Month: March 2025

The Marshall University Foundation has announced the Maier Foundation has granted $1 million toward the Marshall For All program.

“I want to sincerely thank the Maier Foundation for answering the call to support our Marshall For All program,” said Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University. “With this tremendous gift, we are that much closer to realizing our Marshall For All vision.”

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 Maier Foundation is pleased to support the Marshall For All initiative. This innovative program reflects Marshall’s commitment to affordability, accessibility and student success, especially for students with financial need,” said Brad Rowe, chairman and president of the Maier Foundation Board of Directors.

The program, announced by Smith in 2022, launched in the fall of 2023 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 Maier Foundation has been an incredible partner to us, and its continued commitment plays a vital role in the success of our students and programs,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This gift provides valuable opportunities for our students, and we are grateful for your role in making a difference in their lives.”

Established in 1958, the Maier Foundation provides funding for higher education initiatives in West Virginia. The Maier Foundation was established as the Sarah and Pauline Maier Scholarship Foundation by William J. Maier Jr. in honor of his mother and wife. It was renamed the Maier Foundation in 2003.

The Marshall University Foundation is pleased to announce its Gold Seal of Transparency for 2025 with Candid, a nonprofit offering comprehensive data and insights about nonprofit organizations.

A gold seal signals a level of transparency and accountability about an organization and its operations. It is viewed by funders to verify an organization’s work and guide their giving decisions. According to research provided by Candid, nonprofits that earn a seal average 53 percent more in contributions.

“We are incredibly proud to have earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This recognition reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. It demonstrates our dedication to how we support our students, faculty and community. We are grateful for the trust placed in us.”

Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged with both now operating under the Candid umbrella. GuideStar offers data with profiles on nonprofits, financials and performance metrics while Foundation Center focuses on providing information to grantmaking organizations, funding opportunities, and tools for connecting nonprofits with potential funders.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced a gift of $25,000 to endow the BDY Studios Scholarship for Entrepreneurship to benefit students in the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business.

This scholarship is endowed by Richard and Katrina Mailloux, owners of BDY Studios in Barboursville and Huntington, West Virginia, and Kate’s Ace Hardware in Daniels, West Virginia. The Maillouxes made a $10,000 gift in 2018 to establish the scholarship fund.

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in health care management from Marshall, Katrina Mailloux attended law school at Vanderbilt University. She practiced law at Ashland Oil Inc., was in-house counsel at St. Mary’s Medical Center, and completed her legal career with Steptoe & Johnson. She obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from Marshall in 2001.

Richard Mailloux attended Virginia Tech where he received a bachelor’s degree in science. He attended Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and is a gastroenterologist in Beckley, West Virginia. Although originally from Chicago, he considers West Virginia home and is proud to be part of its growth.

The Maillouxes opened Brown Dog Yoga in Huntington in January 2013 and in Barboursville in 2018. Brown Dog Yoga rebranded in 2020 to BDY Studios and now offers indoor cycling, barre, strength training, and mat and reformer Pilates classes. The couple established the Brown Dog Yoga Foundation in 2018, which supports organizations involved in improving the health and well-being of those living in the greater Tri-State area.

The Maillouxes recently broke ground on a new venture, Kate’s Ace Hardware, in Daniels, West Virginia.

“Wherever we live and are part of a community, we strive to build businesses that provide jobs, create excitement, and serve the community in a positive way,” Katrina Mailloux said. “We have both been very blessed in our careers, and it is important for us to give back.”

The Maillouxes are also involved in a joint venture that builds and sells homes in southern West Virginia.

The Maillouxes’ daughter, Lauren Vega, plays an integral role in keeping their businesses running in a smooth and organized fashion. She currently serves as the director of marketing and community outreach for BDY Studios and director of marketing and business development for Kate’s Ace Hardware. Her passion, however, is fitness and wellness, and she currently provides mobility and flexibility training with Marshall’s sports’ teams during their off seasons.

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time student majoring in entrepreneurship in the College of Business and a resident of Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Mason or Mingo counties. The recipient must be in good academic standing with a 3.5 GPA (3.8 high school GPA for incoming freshman) and has need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The award will be renewable for up to four years, or eight semesters, if the recipient maintains good academic standing. The dean of the Lewis College of Business, or their designee, will select the recipient and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

For information regarding the BDY Studios Scholarship for Entrepreneurship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced a gift of $100,000 to establish the John A. Sturgeon Nursing Scholarship. This scholarship is generously endowed by John A. Sturgeon.

Sturgeon, who attended Marshall University in the fall of 1963 and currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia, said he wanted to give to “helping professions,” such as nursing.

“I thought it would be good to help put more nurses out there,” Sturgeon said.

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time student majoring in nursing in the College of Health Professions who has financial need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The award will be renewable up to four years, or eight semesters, if the recipient maintains good academic standing of 2.5 GPA or higher. The dean of College of Health Professions, or their designee, will select the recipient and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

“The generous $100,000 nursing scholarship will not only change the lives of future nursing students by providing financial assistance but will also strengthen the nursing program by attracting and supporting the next generation of health care professionals who will provide quality, compassionate nursing care to the community,” said Dr. Annette Ferguson, director of the School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions.

For information regarding the John A. Sturgeon Nursing Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.