Category: Foundation News

The Marshall University Foundation has announced the establishment of the Thomas B. Wright III Scholarship to benefit students in the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business. This scholarship is generously endowed by Thomas B. Wright III.

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in management and economics from Marshall, Wright went on to earn a Master of Science degree in administration from Central Michigan University.

Following his education, Wright joined Hallmark where he served in roles as director of corporate staffing, director of HR in a seven-plant manufacturing division, director of corporate diversity, manager of college relations, and manager of affirmative action planning. He was recruited in 1996 to join Thorn Americas as vice president of field human resources.

In 1999, Wright was recruited back to Hallmark Cards as the director of HR – corporate divisions and served in that capacity until his promotion to senior vice president and corporate officer of human resources. As the senior vice president and corporate officer of human resources, he held responsibility for human resources in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico.

Following a career leading his own firm, Tom Wright Consulting, Wright was recruited to join EPR Properties where he performed the role of senior vice president of human resources and administration and then transitioned to an executive advisory role in the company for the CEO before his first stab at retirement.

In November of 2020, Wright was asked to serve as the interim senior vice president – chief human resources officer for Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City, eventually becoming executive vice president – chief human resources officer and executive director of the Leadership Center within the Berry Institute.

He is an alumnus of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Program. He has been recognized as one of Kansas City’s 100 Most Influential African Americans, was named Outstanding Black Alumni at Marshall University, and was recently inducted into the Hall of Distinction of Marshall University’s Society for Human Resource Management chapter. He was inducted into the Lewis College of Business Hall of Fame in 2023.

Wright is the proud father of three sons, Thomas IV, Jonathan and Bryan, and a grandfather to three. Wright recently celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary to his wife, Joanne, a nationally recognized master sculptor with Hallmark Cards for 41 years prior to her retirement.

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time student in the College of Business who is a West Virginia resident, in good academic standing with a 2.5 GPA or higher, 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. The dean of the 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 Thomas B. Wright III Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

Marshall University has announced a gift of $2 million from alumnus and current Board of Governors member Jim Smith and his wife Pam Kushmerick to support the second co-hort of Marshall For All students for the fall of 2024.

Smith and Kushmerick donated $2 million in March of 2023 to help fund the inaugural co-hort of Marshall For All students in the fall of 2023.

The gift was announced during Marshall’s Board of Governors meeting on June 12. President Brad D. Smith said gifts such as these are essential to the success of Marshall For All.

“Jim and Pam are changing lives and writing history with their incredible gifts to our institution,” Smith said. “They are helping the next generation create their own Marshall moments.”

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. The university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.

“The first 100 Marshall For All students have proven that by Marshall removing a financial barrier and providing wrap-around support services, the university’s students of greatest need are showing higher grade point averages and are being retained in college at rates higher than their peers who are not in the program,” said Ginny Painter, Marshall’s chief of staff. “Ultimately, this means higher graduation rates, improved economic prospects for individuals, and economic benefits for the region through a better-educated workforce.”

Jim Smith is the former president and CEO of information and media giant Thomson Reuters. He is a 1981 graduate of Marshall, which he attended on a football scholarship. Smith has been inducted into Marshall’s College of Business Hall of Fame and was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters by the university.

Smith spent more than three decades with the Thomson organization, starting in a newsroom and ending as president and CEO from 2012-20. Today he chairs the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity focused on media freedom, the rule of law and access to justice.

He was appointed to the Marshall University Board of Governors by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in 2022. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Pfizer in New York and is a trustee of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the $4 million Smith and Kushmerick have given toward the Marshall For All program, they also donated $150,000 in 2019 toward scholarships, the John Deaver Drinko Academy, and the Marshall Collegiate Recovery Program, and have given generously to the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.

“Jim and Pam’s generosity marks a pivotal moment for Marshall,” said Dr. Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “Their gifts will revolutionize our university. We’re deeply grateful for their vision and commitment to making Marshall a better place for everyone.”

To learn more about the Marshall For All program, visit www.marshall.edu/marshallforall.

Marshall University has announced the success of its Day of Giving: 1837 Minutes for Marshall with $176,660.47 raised in support of various university initiatives.

Marshall’s Day of Giving, which occurred April 24-25, serves as an opportunity for the Marshall family to unite and make a difference for the university’s students and the future of the institution. This year, Day of Giving spotlighted “1837 Minutes for Marshall,” which was a nod to the university’s founding year. Over the course of 30 hours, faculty, staff alumni and supporters were encouraged to participate and contribute.

