West Virginia Department of Transportation

07/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/27/2026 06:15

WVDOT honors future engineers at scholarship luncheon

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) hosted a scholarship luncheon Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to honor four students with the Division of Highways Scholarship, recognizing their contributions as co-op employees and their potential as future leaders in infrastructure and technology.

The four honorees selected for the scholarship are:

  • Ava Edmonds
  • Max Hall
  • Marina Hanna
  • Justin Robeson

The recipients were chosen for their work as co-ops with the WVDOT over the past several years during their summer breaks from various colleges and universities. The department aims to retain these individuals as future engineers, IT experts, and aerospace engineers.

Each scholarship provides $3,000 per semester, up to a maximum total of $12,000. To be eligible, recipients must be at least a junior in their undergraduate studies or a second-year law student.

"This is a career if you want to build a future," WVDOT Chief Technology Officer Hussain Elkhansa told the scholarship recipients.

Jonathan Schaffer, chief economic development officer and former executive administrator of government relations for the WVDOT, echoed those sentiments while congratulating the students. "One of my regrets is that I didn't come here (to the DOT) sooner," he said. "I wish you the best of luck and congratulations."

West Virginia Department of Transportation Business Manager Robert Stuart encouraged the recipients to continue their professional development within the agency. "It's a good move you've made," he said. "Continue on with your growth here. To come here and be young, you've made the right choice."​

West Virginia Department of Transportation published this content on July 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 27, 2026 at 12:15 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]