Buchanan County, Virginia

The University of Appalachia, based in Buchanan County, Virginia, has established a scholarship loan fund in the name and honor of Marine 1st Lieutenant Ryan McGlothlin, a Buchanan County native son and Marine officer who was mortally wounded while protecting his platoon in Iraq. Ryan’s bravery and commitment to his country and military companions were recently referred to during a national address regarding the war.

The University, which recently launched Virginia’s only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program, is providing the initial funding at $25,000.00 from non-designated application processing proceeds and is actively raising additional funds in the Marine's honor.

“The purpose of this scholarship fund is to honor Ryan and his family and to also provide interest-free tuition loans to military veterans accepted into our pharmacy program”, explained University of Appalachia’s Chairman, Frank Kilgore. “We anticipate that the fund will grow and as these veterans graduate and become successful pharmacists they will pay back into the fund for future veterans to draw upon."

The University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy just completed its first semester of classes and is renovating the historic Garden High School as its main campus. A proposal to establish a private forensic lab in Buchanan County in affiliation with the pharmacy school is also being pursued. Michael (Mickey) McGlothlin, president of the University of Appalachia and a cousin to Ryan, commented that Ryan was an exceptional scholar, athlete, and patriot, and this his Buchanan County roots trace back several generations. “We will honor his memory with this perpetual funding program. Ryan was a model citizen and Marine. His valor will always be remembered.”

For more information about making tax-deductible donations to the Ryan McGlothlin Scholarship Fund, interested persons may call 276-935-6433 or email jmk@naxs.net.

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