MSU Foundation announces Wells Family Scholarship

The MSU Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Wells Family Scholarship Fund. Established by Kelly (Class of 1995) and Shawne (Class of 1997, 2008, 2022) Wells, and Shelly Wells Walter (Class of 1990, 2000) and Brock Walter (Class of 1990, 2008), the fund honors the legacy of Mickey (Class of 1964, 1967) and Doris (Class of 1977, 1986) Wells, Kelly and Shelly's parents.

Mickey and Doris were both proud graduates and spent their professional careers as Eagles. Mickey began his service at MSU as the director of Cooper Hall and the intramural director. He later joined the faculty of the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation (HPER), where he was a beloved teacher. He also served as head coach of the MSU Eagles Women's Basketball program for nine years, where he became the winningest head coach in MSU women's basketball history. He was inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Doris served as an administrative assistant on campus for 27 years before she retired. Her role allowed her to mentor and be a friendly face to countless students. She built extra-special relationships with student-athletes on the women's basketball team as she enthusiastically supported her husband's coaching career.

Both Mickey and Doris passed in 2021.

The couple's love of MSU passed down to their children. Kelly and Shelly would both attend MSU, along with their spouses. Following his coaching journey and successful career in athletics, Kelly would return to MSU in 2023, becoming director of MSU Athletics.

The Wells family established this scholarship to honor their family's deep history with MSU and the legacy Mickey and Doris left on campus. The fund awards two $1,200 scholarships to full-time incoming first-year students from MSU's 22-county service region or from Mingo County, West Virginia.

The first recipients were named ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. Michael Potter is from Catlettsburg and is pursuing a degree and career in electrical engineering. Heaven Collier is an art major from Virgie seeking a future career in arts education.

"Our family is honored to provide scholarship support to these two very deserving Eagles," Kelly said. "Our parents were passionate champions of the education offered at MSU, and this is a fitting way to continue their impact."

If you want to establish a scholarship or make a planned gift commitment, contact MSU's Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email giving@moreheadstate.edu, or visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu.