Category: Foundation News

The Herschel C. Price Educational Foundation recently established the Charles William Wright Memorial Accounting Scholarship to honor their late advisor, Bill Wright (left).

Wright received his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting at Marshall at the age of 19. He became a certified public accountant (CPA) in 1966 and became one of the founding partners of Trainer, Wright and Paterno in 1972. Wright devoted his career to developing future leaders in the local accounting profession and developing lasting relationships with his clients. Playing a key role in the early development of the Herschel C. Price Foundation, Wright served as an accountant and advisor from 1975 until his death in 2018.

The Charles William Wright Memorial Accounting Scholarship was created to help a full- or part-time, undergraduate or graduate student who is majoring in the College of Business, home of the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business, and has need per the standards of Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance.

“This award is being established to honor the memory of Mr. Wright,” said Jonna Hughes, a trustee of the Herschel C. Price Educational Foundation. “We hope to carry forward his goal of encouraging future students of accounting.”

For information regarding the Charles William Wright Memorial Accounting Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

Those who wish to contribute to the Charles William Wright Memorial Accounting Scholarship may visit www.marshall.edu/foundation, or mail a check to the Marshall University Foundation Inc., 519 John Marshall Dr.,  Huntington, WV 25703. Please provide the scholarship name on the memo line of the check.

Marshall University alumnus Julian Bell and his wife, Robin, have created the Julian and Robin Bell Scholarship to help full-time undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing and who demonstrate financial need, per Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance.

First preference will be given to a resident of Fayette County, West Virginia, who is majoring in a degree program within the Lewis College of Business. Second preference is to a resident of Fayette County, West Virginia, majoring in any other college. Third preference is to a resident of any other county in West Virginia who is majoring in the College of Business.

Julian Bell, a native of Fayette County, West Virginia, received his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and economics in 1976 and has navigated a successful career in health care finance and administration for more than 40 years, thanks to the education he received at Marshall.

“We are inspired to give to Marshall University because of the impressive growth in academic programs, including the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, over the many years since I attended Marshall,” Bell said. “More importantly, however, is the realization that my successful career journey began with earning my bachelor’s degree from Marshall. My experiences prepared me to begin and to excel in the public accounting profession, which I ultimately transitioned into a lengthy career in health care finance, which continues today.”

Although Bell did not receive any scholarships as a Marshall student, he recalls tuition being significantly less, and is thankful that he was able to pursue higher education.

“I grew up in Fayette County, West Virginia, and while I have lived in Ohio for many years, I still try to stay connected to my old home area. Robin and I want to assist West Virginia students to obtain and take advantage of, the same academic opportunities that I was afforded when I graduated from high school,” Bell said.

“These opportunities are critical for new students to be able to obtain their full potential in life, and to go forward to strengthen the state of West Virginia, other parts of the country and world. I want a few more young people to have that chance to succeed.”

For information regarding the Julian and Robin Bell Scholarship, please contact Marshall’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

Pete and Barbara Chiericozzi have recently established the Chiericozzi-Bruce Scholarship at Marshall University to support full-time undergraduate students.

First preference will go to students who are first-generation students and residents of West Virginia who are starting their sophomore year of study in good academic standing and demonstrate both drive and need for one academic year, per standards of Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Pete Chiericozzi, a native of McDowell County, West Virginia, came to Huntington to study at Marshall and received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. He had a long and successful career in the paper industry and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. His wife, Barbara, a Huntington native, graduated from Miami University with a degree in nursing. The couple aspires to provide students with opportunities to advance and enhance their life’s potential while also honoring the Chiericozzi family and Wallace Bruce, Barbara Chiericozzi’s late father.

“There are many chapters in one’s life – church, family, where one grows up, schools, the path and profession one follows when they finish their education, community involvement – they are all important as they contribute to who one is,” Pete Chiericozzi said. “We have chosen to invest and support each of these. With this in mind, we chose to support Marshall University for its role in opening opportunities for me after graduation.”

The Chiericozzis encourage students to commit to graduation, appreciate people on the journey, be willing to hear all sides of issues and encourage civil debate. They want students to know John Marshall’s history and the role he played in the separation of powers, to become lifelong learners, encourage others’ dreams, be active in the community and realize that as citizens of the United States, engagement is essential for the country’s welfare.

“The fact that the scholarship recipients are first-generation students to attend college says a lot about their family–their parents or grandparents either chose or did not have the resources to attend college. These students have made the choice to attend; part one accomplished,” said Pete Chiericozzi. “Part two is that a scholarship may provide the necessary funds to allow them to attend. The student then takes their place in society, better equipped to contribute to a better world and to provide opportunities for themselves and others.”

