The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America actively promotes our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects.  The NSCDA scholarship programs are designed to encourage the study of American history, promote good citizenship and support nursing students of Indian descent.  NSCDA sponsors three types of American history educational awards: Regional, District, and State sponsored.

In 1957 the Cabell County Committee of NSCDA-WV established a state history scholarship to be awarded to a deserving Marshall College student planning to teach American history as his or her life work.  Mrs. Joe Dingess of Huntington, vice-chairman of Region IV of the national society’s Patriotic Service Committee,  helped establish the award.  (Region IV included 14 north-eastern states.)

The Cabell County Committee joined with other state NSCDA-WV members in funding the $200 scholarship.  Throughout the years, the committee has been able to increase the value of the scholarship.  In 2012, the state society matched the county committee donation increasing the award to $400.

Patriotic Service Committee chair Lenora Sutphin reports that the 2021 Cabell County History Scholarship at Marshall University was awarded to Casey Jones, a history student at Marshall University who will graduate in May. Casey is from Buchanon, West Virginia. The scholarship originated in the early 1960s as a $50 scholarship and grew to $1000. Dr. Alan Gould was the first recipient of the scholarship; he later became Chairman of the History Department at Marshall University. The ceremony was virtual this year due to COVID.

For details on NSCDA Scholarships, go the website of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.