“We are grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s Day of Giving,” said Dr. Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “The outpouring of support from our donors, alumni and community demonstrates what we can achieve when we come together for a common cause.”

Day of Giving supporters donated to specific projects, scholarships, departments or other areas of need identified by the university. The day featured challenges, matched gifts, incentives and events to increase participation and impact. The Marshall University Alumni Association’s Raleigh-Durham Chapter hosted a special Spanish-themed concert “Te Quiero Verde,” or “I Love You, Green” as part of the day on April 25.

Many individuals signed up to be official Day of Giving ambassadors. Ambassadors encouraged others to give by sharing their personal experiences with Marshall and their own giving stories. These gifts were made through the ambassadors’ individual links, which were then recorded on the leaderboard on the Day of Giving webpage on Marshall’s website. Megan Barbour brought in the most gifts at 74, followed closely by Cara Bailey at 67. Barbour is president of the Marshall University Alumni Greater Annapolis Area Chapter and Bailey is the assistant dean of Marshall’s Honors College and director of the Society of Yeager Scholars.

The total number of gifts made during Day of Giving was 542 with a total number of donors at 420. Out of the gifts made, 346 of them were $50 or less. Areas of interest that received the most gifts include the Society of Yeager Scholars, Office of Financial Aid, the university’s greatest needs, the Alumni Association, and the College of Arts and Media.

Also occurring through the month of April was the university’s Family Campaign, which encourages faculty and staff to sign up for payroll deductions, offering them the ability to make an impact with automated contributions. For the faculty and staff who enrolled during the month of April, their gifts counted toward the overall Day of Giving total. The Family Campaign has received 3,299 gifts from 290 faculty and staff who have donated to the annual fund this fiscal year, and there are currently 201 Marshall employees with payroll deductions.

For more information about leaving a lasting impression through giving, contact the Marshall University Foundation at 304-696-6264 or visit www.formarshallu.org.

Marshall University and the Marshall University Alumni Association hosted the 85th Alumni Awards Banquet on April 13 with a total of seven alumni chapter awards announced during the event.

The inaugural Chapter President of the Year award was given to Laurie Martin of the Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley. Two annual awards were given during the event, the first to the Marshall University Alumni Greater Annapolis Area Chapter for the Emerging Chapter award, and the second to the Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter for the Chapter of the Year award.

“The Chapter President of the Year award recognizes outstanding leadership, and Laurie truly embodies what it means to be a leader,” said Matt James, executive director of alumni relations. “We are so proud to celebrate Laurie with the inaugural Chapter President of the Year award, as well as recognize our Annapolis chapter and our Southern Coalfields chapter for a remarkable year.”

Martin has served as president of the Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley for more than 16 years. The chapter has donated $326,000 dollars to the Marshall University Foundation and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. The Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley has also received the most Chapter of the Year awards with a total of seven since 2014.

The Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter is a three-time recipient of the Chapter of the Year award, first receiving it in 2022. The chapter tied last year for the award with the Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The Marshall University Greater Annapolis Area Chapter received its first chapter award for Emerging Chapter after forming in August of 2022 with its first official chapter meeting taking place in February of 2023. In over a year, the chapter has nearly 100 alumni in its chapter membership.

Four new Chapter Excellence awards were also announced during the event for Excellence in Fellowship and Support, Excellence in Mentoring, Excellence in Scholarships and Excellence in Student Recruitment.

“It is important to reflect the growth of our alumni chapters with the addition of these new awards,” James said. “These chapters are so deserving for all they do to uphold the pillars set forth for our university.

The 75 Family Alumni Chapter received the Excellence in Fellowship and Support award. The chapter seeks to unite the friends and family members of those lost on Southern Airways Flight 932 on Nov. 14, 1970, which took the lives of 75 individuals, made up of Marshall football players, coaches, fans and the flight crew. In the past year, it has been the chapter’s mission to have a larger presence on campus, particularly during the fall and spring Memorial Fountain Ceremonies, as well as raise funds for scholarships.

The Society of Yeager Scholars Alumni Chapter received the Excellence in Mentoring award. The chapter brings together Yeager Scholar graduates and current Yeager Scholars. Named for Chuck Yeager, the native West Virginian who broke the sound barrier, the Society of Yeager Scholars is a prestigious academic program that aims to cultivate exceptional students by providing them with unique opportunities for academic and personal growth. With 300 alumni from 33 graduating classes, Yeager alumni provide valuable guidance and encouragement to the program’s current students.

The Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley received the Excellence in Scholarships award. The chapter donated $42,000 in fiscal year 2023 in many areas, but primarily to scholarships between the Marshall University Foundation and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. The chapter celebrated its successful annual scholarship fundraiser dinner on April 4 in Vienna, West Virginia.

The Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter received the Excellence in Student Recruitment award. The chapter, which is based in Beckley, West Virginia, works with all the high schools in the four surrounding counties to raise awareness about academic and scholarship opportunities at Marshall.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced the establishment of the Pheister Family Scholarship for Media Excellence. This scholarship is generously provided by Jason Pheister and his wife, Erin Tunis Pheister. Jason Pheister is a 2001 graduate of Marshall University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and broadcasting. He was one of four individuals inducted into the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame this spring.

“I’m originally from Columbus but spent almost eight years in West Virginia between Marshall and working at local TV stations. The state holds a special place in my heart forever which is why it was so important that we pay it forward,” Pheister said.

As a multi-time Emmy award-winning journalist, he worked for several media companies, including WSAZ, WOWK, WCMH, WBNS, as well as The Columbus Dispatch. He also has led television and digital networks for Time Warner Cable across the country. He is the vice president of content and news at Spectrum Networks for Charter Communications. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, he has a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Innovation from Northeastern University.

Jason Pheister began learning about journalism in high school as he was involved with his school’s newspaper as well as its TV program. As a junior and senior, he had the opportunity to come to Marshall for high school journalism competitions. The professors, such as Dr. George Arnold, Dr. Charles G. Bailey and Dr. Ralph Turner, took a great interest in him, he said, and the overall experience is what led him to Huntington to attend Marshall for his bachelor’s degree.

“My time at Marshall and in Huntington had a profound impact on my life and career and we wanted to find a way to help others have that same experience,” Pheister said.

The scholarship recipient shall be at least a sophomore journalism major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications who is in good academic standing with a 3.0 GPA and has financial need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. First preference to a student from Columbus, Ohio. Second preference to a student from Ohio and third preference to a student from West Virginia.

“It’s our intent that the scholarship be awarded to an innovative and aspiring student pursuing a career in journalism and media. We truly hope this can help someone,” Pheister said.

Student scholarship recipients were honored Saturday at Marshall University during the 2024 Scholarship Honor Brunch, hosted by the Marshall University Foundation. This annual event recognizes those students who are beneficiaries of privately funded scholarships, as well as the donors and families who made the awards possible.

Dr. Ron Area, CEO and senior vice president of development of the Marshall Foundation, delivered a special welcome to more than 400 students and donors who attended the event in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center.

“The Scholarship Honor Brunch unites scholarship recipients and donors, underscoring our dedication to enhancing ongoing support for Marshall University and its students,” Area said. “We are steadfast in our mission to broaden educational access for our students and deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors, who invest in Marshall through their contributions and active participation in today’s event.”

Bonnie Bailey, director of Student Support Services Program, served as the featured speaker. The program, which is federally funded, targets students who are first-generation, the first in their family to complete a four-year degree, and income-eligible.

Senior Amelya Bostic from Grundy, Virginia, served as the student speaker. A communication disorders major slated to graduate at the end of April. Bostic spoke about the positive impact Student Support Services has had on her throughout her time at Marshall.

“As an out-of-state student, financially college could have been hard for me but with SSS I was able to navigate class and financial aid to graduate early and with very low debt,” Bostic said.

“Through the community I found, I was able to gain the confidence to try new things and find a place where I belong,” she continued. “In addition to this community, SSS has connected me to every department or important person I have needed on my journey here at Marshall from financial aid, housing, academics and community. My time here could have been more difficult without the tools and people SSS knew I needed.”

Bailey began working as a counselor with the Student Support Services Program in July 2005. Before becoming the director and counselor for the SSS Program, she worked as a residential, outpatient and school-based therapist. As a daughter of Marshall, Bailey earned a bachelor’s degree in counseling, a master’s degree in mental health counseling, and an Ed.S. in counseling curriculum. She is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and approved licensed professional supervisor (ALPS) for West Virginia.

Bailey’s program boasts a more than 96 percent persistence, a 98 percent academic good standing rate, and a 76 percent graduation rate, which shows that early intervention, consistent support and relationships truly can and do make all the difference.

“Our program has helped students since 1971. As a first-generation and former student in the program to a staff member since 2005, I can tell you services look different now because the world is quickly moving and changing,” Bailey said. “However, one thing about our services has remained the same – relationships. While these relationships produce great retention and graduation rates, students also grow and achieve their goals. For me, my favorite part of the job is the student-facing responsibilities that promotes the success of our students.”

