Students who live just outside of West Virginia but within close proximity to the WVU Potomac State College campus are now eligible for a newly established scholarship made possible by Bonnie R. Miller.
The Glenn F. and Bonnie R. Miller Scholarship was founded in late July 2026 and seeks to provide financial assistance to current and potential students at Potomac State College who live out of state but within close commuting distance to the College.
“It is important to me that students in the George’s Creek area are awarded this scholarship because it is where Glenn and I both lived all of our lives and commuted from and to Potomac State,” Bonnie Miller said.
Bonnie and Glenn Miller
Miller said the scholarship honors two men in her life- both with connections to Potomac State College – her late husband and the father-in-law she never met.
“I’m establishing this scholarship in loving memory of my husband of 51 years who passed away in 2024, knowing how much he enjoyed his years at Potomac State, and in remembrance of his father, who passed away in 1967 just as Glenn started college,” she said. “When riding through Keyser, Glenn would often comment, ‘That’s where we got our start—up on the hill.’ The campus being smaller contributed to those memories—stories about his classes, teachers, the student union, new friendships he formed, and time with a handful of close high school classmates who attended at the same time.”
Miller said her husband was also active in the ROTC program that existed on campus during his studies here.
“ROTC was another good memory for Glenn. In his bookcase is the name badge that he kept from his ROTC uniform –Miller, G.F. It is placed beside military pins for both of his parents,” she said. “His mother, 1st Lt. Peryl French Miller, served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in England from 1944-1946. She was born in Welch, West Virginia. His parents met in England during the war and married there. His father, Aden T. Miller, served from 1941-1946 and was a Major in the 9th Army Signal Corps at the end of his tour,” Mrs. Miller said. “He then served for 20 years in the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel. This experience meant something to Glenn.”
She said the Glen F. Miller family tree has deep roots in West Virginia. Mrs. Miller said when her husband passed two years ago, she felt he would want her to honor his legacy, and that of his father’s, through his alma mater in some way.
“Unfortunately, I never got to know Glenn’s father. Curious about what his father’s life was like at Potomac State when I was establishing this scholarship, I used Potomac State’s West Virginia newspaper link and found a few articles from the Pasquino mentioning his name. They include his college job, scholastic achievements, pledging a fraternity, and being acknowledged for writing Pasquino articles,” she said. “One article listed the students who had to spend March 16, 1936, in the Hall because of a flood. Living in Lonaconing, Aden was among them. This was the Great Potomac Flood of 1936 that has been compared to the recent May 2025 flood in Allegany County, Maryland. On the lighter side, I particularly enjoyed a June 1936 article titled ‘The Diary of a Sophomore Coed’ listing a student’s observations for the year.”
One comment in that online archived article stood out to her, Miller said.
“If Aden Miller charged taxi rates for all who ride and loaf in his car, he would have enough to pay his way through the other two years of college.”
“I knew his dad had an outgoing personality, and this was surely an example,” she said.
Her own personal exposure to campus, she said, happened nearly 60 years ago when she was a senior in high school and dating the man who would be her future husband.
“The first time I was on the Potomac State campus was in November 1968 when I was a senior in high school,” Miller recalled. “Glenn took me to see the Vogues in the Church-McKee Arts Center. Every time I hear one of their songs, I think of that evening. The following fall I was a student with very similar experiences as Glenn regarding college life. I also got the opportunity to be in the work-study program in the Registrar’s office. It was another good experience.”
Life brought Mrs. Miller full circle in 2001 when she returned to Potomac State – this time as an instructor.
“I taught business classes as an adjunct teacher for Professor Karen Campbell for periods of time until 2013,” she said.
For Mrs. Miller, she was inspired to establish a scholarship that would give underserved but deserving students a chance to expand and afford a higher education.
“Glenn and I were fortunate to have good jobs during our lives that started with a good education and an opportunity to be successful,” she said. “My hope is that by giving back with this scholarship, it will relieve the burden on a student as they begin their life’s journey. Perhaps they will set up a scholarship as they grow older to give back.”
Bonnie Miller with Phil Douthitt and Megan Webb of Potomac State
This scholarship will be awarded based on the following criteria:
- Non-Resident students enrolled at West Virginia University Potomac State College.
- First preference shall be for graduates of the following High School(s) or successors: Mountain Ridge High School (specifically students from the Lonaconing, Barton, or Midland communities and in that order).
- Second preference shall be for any residents of Allegany County, Maryland.
- A student who is a recipient one year is eligible for consideration in any other year provided they continue to meet the selection criteria for the scholarship.