Scholar Performance
Tessa was featured with her chamber group on the national radio program 'From the Top'.
Scholars in the Arts
"I am fascinated by the breadth of Art History and by how painting teaches a culture about itself."
Mollie K. McCartney
“I want to serve the rural poor wherever they may be, whether it is Appalachia or Bosnia.”
- Program: 2008 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Morgantown, WV
- Hometown: Walkersville, WV
- Age: 21
- Community College: n/a
- Four-year College or University: West Virginia University
- Graduate School: West Virginia University
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Health Care, Medical Practitioner, Nonprofits, Public Services, Social Justice, Rural Health
- Other Interests: Childcare, Church / Religious Organization, Literature, Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping, Performing Arts / Theatre, Religion, Tutoring / Mentoring, Volunteer Work, Native American Interests, Travel, Farming
Biography
PROFILE: Mollie McCartney has wanted to be a doctor since she was a freshman in high school. In college, her biggest challenge has not been the coursework, but navigating a campus of 27,000 students. While overwhelming at times for someone who feels at home in rural Appalachia, Mollie says the experience of being surrounded by different cultures—domestic and international—has made her appreciate her upbringing. “I realized that my life, with all of its hardships and the rich traditions carried on in it, could be used to help others in West Virginia and abroad.”
In 2007, she traveled to rural Guatemala to teach English. During the summer, she visited Sarajevo for six weeks. Those experiences have deepened her interest in international affairs and given her a firm belief in the interconnectedness of cultures. Mollie sees the need for better health care in her home community. As a rural physician, she will advocate for the opening of more clinics and mobile health units, take an active role in recruiting health workers, and help build the infrastructure that will attract physicians and other caregivers to rural areas.
INSPIRATION: Mollie credits her parents with instilling the belief that the possibilities for her life were endless, and that she had a responsibility to use her talents. “These ideas sustained me and drove me throughout my academic career, leading me to my career choice of rural medicine.”
ASPIRATION: Mollie plans to become a rural physician.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Mollie has volunteered as a research assistant for the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and as a clerical assistant for Milan Puskar Health Right Clinic.
ACCOLADES: At West Virginia University, Mollie received the Henry Hurlbutt Research Award in biology, the PROMISE Scholarship, the Award for Academic Excellence, and was the West Virginia University Foundation Outstanding Senior, awarded to the top 1% of each graduating class. She has held chapter positions in the Association for Women in Science, and the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
INTERESTING FACT: Mollie enjoys ethnic dance, including Irish and Indian dancing.
Other Scholars Like Mollie
Joan
Young Scholar
Temple City High School
Elizabeth Cady
College Scholar
University of Washington
Viviana Alcazar
Graduate Scholar
University of California, Berkeley
Christine Lucas
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
St. John Fisher College