For information regarding the Chiericozzi- Bruce Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

Ohio Valley Bank is one of 13 new members welcomed into the Marshall University Foundation Inc.’s President’s Circle Society this fall.

Recognizing individuals and organizations that have lifetime giving ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, the President’s Circle is one of six lifetime giving societies that the foundation recognizes.

“Ohio Valley Bank continually supports Marshall University’s growth. They are dedicated to providing opportunities so that students can obtain a higher education and they continue to support our facilities because they understand the impact they have on our communities,” said Dr. Ron Area, chief executive officer of the Marshall University Foundation. “We are grateful for their continued partnership and loyalty to educate our next generation.”

Earlier this year, Ohio Valley Bank made a $50,000 gift to support the new College of Business facility. In 2013, they established the Ohio Valley Bank Scholarship, which supports sophomore, junior or senior students from Mason County, West Virginia, and Gallia and Meigs Counties in Ohio who attend Marshall University’s Mid-Ohio Valley Center in Point Pleasant. They have supported School of Medicine initiatives and the Marshall University Alumni Association, as well.

“On behalf of the 300+ community bankers at Ohio Valley Bank, I want to thank Marshall University and President Gilbert for this incredible honor. We work every day to put Community First. We look at every donation as an investment, an investment to improve the communities where we live and work,” said Ohio Valley Bank Chairman of the Board and CEO Tom Wiseman. “This commitment to Marshall University is our investment in the next generation of community leaders that will help our hometowns not only survive but thrive. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your success. Go Herd!”

There are 497 individuals and organizations across the six societies. Lifetime giving is calculated at the end of each fiscal year. To view all of the Marshall University’s lifetime giving societies and members, please visit www.marshall.edu/foundation.

The Marshall University Foundation Inc., hosted its first holiday card design competition in conjunction with Marshall University’s School of Art and Design.

With the task of drawing their favorite place on campus for the foundation’s annual holiday card, students created vibrant autumn scenes and spectacular hues of hope to send warm visuals of gratitude to the university’s donors.

“For the students who participated, this is a real-world, working artist situation,” said Frederick Bartolovic, interim director of the School of Art and Design. “Students were asked to develop an artwork that depicted a seasonal fall theme and were presented with a deadline for when they needed to complete the project, using virtually any medium or material. For students, this was an opportunity to have a piece of artwork published, a moment when they can get their name out there and build their student portfolio with a project that will make a lasting impression. We are thankful to everyone who participated in this year’s holiday card competition.”

The School of Art and Design narrowed down the entries and sent them to the Marshall University Foundation to choose the winners. The top three choices were awarded a monetary prize.

Tia Walkup, a sophomore art education major from Greenbrier County, West Virginia, was named the first-place winner. Her design, “A Cultured Autumn” depicted the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center and Playhouse, as she believes it is “one of the most unique places to be in the cold, fall months because of the beautiful foggy windows and lights inside.” Walkup’s design will be featured on the annual holiday card for the Marshall University Foundation.

Second place winner Ali Smith, a junior art and psychology major from Portsmouth, Ohio, designed a piece called “Stained Glass” to remind others that “even during hard times, there is still beauty.” After reviewing Smith’s design, the Office of Annual Giving chose to feature it on its holiday card.

Baylee Grueser, a sophomore who is undecided within the School of Art and Design and a native of Racine, Ohio, received the third-place prize for her submission titled “Gather.” Featuring a Celtic knot border for the lack of starting and finishing points, Grueser’s work reminds others that “we can always find loyalty, faith, friendship and love.”

The Marshall University Foundation is hopeful to make the holiday card competition an annual event and is thankful for the students who participated.

“We were elated to see the concepts that students submitted in our first holiday card competition,” said Kristin Rhodes, program director of foundation communications. “With the goal of taking campus to our donors in a year where many were unable to visit, we believe that the images our talented students created will remind others of how grateful our Marshall family is for one another and the importance they play in helping us rise.”

For information about the Marshall University Foundation, please visit www.marshall.edu/foundation. For more information about the School of Art and Design, please visit www.marshall.edu/art.

Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House has been well known and highly regarded in the Huntington community for numerous decades. Recently, Larry and Cheryl Tweel, on behalf of the entire Tweel family, which owns the restaurant, established a scholarship in memory of one of the two most important people responsible for its success, C.M. “Bunny” Gray.

The C.M. “Bunny” Gray Scholarship benefits underserved and underrepresented minorities in Huntington and the Tri-State area. Specifically, it will assist first-generation, incoming freshmen who are in academic good standing and demonstrate financial need, per the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The award is renewable for four years, as long as the student remains in good academic standing.

“We chose to honor Mr. Gray through the establishment of a scholarship because he was an inspiration to the Tweel family, as someone who was dedicated to his family and to his work and gave full effort to see that both prospered. He always had his family and Jim’s employees’ best interests in mind when leading either his family or the employees of Jim’s. He treasured the pursuit of higher education and encouraged his family and those in his community to pursue it,” said Larry Tweel.

