Glenville State U. forestry scholarship honors W.Va. firefighter

GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Friends, family, and coworkers of Glenville State University graduate and West Virginia Division of Forestry employee Cody Mullens are working to establish a scholarship fund at Glenville State University in his honor.

The scholarship aims to support a student interested in pursuing a degree in Forest Technology through Glenville State’s Department of Land Resources, according to university officials.

The scholarship will be for West Virginia residents who are incoming freshmen in Glenville State’s Forest Technology concentration of the Natural Resource Management program. Faculty within the Department of Land Resources will review the applicants and choose a scholarship recipient.

David Hutchison, Vice President of Advancement at Glenville State University, recalled the love for the outdoors and for people that motivated Mullens.

“We are honored to join Cody’s friends and family in acknowledging the love he had for the outdoors and for helping people. Once established, I know that this scholarship will be beneficial to future Pioneers,” Hutchison said.

Mullens was a 2019 Glenville State graduate and was employed as a forester with the West Virginia Division of Forestry. In April 2023, he was tragically killed in the line of duty while fighting a forest fire near the New River Gorge in Fayette County.

Emily Rose, Mullens’s sister, reiterated the fallen hero’s love of the forest.

“Cody loved everything about forestry, from when we were little until the day he died. He also loved his time at Glenville and his friends that because of his family. This scholarship means his honor and his passion will live on forever. Cody was the type of person who would do anything to help anyone, so I know he would love this scholarship so much. My family wants to thank everyone for contributing and sharing this scholarship in memory of my brother,” Rose said.

Anthony Evans, deputy state forester with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, lauded the scholarship’s ability to expand on Mullen’s love of the forest.

“Cody found his calling as a service forester for the Division of Forestry. He was passionate about helping others and protecting the forests and streams of West Virginia. This scholarship would help other young people with a passion for the forests of West Virginia to explore a career in forestry,” Evans said.

Brittany Ferguson, Mullens’s girlfriend, said the scholarship is ideal for carrying on his passion.

“Cody never wanted anyone to feel left out, and he was always someone who would extend a hand to anyone in need. He made everyone around him smile. He would want to pass on this scholarship to someone with a passion to make a mark in the forestry industry,” Ferguson said.

Quincy Band, Mullens’s classmates during their time at Glenville State, spoke of his dedication to helping others.

“Cody was the most kind and caring guy I have ever known. He loved helping others and working to conserve our natural resources so that they were used in the best way possible now, and would be able to be used by future generations,” Band said.

Donations to the Cody Mullens Memorial Scholarship fund are currently being accepted. Checks, made payable to GSU Foundation with “Cody Mullens Scholarship” in the memo line, may be mailed to GSU Foundation, 200 High Street, Glenville, WV 26351. To contribute to the scholarship online, visit https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/cody-mullens-memorial-scholarship.

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