New Peoples Bank, headquartered in Honaker, Virginia, with a branch in Buchanan County, recently committed a donation of $25,000 to the Ryan McGlothlin Scholarship fund at the University of Appalachia.

The University of Appalachia, based in Buchanan County, Virginia, recently 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, provided the initial funding at $25,000 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.” Kilgore is also the founding chairman of New Peoples Bank, and praised his fellow bank board members for their unanimous support. “Our bank board members are native to our region and all of us strongly support our troops. We are also parents and this tragedy hit home very hard. We cannot say enough or do enough to honor Ryan and the thousands of other deceased and wounded veterans our region has sent to war.”

Kenneth Hart, CEO of New Peoples Bank, echoed Kilgore’s sentiments. “Ryan is a model for other young men and women in our area. He worked hard, excelled in education and sports and loved his country enough to risk his life. We will do what we can to honor him and the rest of our war veterans, living and deceased.”

Hart said he is requesting other banks in the area to commit funding to this scholarship program. “There is now $50,000 pledged to this fund and the goal is to raise $250,000 so that veterans wishing to pursue a pharmacy degree at the University of Appalachia will have access to financial help. In return, we are confident they will remain in our region and help address critical health needs and serve as role models for other students of all ages and backgrounds.”

Inquiries about helping with this scholarship fund can be directed to 276-762-2201.

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