Gray graduated from Douglass High School in 1942 and entered the U.S. Navy during World War II. In the Navy, he served as a First Class Petty Officer until he was honorably discharged in 1945.

When he returned to his hometown of Huntington, he applied for a job at Jim’s Restaurant, where he had worked part time while in high school. Jim Tweel, the owner and operator, interviewed Bunny and offered him a job. Bunny’s one condition upon accepting was that there would be no impediments in his way of moving up within the business.

“In approximately ten years, Bunny became the general manager at Jim’s Restaurant. Mr. Gray was in charge of the food preparation, as well as eventually assisting Mr. Tweel with the management of personnel. Along with my father, Jim, Mr. Gray is responsible for the success of the restaurant,” said Larry Tweel. After a long and successful career, Gray retired at age 81 due to deteriorating health.

Bunny and his wife, Marion T. “Bunche” Gray, had two children, Oliva Gray Stewart, now a resident of Washington, D.C., and C. Michael Gray of Huntington, West Virginia, who obtained his law degree from the University of Wisconsin and taught business law at Ohio University for many years. Bunny and Bunche Gray have three grandchildren, all of whom are college graduates.

Described as a tireless worker and loyal supporter of his church, First Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia, Bunny Gray served as a mentor to the young African American community and was a strong supporter of social justice issues.

The Tweels say they hope that all students, particularly those who receive this scholarship, study hard and participate in extracurricular activities while at Marshall University. “Cheryl and I are first-generation college graduates and are fully aware of the advantages of higher education,” said Larry Tweel. “There are still, in our community, members of families with no college-educated members. We need to fund scholarships for those people who need help financially to pursue their dream of a college education. We are blessed to have this opportunity to help Marshall students.”

For more information about the C.M. “Bunny” Gray Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

Brent (’02) and Lindsey Sobczak (’03), are helping Marshall Rise through their recent gift to support major initiatives in the university’s comprehensive campaign.  The $25,000 contribution will be split between the new College of Business facility and Marshall University’s long-awaited baseball stadium.

Both Brent and Lindsey Sobczak came to Huntington as “outsiders.” Both recruited as student-athletes, they studied in Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business and wanted to give back to the institution that was important to them on a personal level.

“When we left Huntington, we were family,” said Brent. “We had such positive experiences, both academically and athletically, at Marshall that we felt it was important to give back.”

Dr. Ron Area, chief executive officer of the Marshall University Foundation, says he is highly encouraged by the generosity of this young couple.

“For the Sobczaks to make a gift of this capacity to their alma mater with three young children truly inspires me. Their gift is the direct result from their time as students who saw their Marshall family step up and support their dreams and goals,” Area said. “I am confident that this commitment will motivate other young alumni to demonstrate their gratitude for Marshall University.”

It is the Sobczaks’ hope that their gift will help the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business recruit and retain world-class talent because of the state-of-the-art facility, which will be located at 4th Avenue and 15th Street.

As for their support to the new baseball stadium, the couple understands the tremendous impact this facility will have on Marshall University and the region.

“We are so impressed with the improvements being made to all of the athletic facilities since we were student-athletes. We wanted to do our part to ensure that progress continues,” Brent Sobczak said.

Residents of Columbus, Ohio, the Sobczaks encourage students to ask questions, enjoy experiences and to take opportunities.

“Do not be afraid or intimidated by failure; it’s part of the growing process,” Brent Sobczak said. “Always do what you can to help others, especially during times like this when it is most important.”

Grant and Kheng McGuire recently established the Nell Bailey Endowment for the Society of Yeager Scholars. Kheng McGuire has served on the Yeager Board of Directors since 2017 and Grant McGuire says the Bailey family meant a lot to them.

“We were blessed to have friends like Nell and her mother, Pearl, when we first moved to Huntington,” said Grant McGuire. “Nell loved the students at Marshall University and was excited about the Yeager Scholars program, which challenged these scholars and developed their potential.”

Dr. Nell C. Bailey, who passed away in December of 2018, was the first woman to be appointed vice president at Marshall University when she was named vice president and dean of student affairs in 1984. After serving in that position for eight years, Bailey returned to teaching in 1992 and worked in conjunction with the university’s president as a special assistant. She also served as the dean for the Center for Adult and Extended Education.

Bailey received her bachelor’s degree in education from the former Salem College in 1956 and went on to earn her master’s degree in education from Kent State University. She then received her doctorate from Indiana University. She held administrative and teaching positions at Salem College, Kent State University, Indiana University, Bethany College and Illinois State University prior to serving at Marshall. Honors College Dean Dr. Nicki LoCascio says Nell Bailey was an important part of the lives of the students she helped.

