The Marshall University Foundation has announced Bowles Rice, a regional law firm with offices in West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, has donated $15,000 toward the Marshall For All program.
“At Bowles Rice, our longstanding mission is to contribute to the success of our clients and vitality of our communities through advocacy, counsel, leadership and service,” said Marc Monteleone, managing partner of Bowles Rice and president of the Bowles Rice Foundation. “We are proud to support the Marshall For All program and its innovative efforts to end student debt with a donation from the Bowles Rice Foundation.”
The Marshall For All program allows Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degree without needing student loans, which will allow students to graduate with little to no debt. To qualify, students will need to complete a FAFSA annually and commit to actions such as graduating on time, pursuing work opportunities and participating in financial literacy programs.
The program, announced by Marshall University President Brad D. Smith in 2022, launched last fall with new first-year West Virginians and metro area students with great success. Now in its second year, the university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.
“The Marshall For All program aligns perfectly with the goals of our firm’s mission,” said Richie Heath, a partner at Bowles Rice. “The university’s commitment to making higher education more accessible is vital to building a stronger, more affordable future for the next generation of West Virginians.”
Bowles Rice is a professional service organization, contributing to the success of its clients and the vitality of its communities through advocacy, counsel, leadership and service.
The firm was founded in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1920 by three lawyers engaged in the general practice of law. Through success, expansion and merger, it has grown to become a full-service law firm with more than 100 attorneys serving clients in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia – and throughout the nation – from six strategically located, regional offices.