MOOREFIELD, W.Va. – Four Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College nursing students were awarded $500 scholarships by Jeff Fraley, director of nursing education for 40 & 8 Voiture 1623, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The recipients were Ashlee Marie Beach, Paige Kisamore, Kaleb Cain, & Christopher Conger.
These students are first-time recipients of the scholarship, as the Fall 2026 semester marked the start of a new nursing cohort.
“Receiving the 40 & 8 scholarship is such an honor, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity. This scholarship means more to me than just financial support; it represents someone believing in me and my future. I am working toward an exciting and challenging journey to become a pediatric nurse, as it is my dream to care for children and be a source of comfort and support to their families during some of their most difficult moments,” said Kisamore.
“This scholarship will help ease some of the financial burden that comes with nursing school and allow me to focus on my education and becoming the best nurse, I can be. I am incredibly thankful to the 40 & 8 for believing in me and investing in my future as I take these steps toward my career. I truly believe God has placed nursing on my heart for a reason, and I want to use my career not only to care for children and their families, but also to give back to my community. I want to use the knowledge and opportunities I gain through nursing to serve others, encourage those around me, and make a meaningful difference wherever I can. I am truly blessed and grateful for this support, and I want to one day give back to others in the same spirit of generosity that has been shown to me.”
The 40 & 8 was founded in 1920 by American veterans returning from France after World War I. In 1955, the organization began supporting nursing education. Voiture 1623 of the 40 & 8, based in Moorefield, has been a longtime advocate and supporter of Eastern’s nursing students through this scholarship program.
“I feel so honored to have received this scholarship. It means so much to me, not only because it aides my nursing school journey but because of who it came from,” said Ashlee Beach. “I can’t thank our local veterans, and the 40 & 8 Voiture 1623, enough.”
In support of its nursing scholarship program, members of the 40 & 8 hold several fundraising events each year. Over time, Voiture 1623 has awarded scholarships to numerous Eastern students, helping to ease financial burdens and enabling them to pursue careers in nursing.
“I appreciate the opportunity that the 40 and 8 Scholarship provides and am grateful to their organization for helping facilitate the education of the next generation of nurses, said Conger. “I’m excited to get to work with the organization further at their upcoming sandwich sale, and to learn more about the organization and its members.”
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College is deeply grateful for the Forty & Eight’s ongoing support, which plays a vital role in ensuring the next generation of nurses is well-prepared to serve their communities and improve healthcare outcomes for years to come.
About the 40 & 8
La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses) membership is by invitation and open only to honorably discharged veterans and honorably serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The society was created in 1920 in the wake of World War I, and the name comes from the French railway boxcars that carried most of the soldiers to the front lines. The boxcars featured a sign indicating the boxcar’s capacity: 40 men/8 horses. The national organization’s mission to support nursing education began in 1955.
About Eastern’s Nursing Program
The nursing program at Eastern dates back to 2006 when Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College launched a nursing program division in Moorefield. With Southern’s permission, Eastern later adopted the program’s curriculum and earned independent program accreditation from the WV Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. The two-year RN program, which admits new students every other year, is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Eastern also offers the new LPN to RN Hybrid Bridge Program, which aims to prepare students for completion of the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing in preparation to sit for the NCLEX examination. This program is to be completed over one year (three semesters) with graduation in the fall. The coursework is online, with clinicals combining virtual, simulation, and in-person experiences. For more information, visit https://easternwv.edu/academics/nursing-program/.