Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund

04/01/2026

The Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship is now accepting applications until April 17th. Use the attachment below, or head into the counseling suite for more information!

This scholarship provides aid to a High School Graduate attending WVU. This scholarship is awarded to an individual that works hard and embodies Bumper’s determination.

08/19/2025

Big THANK YOU to Jim Strawn for having Steve Farmer and Tootie Taylor on his most recent episode of "Highlights" to talk about Bumper Fest, the August 23 fundraiser featuring Davisson Brothers Band!

Steve and Bumper's mom, Tootie, represent Farmer, Cline & Campbell, which is the presenting sponsor.

The show airs on public access channel 17, and you can buy Bumper Fest tickets at www.bumper-fest.com!

08/15/2025

Thank you SO much to WSAZ NewsChannel 3 for having us on Studio 3 to talk about Bumper Fest!

It happens August 23 in Sissonville!

An upcoming concert in Charleston is not just about having fun. It’s also a way to raise money for a memorial scholarship fund.

06/02/2025

Congrats to Sissonville High School senior Makinly Berrier, the first Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship award recipient!

Makinly graduated with the highest honors and is a student athlete. She plans to attend WVU in the fall.

Bumper’s wife, daughter and son presented the award.

The Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund provides financial support to graduating Sissonville High seniors who plan to attend WVU. Bumper passed away in 2023. He loved his Sissonville community, and he loved the WVU Mountaineers. So in his memory, we’re supporting kids who want to take a chance, go to college, prepare for their dreams and work hard to make it happen!

09/18/2024

On Friday, September 6th, we were joined by members of the Taylor family to announce the formation of The Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund. This Scholarship Fund will provide financial support to help graduating Sissonville High School seniors who plan to attend West Virginia University.

We are so grateful for the Taylor family and their desire to honor the memory of Bumper in such a selfless and generous fashion.

If you would like to contribute a tax-deductible donation to the Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund, please visit bumperscholarshipfund.com, or visit the page: Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Read the words below from the Taylor Family and Dr. Smith that marked the occasion.

📸: A.G. Squared Photography

_____

Good evening and welcome to our first home football game of 2024. As we celebrate our first game this evening, I want to also remember those who are not with us tonight.

Our community has been taking some big hits lately. We’ve lost Eric Murray, Jimmy “Rooster” Dingee, Brayden Taylor, Seilah Stanley... a few of the many names.

And last year, the loss of Bumper Taylor left a big void in Sissonville.

If you knew Bumper – and I know many of you did – you know he loved Sissonville. He loved the high school. He loved these games. It’s strange not to see him at a home opener.

But tonight, I’m humbled to announce something that will honor Bumper’s legacy and perhaps help fill that void.

The Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund.

On the field with me tonight, we welcome Bumper’s family as we make this special announcement. We as a community are grateful for Bumper, and may his legacy live on through our students.

This Scholarship Fund will provide financial support to help graduating Sissonville High School seniors who plan to attend West Virginia University. Our seniors can apply for the scholarships, and recipients will be selected based on accomplishment, community service and need. You will be hearing more about how to apply soon, but tonight we want to honor Bumper and announce this Scholarship Fund in his memory.

And again, if you knew Bumper, you also know he loved the Mountaineers. So it is especially fitting that we do this in partnership with the WVU Foundation.

All contributions will go directly to the WVU Foundation. I want to thank the Foundation for making this process so easy. And I want to thank the Steve and Karen Farmer, who are like family to Bumper’s mom. We’re grateful for the support they’ve provided as well as the seed money to get this fund started.

In Bumper’s memory, the fund will support kids who want to take a chance, go to college, prepare for their dreams and work hard to make it happen! As Bumper would say, “Go Big, or Go Home!”

If you would like to contribute a tax-deductible donation to the Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund, please visit bumperscholarshipfund.com - all set up by the WVU Foundation.

We encourage you to share your own stories and photos about Bumper as we preserve his legacy to our school, our community, WVU and his entire family.

Thank you!

09/18/2024

For those interested in donating, you can do so at www.bumperscholarshipfund.com.

You also can mail donations to:

Bumper Scholarship Fund
PO Box 13073
Charleston, WV
25360

Any donations received at that address go on to the WVU Foundation.

provides financial support to graduating Sissonville High School seniors who plan to attend West Virginia University.  Bumper passed away in 2023. He worked as a respiratory therapist at various hospitals and was a respiratory equipment salesperson. He decided to take a chance and make his ...

09/10/2024

Friday night was one to remember, as the Sissonville family came together to remember Bumper and kick off the Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund.

This Scholarship Fund will provide financial support to help graduating Sissonville High School seniors who plan to attend West Virginia University. Our seniors can apply for the scholarships – and recipients will be selected based on accomplishment, community service and need.

Learn more at www.bumperscholarshipfund.com.

08/23/2024

The Bumper Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund provides financial support to graduating Sissonville High School seniors who plan to attend West Virginia University.

Bumper passed away in 2023. He worked as a respiratory therapist at various hospitals and was a respiratory equipment salesperson. He decided to take a chance and make his dream come true by opening his own company – Appalachian Medical.

He loved his Sissonville community, and he loved the WVU Mountaineers. So in his memory, we’re supporting kids who want to take a chance, go to college, prepare for their dreams and work hard to make it happen!