As part of our commitment to educational and professional development, the Mountaineer Fellowship offers students comprehensive resources and benefits.
In addition to a substantial scholarship, students will gain access to cutting-edge technology and exclusive seminars to help launch you into your first year in the program. The benefits increase into the second year (pending good academic standing) with opportunities for assistantships, exam free coverage and additional training opportunities. This fellowship is designed to empower you on your path to becoming a skilled and highly qualified counselor. Explore the details below to discover the full extent of the support and opportunities that await you.
2024-2025 Academic Year
- $15,450 scholarship ($6,000 in fall 2024, $6,000 in spring 2025, and $3,450 in summer 2025)
- Top-of-the-line, new laptop to use for the two years enrolled in the counseling program
- Payment of expenses required for program completion, such as Tevera, and a two-year student membership into either the American School Counselor Association or American Counseling Association
- Access to exclusive monthly seminars centered on topics such as evidence-based school-based mental health services, culturally responsive counseling, and rural special education, hosted by leading experts on these topics
- Funding to attend national counseling conferences
- Ongoing peer mentorship by doctoral-level graduate assistants
Pending good academic standing in the counseling program and fellowship, the same six student will receive the following benefits during the 2025-2026 academic year.
2025-2026 Academic Year
- An
assistantship, which includes:
- $26,523 stipend (paid out over 9 months)
- Waiver of university tuition for both the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters
- Membership into either the West Virginia School Counselor Association (WVSCA) or the West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association (WVLPCA)
- Payment of the Praxis II for School Counseling examination (this is relevant only to school counseling students as this is a required examination to both complete your internship in WV as well as become fully certified as a school counselor in WV)
- Payment of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) (this is the required examination to become a licensed professional counselor in West Virginia. All fellows—both school and clinical mental health—will be required to take this exam in the spring 2026 semester)
- Payment of your student teaching/school counselor permit (required of all school counseling students in order to complete internship in WV schools)
- Payment of any background checks required at field placement sites (school counseling students must complete as part of the student teaching permit process, partnering clinical school-based sites likely require as well)
- Payment of your application fee to pursue your licensed professional counselor certification in West Virginia (we will pay all fees associated with the application)
- Fellows receive $550 worth of evidence-based small group and individual counseling interventions to use at your site (the curricula are yours to keep!)
- Fellows will be required to complete Youth Mental Health First Aid training (which looks GREAT on a resume)
- Access to exclusive monthly seminars centered on topics such as evidence-based school-based mental health services, culturally responsive counseling, and rural special education, hosted by leading experts on these topics
- Ongoing peer mentorship by doctoral-level graduate assistants
- Other grant funded perks may become available throughout the life of the grant!