Society of Yeager Scholars

The Society of Yeager Scholars is the name of the highest academic scholarship offered at Marshall University, named in honor of Chuck Yeager, the first recorded pilot to break the sound barrier.

General Information

The scholarship was established to elevate the quality of academics at Marshall University and to honor Gen. Yeager, a local native who was never given the chance at a college education (see The Right Stuff).

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The Society of Yeager Scholars is a part of the academic program of Marshall University and comes under the direction of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Academic policy for the Yeager Scholars program is guided by a Steering Committee composed of University faculty. The Chair of the Steering Committee and the Director of the John R. Hall Center for Academic Excellence have a role in developing the curriculum, administering the budget, coordinating the international aspects of the program, and recruiting and advising of the Scholars.

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A distinguished Board of Directors, which includes politicians, business leaders, and former students, has been established to advise on policy, to promote the Society, to assist in recruiting students, and to be active in fund-raising. Permanent members of the Board of Directors are the President of Marshall University as well as the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and the Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of the University. The Governor of West Virginia is an Ex-officio member of the board.

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Funding for the Society of Yeager Scholars comes primarily from private money. An endowment in excess of $9.2 million supports the Yeager Scholars and is administered through the Marshall University Foundation.

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