call 304-637-1230 or visit www.davisandelkins.edu.