Donations help WVU reach largest private fundraising campaign in University history
"A State of Minds" is the largest private fundraising campaign in West Virginia University's history. Thanks, in part, to various donations by those in the oil and gas community, it appears the $750 million target will be met one full year ahead of schedule.
The comprehensive campaign, conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the university, officially kicked off in June 2012 with a goal to raise private dollars for the state's flagship university and its regional campuses. Fast forward two years and the latest published figures put campaign contributions over $736 million-98% of goal.
Early in the campaign, in December 2012, Chesapeake Energy made a $250,000 donation to the WVU College of Law to help support the annual National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition. Established in 2011, the competition highlights emerging trends in energy law as well as recent developments in sustainable energy production.
In September 2014, the law firm of Robinson & McElwee donated $100,000 to WVU College of Law for scholarships. The firm, whose practice includes natural resources law, corporate law, litigation, environmental law, government relations, and state and local taxation, also created the E. Glenn Robinson Memorial Scholarship in memory of a founding member of the firm, E. Glenn Robinson. "This gift ensures that Glenn's legacy and commitment to excellence in the legal profession will live on in future generations of lawyers," said Kent J. George, managing member of the firm.
To kick off 2014, the American Gas Association created a $50,000 scholarship program to help advance the future natural gas industry workforce. In March, management and employees of Antero Resources Corp. made a $100,000 pledge to the WVU College of Law. to help support the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development and establish the Kevin and Amy Ellis Endowed Scholarship. Kevin Ellis is a 2005 WVU Law graduate and is employed at Antero Resources.
"These commitments will enable interested students to develop marketable legal and business skills for employers in the State and regionally in the energy sector," Ellis said.
In June, to help support new faculty at the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, alumnus J. Wayne Richards and his wife, Kathy, set up a first-of-its-kind endowment at WVU. The $1 million endowed gift will help ensure the new faculty members have access to funds to support travel, research, and technology enhancements. The Wayne and Kathy Richards Faculty Scholars Fund will provide flexible funds to allow the college to hire, retain, reward, and recognize faculty members who have not yet achieved tenure. "It provides a wide range of support geared toward attracting and retaining top-quality educators that will allow WVU to compete on a national stage in STEM-associated areas for research dollars and grants," noted J. Wayne Richards, who serves as president and CEO of Houston-based GR Energy Services.
In July, Dominion Resources and the Dominion Foundation provided $50,000 in funds and another $150,000 in donated equipment to the Natural Gas Measurement Laboratory for students in WVU's Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering.
"Our support of the program has enabled WVU to continue educating and graduating natural gas engineers of the highest quality," said Brian Sheppard, vice president of operations for Dominion Transmission.
While the "A State of Minds" campaign runs through December 2015, the targeted support from the oil and gas industry will help position West Virginia University to lead the national and global dialogue on energy for years to come.
Mikaila Adams | Managing Editor - News
Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was named Managing Editor - News in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.
