The Virgil R. and Dortha Lea (Knight) Starling Scholarship Fund was created through a generous estate gift from Dortha Starling in 2025 to honor her life and the memory of her husband, Virgil.  Rooted in Dortha's lifelong, deep love for Calhoun County, this endowed scholarship provides perpetual financial support to help local students pursue their post-secondary educational goals.

The scholarship assists graduating high school seniors or past graduates of Calhoun County High School in West Virginia who are pursuing higher education.  Applicants must possess a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.  Recipients are selected based on demonstrated character, academic performance, strong work ethic, and active community involvement, reflecting the values that Virgil and Dortha carried throughout their lives.

Born in Morgan County, Ohio, Virgil Rex Starling was a man of service and enterprise.  A World War II veteran who enlisted in 1942, Virgil went on to co-found MainStar in Newport, Ohio, alongside his brother Ray, demonstrating a strong entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to regional business.

Dortha Lea (Knight) Starling grew up in Grantsville, West Virginia, as the daughter of Wilbert "Slim" and Bessie Mae Knight.  A proud 1947 graduate of Calhoun County High School, Dortha worked for many years as a payroll clerk for the Foster Creighton Company.  Throughout her 95 years, Dortha held an abiding love for Calhoun County, its people, and its heritage, remaining a devoted member of the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Grantsville.  Together, Virgil and Dortha shared a life grounded in hard work, faith, and deep local roots.

Following Dortha’s passing in 2024, her estate gift to the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation ensured that her passion for her hometown and their shared values would endure.  The Virgil R. and Dortha Lea (Knight) Starling Scholarship Fund stands as a permanent investment in the youth of Calhoun County, opening doors to higher education for local graduates and inspiring future generations to lead productive and fullfilling lives.