Ten years ago, Hunter Bishop, a graduate of Ritchie County High School, received a scholarship from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF). Recently, he shared his journey to highlight the lasting impact of local scholarships. As a first-generation college student, Hunter’s story exemplifies how community support can help individuals overcome obstacles and unlock their full potential.
From Diesel Mechanics to Engineering: A Journey of Discovery
Hunter’s educational journey began during high school, where he attended the Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute (MOVTI). There, he focused on diesel mechanics, working toward certification while developing hands-on skills in the field. For a time, he worked at a local body shop as a mechanic, thinking that this was the career path he would follow.
“I first started out going to college for a brief time for diesel mechanics,” Hunter recalls. “At the same time, I was working at a body shop as a mechanic. All the time, I wondered if this was really what I wanted to do for my career. It kind of seemed fitting with how I liked to work with my hands a lot.”
However, as he gained more experience, Hunter began to question if this path was right for him. It wasn’t long before he decided to make a major change.
“Not too long after, I decided to switch up my career. I wasn’t happy with my decision and felt lost,” he explains. “It took me a while to finally figure out what I wanted to do, which was getting into engineering.” That pivotal moment led Hunter to reframe his future, and with the support of the PACF scholarship, he found the freedom to explore his true career aspirations.
That pivotal moment led Hunter to reframe his future, and with the support of the PACF scholarship, he found the freedom to explore his true career aspirations.
The Role of Scholarships in Shaping His Future
As a first-generation college student, financial barriers were a significant challenge for Hunter. That’s where the scholarship from the PACF played a key role.
“Getting scholarships was definitely important for me and is for everyone,” he says. “Even if you’re not 100% set on your education, it helped me get started and gave me a chance to try and succeed when I didn’t think I’d be able to afford it on my own or that I was afraid to try.”
Hunter credits the scholarship for giving him the breathing room to explore what he truly wanted to do.
"So the fact that kids do get those scholarship opportunities is a really great thing. It helped me get started on the right path and maybe persuade others to try."
Returning Home: Raising a Family in Ritchie County
After completing his education, Hunter returned to Ritchie County, eager to raise his family in the community he loves. He and his wife share a deep connection to the area, and they both value being close to their extended families.
“I always felt like Ritchie County would be where I wanted to raise my family,” Hunter says. “And lucky enough, my wife felt the same way. We have big families that we love being around and would feel lost being far away from."
Living in a rural area offers Hunter and his wife the chance to enjoy a lifestyle centered around family and the outdoors.
“We love the outdoor life and being able to have land. We have a beautiful 1-year-old daughter that we feel lucky to be able to raise in the area that we do and being able to let her grandparents spoil her on the daily, from going to Sunday lunches every week with family, to having cookouts and playing games, it’s all about quality time,” Hunter adds.
A Fulfilling Career: Serving the Community
Hunter’s professional path took him to Citynet, a communications and fiber-optic company, where he works as an engineer. In his role, Hunter enjoys the blend of fieldwork and design.
“I love being able to have both the fieldwork and the designing aspect of it,” he explains. “I work my mind every day, trying to solve problems and create ideas to best achieve my job’s goals.”
In addition to his work, Hunter is committed to serving his community. He sees helping others as a core part of his identity.
“As far as my community and how I serve it, I feel like I am a Good Samaritan. I try to help out when someone asks for a hand, and I want to feel like others can count on me,” he says.
Looking Ahead: Hopes for the Future
Looking toward the future, Hunter is optimistic about the continued growth of his community.
“I would hope that the future of this community continues to grow in positive ways,” he says.
He also values the tight-knit fabric of Ritchie County, where neighbors support one another during difficult times.
“I love that when someone in this community has been given some rough news or has lost a lot, we all try and help out. Such as benefit dinners and community prayers,” Hunter reflects.
Hunter Bishop’s journey highlights the transformative power of scholarships and community support. From his time at MOVTI to his engineering career, PACF’s investment in his education played a critical role in opening doors and enabling him to explore his true calling.
His story is a testament to the far-reaching impact that local scholarships can have—not only on individual students, but on entire communities.
For more information on how you can support future generations of students, visit the scholarship page.
