The Yeager Scholars Program is named for United States Air Force Brigadier General Charles E. “Chuck’’ Yeager, a West Virginia native and the first person to break the sound barrier in his historic 1947 flight of the Bell-X-1 aircraft. Students in the program, known as Yeager Scholars, are provided a greatly enhanced educational experience at Marshall with opportunities to expand their intellectual abilities, develop their leadership potential, become effective communicators, and gain the skills and knowledge necessary to create successful careers. Yeager Scholars receive tuition, fees, room and board, a textbook allowance, a laptop, a stipend, and education-related study abroad expenses. The Yeager Scholar Program is housed within the Honors College, and Yeager Scholars are members of the college with distinct curricular and co-curricular requirements. The program is administered by the Director of the Society of Yeager Scholars together with the Dean of the Honors College and a Board of Directors. Each cohort of scholars must follow the policies and expectations outlined in their handbook, which is updated annually.
The Yeager Program provides scholarships to incoming honors students who have proven themselves–though a rigorous application and interview process–exceptional in both their academic work and through their willingness and ability to take on various leadership roles in the communities of which they are a part. Successful applicants to the program are provided:
- Full tuition to Marshall University
- Room and board
- Summer study abroad at Oxford University
- An annual stipend
- Textbook allowance
- Personal computer
