The Janice Michels Scholarship Fund was established with the PACF's Doddridge County Community Foundation family of funds. The Fund honors Janice Michels for her lifelong dedication to education.


Janice Michels was born in 1949 in Buckhannon, West Virginia. She grew up in Upshur County and attended Alton, Adrian, Arlington, and Kanahwa Head schools. Later, she moved to Tyler County and attended Alma Grade School. She spent two years at Tyler County High School and then graduated from Doddridge County High School in 1967. She attended Marshall University, where she graduated in 1970. She married James Michels in 1970 and had two daughters, Carren McClurg and Sara Knight, and six grandchildren.


Janice began her career in education in Sacramento, California, teaching at Merryhill Schools for two years. After returning to West Virginia, she and her family lived in Morgantown, and she taught in Arthurdale and Masontown in Preston County. She earned her Master's Degree in 1976. Later that year, she and her family moved to West Union, where she was hired as a teaching principal at Middle Island Grade School. In 1991, Janice completed requirements for a Master's Degree in administration. When the new Doddridge County Middle School opened in 1992, Janice served as principal. Under her leadership, the school received recognition as a West Virginia school of excellence.

In August 2005, Janice was hired as Superintendent of Doddridge County Schools. She oversaw the completion of the new Doddridge County High School, which opened in 2008. Janice planned to retire in June 2011; earlier that year, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Janice passed away on June 6, 2011.

The Janice Michels Scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating senior or previous graduate of Doddridge County High School who plans to attend a college, university, vocational or technical school as a full-time student. Recipients must have a 3.2 minimum grade point average, documented leadership skills, a strong work ethic, and financial need.