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.
Founded in July 2026, the Glenn F. and Bonnie R. Miller Scholarship at Potomac State College benefits students with financial need from Lonaconing, Barton, or Midland, Maryland, attending Mountain Ridge High School. Bonnie established the scholarship in memory of her late husband, Glenn, a 1967 graduate of Valley High School in Lonaconing. He graduated from Potomac State in 1969 and Frostburg State College in 1971.
Glenn had fond memories of his two years at Potomac State, where he followed in the footsteps of his father, Aden T. Miller. His dad attended Potomac State at the age of 16, graduating in 1936, and then graduated from the University of Maryland in 1938.
Aden T. Miller attending Potomac State College, 1935
Bonnie said the scholarship is a way of paying back, offering students a better future, and honoring the memory of Glenn and his father.
“It is important to me that students in the Georges Creek area are awarded this scholarship because it is where Glenn and I both lived all of our lives and commuted from to Potomac State,” she said.
“When riding through Keyser, Glenn would often comment, ‘That’s where we got our start — up on the hill,’” she said. “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.
“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.
Glenn’s parents met and married in England during World War II. His mother, 1st Lt. Peryl French Miller, was a native of Welch, West Virginia who served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from 1944-1946.
His father served from 1941-1946 and was a major in the 9th Army Signal Corps at the end of his tour. He then served for 20 years in the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After her husband passed two years ago, Bonnie wanted to honor his legacy and that of his father’s through his alma mater. Since she never met Glenn’s father, she did some research in the Potomac State student newspaper, “The Pasquino,” and learned about his college job, scholastic achievements, fraternity experience, and more.
One comment in a June 1936 article stood out to her: “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,” Bonnie said.
Her exposure to campus happened nearly 60 years ago, when she was dating 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.”
Glenn encouraged his then-girlfriend to attend Potomac State in 1969. With the help of a Potomac State College scholarship, loan, and grant, Bonnie completed one year and then accepted a job with a promising future. She retired from that company 30 years later.
During the subsequent years, Bonnie graduated from Allegany Community College and Frostburg State University.
“I had similar experiences as Glenn regarding college life,” she said. “I also got the opportunity to be in the work-study program in the Registrar’s office. It was another good experience.”
Life brought Bonnie full circle in 2001, when she returned to Potomac State as an instructor. She periodically taught business classes for Professor Karen Campbell until 2013.
Bonnie and Glenn Miller
Inspired by Potomac State's influence on her family, Bonnie wanted to establish a scholarship that would give deserving students a chance to pursue 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.”