WEST VIRGINIA—Members of the 2014 graduating classes of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s seven Catholic high schools across West Virginia collectively earned more than $15 million in scholarships. The newly graduated of Madonna High School in Weirton, Bishop Donahue Memorial High School in McMechen, Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg, St. Joseph Central Catholic High School in Huntington, Parkersburg Catholic High School and Charleston Catholic High School will be attending over 60 different colleges and universities throughout the country this year. “I have been so very impressed with the Catholic identity and academic rigor of our seven high schools upon my visits this year. It is no surprise to me that the monetary value of the scholarships awarded is phenomenal, and the colleges and universities that accepted our students are of the highest quality,” said Vincent de Paul Schmidt, superintendent of schools of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. “Our students are a great reflection of their parents’ desire for high academic achievement, social awareness and living faith-filled lives. We are proud of our graduates, confident in their future and thankful that our Catholic schools played a significant role in their development.” This year’s graduates were accepted to a wide range of colleges and universities across the U.S. including Colorado State University, Brown University, Carnegie-Mellon University, University of Notre Dame, Washington & Jefferson College, University of Tampa, Duquesne University, Chatham University, The Catholic University of America, Radford University, College of Wooster, University of Pittsburgh, McGill University, Seattle Pacific University, Syracuse University, University of Toronto, Hood College, Providence College, University of Oregon, Creighton University, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Virginia Military Institute, Tulane University, University of Utah, Davidson College, Kenyon College, New York University, University of Southern California, Rhode Island College, University of Georgia, Northeastern University, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Alabama, University of Virginia, University of South Carolina, Elon University, Florida State University, College of William and Mary, Marietta College, University of Miami, University of Dayton, Coastal Carolina University, Xavier University, Concord University, University of Mississippi, Washington & Lee University, Clemson University, University of Tennessee, The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky, Pennsylvania State University,  Virginia Tech University, High Point University, Furman University, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, Kent State University, Auburn University, Miami University of Ohio, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Hampden-Sydney College, Denison University, Robert Morris University and Texas Tech University. Schmidt said that a number of this year’s graduates are also recipients of the West Virginia Promise Scholarship and will pursue studies in West Virginia at West Virginia University, West Liberty University, University of Charleston, Fairmont State University, Shepherd University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Bethany College, Alderson Broaddus College and Marshall University. Additionally, some members of the class of 2014 will be attending Wheeling Jesuit University, the state’s only Catholic institution of higher education.