The College of Arts and Media’s School of Theatre and Dance, along with the School of Music, ended the program with a performance from the musical “Godspell.”

To learn how to establish a scholarship to help students at Marshall, contact Krystle Davis at the Marshall University Foundation by phone at 304-696-6781 or by email at krystle.davis@marshall.edu.

Marshall University and the Marshall University Alumni Association (MUAA) are set to host the 85th annual Alumni Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 6 p.m. with dinner and awards at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.

The Marshall University Alumni Awards Banquet recognizes outstanding alumni, university supporters and students during an evening of celebration and reverence of the great things being accomplished by the Marshall University alumni community.

“We are thrilled to recognize a few special members of our Marshall family at this year’s awards banquet,” said Matt James, executive director of alumni relations. “Each of our honorees represents the grit, determination and success often attributed with Marshall alumni and I’m honored by the opportunity to celebrate each of their achievements and service to our alma mater.”

Highlighting the list of more than a dozen honorees at the 2024 awards banquet are Dr. James M. Lester as the recipient of the Marshall University Distinguished Alumnus award. Joel M. “Woody” Woodrum has been selected as the recipient of the Distinguished Service to Marshall University award. Holly Mount has been selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Community Achievement award, and Kyle D. Powers will receive the Distinguished Young Alumnus award.

Individual Awards of Distinction will also be presented during the event to honorees from each of Marshall’s schools and colleges. This year’s Awards of Distinction will go to Josh Meredith (College of Arts and Media), Beth “Buffy” Hammers (College of Business), Hazel Shrader (College of Education and Professional Development), Alicia Cunningham (College of Engineering and Computer Sciences), Dr. William P. Marley (College of Health Professions), William Dodson (College of Liberal Arts), Dr. Thomas Lemke (College of Science), Dr. Larry D. Dial Jr. (Marshall University School of Medicine), and Dr. Jordan Sheppard (Marshall University School of Pharmacy).

Growing up in various regions of the South, East and Midwest, Lester graduated from Chesapeake High School in Chesapeake, Ohio. After he turned 17 years old, Lester enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

After a few years in the service, Lester started attending classes at Marshall in 2004. He worked while he was in school and eventually landed a job at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Huntington. He earned a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree in 2007 and his master’s degree in counseling from Marshall in 2009.

Lester held many positions and roles at the VA, starting from GS-4, the most entry-level position. As he was passionate about helping others succeed, he eventually became a counselor at the VA, where he worked directly with hundreds of veterans struggling with their reintegration into civilian life. During this role, he developed an interest in improving the program and how we serve our veterans and their families. He began developing himself from a subject matter expert to an agency leader, and since then, he has been involved in many pilots, workgroups and innovations throughout different agencies and community organizations. For his contributions, he has received multiple accolades. His doctoral dissertation was an innovative study of specific cognitive variances in military veterans and its implications for rehabilitation and/or reintegration back to civilian life.

Lester also enjoyed teaching as an adjunct professor for Marshall University’s Graduate College and has served on advisories, committees and councils with dozens of organizations and agencies around the country, including several boards of directors and two international councils. Currently, he is the assistant director of the Philadelphia and Wilmington VA Regional Offices, where he serves more than 1 million veterans and their families in Pennsylvania, the state of Delaware and Southern New Jersey.

In other categories, Woodrum is the recipient of the Distinguished Service to Marshall University award, Mount is the recipient of the Outstanding Community Achievement award, and Powers is the recipient of the Young Alumnus award.

Over the past 50 years, Woodrum has served Marshall in numerous ways and has become an institution in the Marshall and local athletics communities. Most know him best during his time as a radio color commentator for Marshall football and basketball broadcasts, as well as hosting or co-hosting local pre- and post-game shows. He currently serves as a public address announcer for Marshall’s football, basketball, volleyball teams, among other sports. He has been a Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame committee member since 1999.

In addition to his work at Marshall, Woodrum also worked full-time at Kindred Communications. At Kindred, Woodrum hosted Sportsline Daily Talk Show, wrote and edited the Herd Insider and did play-by-play and color for high school sports broadcasts. He currently works part-time for Kindred on Marshall pre- or post-game shows, as well as being the play-by-play voice of Huntington High School. For his work with Marshall and at Kindred, he has received numerous awards including West Virginia Broadcaster of the Year from the National Association of Sportswriters & Sportscasters.