“I had the privilege of knowing Nell Bailey and saw firsthand her tireless mentoring and care for students at Marshall University. The McGuires’ generous gift honors a remarkable woman, and I am grateful for their support,” LoCascio said.

Endowments established for the Society of Yeager Scholars provide resources such as tuition, room and board, books, study abroad opportunities and more for students who represent the program.

Those who wish to contribute to the Nell Bailey Endowment for the Society of Yeager Scholars may do so by mailing a check to the Marshall University Foundation Inc., 519 John Marshall Dr., Huntington, WV 25703, with the scholarship name in the memo line, or by visiting https://give.marshall.edu/project/26398/ and inserting the scholarship name in the comment box.

For more information about the Society of Yeager Scholars, please contact Cara Bailey, coordinator of the Yeager program, by  e-mail at bailey160@marshall.edu.

Gayle A. Brazeau, Ph.D, dean of the Marshall University School of Pharmacy, and Daniel Brazeau, Ph.D., associate professor at the school, have endowed the Fairfield Community Pharmacy Scholarship.

“We would like to see local students of all diversity succeed and be encouraged to pursue their dream of an education, most especially those who have a passion for the pharmacy profession,” said Gayle Brazeau.

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time, incoming freshman, undergraduate student who is majoring in biology or chemistry in the College of Science with a pre-pharmacy emphasis and plans to matriculate into the School of Pharmacy. The student must also demonstrate need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. First preference will be given to a Huntington High School graduate, second to any resident of Cabell County and third to any West Virginia resident.

Students interested in this scholarship can inquire and apply by e-mailing sfa@marshall.edu. Each year, a new recipient will be selected and awarded $500 a year during their freshman and sophomore undergraduate years and their first (P1) and second (P2) pharmacy school years.

“We were inspired to do this because of three remarkable women in Huntington who have blessed our lives,” said Gayle Brazeau. “Sandra Clements, Mary Hodges and Doris Andrews have shown us the importance of caring and giving back to the Huntington Community and the Marshall family.”

The School of Pharmacy is located in Stephen J. Kopp Hall at 1538 Charleston Avenue and a proud participant in Huntington’s Fairfield Community.

To learn more about establishing a scholarship or to make a gift by phone, please contact the Marshall University Foundation at 304-696-6264. To make a gift online, please visit www.marshall.edu/donate.

Dr. Leslie Petteys, a retired professor of music at Marshall, made a $50,000 gift to support and finalize the purchase of an anaerobic digester for University Heights, the university’s new composting facility. Because of her generous donation, University Heights will now be fully operational by July 2020.

Located off Route 60 in Huntington, University Heights will allow Marshall University to be approximately 70% waste free. In addition to providing job and internship opportunities for Marshall students and community members, the composting facility will collect and recycle organic waste from the university’s Huntington campus to compost and reuse on campus grounds.

Marshall University’s Sustainability Department has secured an underdeveloped, 60-acre land tract that is 4.5 miles from the Huntington campus to construct the compost, hydroponic and greenhouse facility. The facility will also be used as a laboratory space for the Specialty Agriculture major that is currently being developed through the Natural Resources and Environment Departments in the College of Science.

“I am so impressed that Marshall has a Sustainability Department,” Petteys said. “I applaud Lauren Kemp and Eve Marcum Atkinson for the pioneering work they did to get it off the ground. Amy Parsons-White has definitely taken the department to the next level and I am impressed by the initiatives she has instituted. I can’t wait to see how else Marshall and the Sustainability Department create many more firsts in the state and region.”

“Since my college days, I have been interested in green initiatives, gardening and recycling. I think the composting project, the new agriculture degree, and other trainings and partnerships the Sustainability Department and Marshall are creating will have a great impact, making this corner of the world more sustainable self sufficient and setting a great example for other communities.”

Amy Parsons-White, sustainability manager, is grateful for individuals like Petteys and Tom Wolf, who have made generous contributions to make this project a reality.

“I am thankful for the support I have received from President Gilbert, the Huntington and the Marshall communities. The compost facility will put us one step closer to our goal of being waste free by 2025. It’s an ambitious goal, but it’s one we can accomplish,” Parsons-White said.

The university’s new composting facility was announced in November 2019, and with this last piece of equipment secured, the fully functional facility will hold up to eight cubic yards of waste at a time and can be harvested daily. The compost will be finished in a 5’ x 40’ worm bin, which will hold 50,000 red wiggler worms. Compost produced by the worms will be harvested twice a week and will be the finished product that will be used on the Huntington campus and sold to the public.

For more information about University Heights or other projects within the Sustainability Department, contact Parsons-White at parsons133@marshall.edu.