SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Shepherd University is honoring its first Harlon Hill recipient by establishing a new scholarship.
In honor of 2021 Harlon Hill Award recipient Tyson Bagent, the Shepherd University Foundation has created the TB2 Harlon Hill Award for Excellence Scholarship to support Shepherd University football players on and off the field.
The initial donation to fund the scholarship is $23,000. The founding donors cite Bagent’s shining example of excellence in leadership as the reason they wanted to start the scholarship in his name.
Bagent, the first in Shepherd’s history to win the Harlon Hill Award, led the Rams to a 13-2 season record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II national championship semifinals. During the 2021 season, Bagent completed 391-of-579 passes for 5,000 yards and 53 touchdowns. He also led NCAA Division II in passing yards (5,000), touchdown passes (53), and points responsible for (338). A five-time PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week this season, Bagent also threw for 300 yards or more in 10 contests and had at least four passing touchdowns in nine games in 2021. He is the ninth player at all NCAA levels—and only the second in Division II—with at least 5,000 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes in a season.
The first scholarships will be available in fall 2022 for eligible students based on NCAA qualifications.
Chauncey Winbush, Shepherd vice president for athletics, said Tyson Bagent is a shining example of the leadership qualities they want all student-athletes to strive for during their time in Shepherdstown. He expressed appreciation for the alumni and local business leaders for the football program.
Eric Lewis of Ours, Lawyer, Lewis & Company PLLC is chair of Shepherd’s Board of Governors. He said, “By all accounts, Tyson Bagent isn’t just the best player in Division II football, he is also one of the best teammates and leaders,” Lewis said. “In co-founding this scholarship, we hope that other Shepherd University alumni, fans, and supporters will follow our lead and consider joining us in an annual commitment to help us fund it. Let’s honor this outstanding student-athlete leader and help provide much-needed scholarship dollars to a program that has very much earned our support.”
To support this scholarship fund, visit https://shepherduniversityfoundation.org/donate/ to give online. Be certain to select “other” under designation and type “Bagent Scholarship” to ensure that your donation is credited to the TB2 Harlon Hill Award for Excellence Scholarship.
The 13 founding donors of the scholarship include Eric Lewis, partner, Ours, Lawyer, Lewis & Company PLLC and chair of Shepherd’s Board of Governors; Scott Roach, former member, Shepherd Board of Governors; Chauncey Winbush, Shepherd vice president for athletics; Chris Janelle, partner, Sutton & Janelle, PLLC; Dr. Chris Hussion, veterinarian, Old Mill Veterinary Hospital; Jeff Petrucci, president, Heiston Industrial Supply; and Henry Kayes, chief operating officer and regional president for United Bank Incorporated and member, Shepherd Board of Governors.