Mount graduated from Marshall in 2004 from the College of Health Professions and went on to receive her Master’s in Nursing Informatics. She began her career in nursing in the pediatric intensive care unit and has worked as an air and ground transport nurse, clinical sales manager for North America, and in health care leadership. She now works as a director with the West Virginia Health Information Network. She serves as vice chair of Huntington City Council and chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee. She is a member of the City of Huntington’s Planning Commission, Mayor’s Council for Public Health & Drug Control Policy, and the City Council Drug Control Policy Committee. She also serves on the advisory panel for the Cabell-Huntington Health Department Harm Reduction Program. She coaches volleyball at St. Joseph Catholic School and softball majors for Huntington Little League.

Powers grew up in Lavalette, West Virginia, with his parents Michael and Christine Powers. He attended Wayne High School and graduated in 2017. Powers stayed close to home as he would go on to attend Marshall that fall. Powers is a 2021 graduate of Marshall University obtaining a degree in criminal justice and minoring in political science.

In the summer of 2018, Powers would attend his first ever training camp as an equipment intern for the Pittsburgh Steelers, only this time not as an avid fan like years prior. Growing up as a Steelers fan, inspired by his mother who grew up in Pittsburgh, the Steelers always held a special place in Powers’ heart. Over the next two seasons, Powers would travel to and from Pittsburgh for home games and would attend training camps in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with the Steelers. In the spring of 2020, he was elected student body vice president alongside President Anna Williams. Powers’ role within the Steelers organization continued to grow as he was asked to stay on for the full season during the pandemic of 2020 and would work in Pittsburgh. While working full time, attending class remotely, and governing a student body as student body vice president, he juggled quite a bit. Upon returning in the spring of 2021, Powers finished out his time at Marshall. Powers currently serves as a full-time member of the Pittsburgh Steelers equipment staff.

Other honorees at the annual alumni awards banquet include the inaugural “3 C’s” Award with Cathryn P. Easterling, Walker R. Tatum and Kathy G. Eddy as recipients. In addition to alumni chapter awards, Marshall University Black Alumni will also award Janet Gaither with the Fran Jackson Scholarship award, Chiana Bradley with the Nate Ruffin Scholarship award, and Ta’Marra Cook with the Janis Winkfield Scholarship award.

Marshall University’s student body president will move into an alumni role when he graduates with his bachelor’s degree next month.

Walker Tatum has been named as the university’s new director of alumni engagement. In addition to currently serving as student body president, Tatum also serves as student representative on the Marshall University Board of Governors and vice chair of the West Virginia State Advisory Council of Students.

Dr. Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation, says he is looking forward to the new addition to the advancement team.

“His experiences and skill set complement us as we look for new avenues of alumni engagement and unlock new opportunities for growth and sustainability,” said Area.

In his new role, Tatum will be primarily responsible for continuing the expansion of alumni chapters across the country and developing a strategic plan to engage young alumni. He will work alongside Matt James, executive director of alumni relations.

“Walker is a rockstar who exudes the passion, skills and vision necessary to take our alumni engagement efforts to the next level,” said James. “We’re thrilled to keep his talents at Marshall.”

Tatum will also play a critical role in connecting alumni to various initiatives in support of President Brad D. Smith’s “Marshall For All, Marshall Forever” program, including alumni mentorship, high school student recruitment and increased scholarships.

“I’m honored to embark on this new chapter and join a group of dedicated individuals committed to fostering connections and celebrating the achievements of our alumni,” said Tatum. “I look forward to contributing to the rich tradition of Marshall and working collaboratively to strengthen the ties that bind our diverse and accomplished alumni network.”

A native of Wayne, West Virginia, Tatum will graduate on April 27 with his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, with minors in chemistry, business and pre-professional health care studies. During his time at Marshall, he earned the prestigious Gilman Scholarship through the U.S. State Department and has been a consistent champion for food insecurity among college students. His leadership on this issue led him to the halls of the West Virginia Legislature earlier this year when he testified in support of the Hunger Free Campus Act. As a result of Tatum’s advocacy, the Marshall Food Pantry will undergo a comprehensive renovation over the next several months.

Tatum says he plans to utilize his advocacy and leadership experiences to further the mission of The Marshall University Foundation.

“I look forward to building impactful relationships with alumni around the world and to work closely with someone whose leadership I have always looked up to, Matt James,” said Tatum. “Together, the office of alumni relations will foster a legacy of pride, achievement, and lifelong connections to ensure every alumnus is valued and cherished for years to come.”

Tatum will assume his new role on May 1. He currently resides in Wayne with his bernedoodle, Ziti.