Category: Foundation News

Marshall University and all its iterations have always relied upon the support of the community to survive. 

Local residents built the first Marshall structure on the small hillside where Old Main now resides. The property was purchased by John Laidley, a prominent local lawyer, from James Holderby – both familiar names on campus still today.  

When then Marshall Academy fell on financial troubles before the Civil War and Laidley’s son put the property up for auction, a Guyandotte woman by the name of Salina Cordelia Hite Mason purchased it. A teacher herself, she had no issues satisfying the original deed by using the property for educational purposes. According to the university archives, she and her two sisters, Katie Hite and Mrs. Addie C. Holderby, all of whom were experienced teachers, taught classes while they lived there, providing education to the community during the war. After her husband died in 1863, Mason invested money from her husband’s estate in the college, in order that she might preserve it from reverting to the original owner. The West Virginia Legislature established the State Normal School at Marshall College in 1867 and Mason sold the property, though she continued to teach at the prep school. 

The then-college weathered another war that dipped enrollment, but as soon as World War II was over, the college saw record enrollment. By 1946, the college realized the faculty, physical plant and curriculum were all inadequate for the post-war influx of students.   

Again, Marshall supporters stepped up to the plate. 

On Jan. 3, 1947, five Marshall alumni and supporters signed the articles of incorporation that established the Marshall University Foundation Inc. The mission of the Foundation is to maximize continuous financial support for Marshall and its students by soliciting, receiving, investing and administering private gift support.  

Frank E. Hanshaw Sr. was among the founders, and he served as the first Foundation president until 1954, though he remained active with the Foundation for 40 years and was serving as the chair of the Gifts, Memorials and Income Committee of the board of directors at the time of his death in 1987. 

The Foundation staff remained small through the 2000s but began to outgrow its third-floor space in Old Main. The board of directors began discussing finding the Foundation its own building.  

“We wanted to be more visible and accessible,” said Pam Nibert, vice president of administration and executive assistant to the chief executive officer, who has been with the Foundation for 26 years.  

At the same time, the Marshall University Alumni Association, which was not incorporated at the time, was also looking to have its own space. In fact, the association had already raised a significant amount in donations. So, the Foundation and Alumni Association joined hands. With principal coordination by foundation board member, Tim Haymaker, work began to build a brand-new building along Fifth Avenue that would house both entities. 

Haymaker, a 1969 Marshall graduate and real estate developer based in Lexington, Kentucky, used his expertise to lead the development of the new location. The 2nd floor mezzanine is named for him, in honor of his “outstanding generosity, remarkable innovation and exceptional leadership.” His dedication advanced this project from conception to reality. 

Despite the 2008 market crash leading to rising construction costs, the Foundation board of directors pushed forward with construction thanks to donor support.  

Foundation Hall, home of the Erickson Alumni Center, opened in 2010. It would later be renamed the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall in 2015 in honor of the philanthropist and CEO for his transformational gift to the university. 

Now, 75 years since the articles of incorporation were signed, the Foundation supports a staff of about 35 full-time employees and is continuing to grow thanks in part to the success of the Marshall Rises comprehensive campaign. The staff at the Marshall Foundation will continue to work with the Marshall community to ensure Marshall continues to thrive.  

What gift is more valuable for a university: A mega-million-dollar gift from an individual, business or organization or thousands of smaller gifts from across the university’s alumni and friends? The answer of course, is they are both extremely significant.

“It takes each gift, no matter the size, to continue to support and grow the university and its initiatives, and we rely on the large transformative gifts to tackle big projects and make big plans,” said Dr. Ron Area, chief executive officer of the Marshall University Foundation. “But what are equally important are the grassroots efforts. These gifts send messages to the administration of our Marshall University family’s priorities and passions.”

We’ve all seen the requests in our social media feeds, asking for support from the local kids’ ball club, primary or secondary school and even for a family or specific individual who has been met with challenging circumstances and someone, sometimes on their behalf, reaches out in the hopes of fundraising monies to cover the expenses.

“Crowdfunding,” defined in the Merriam Webster dictionary as “the practice of obtaining needed funding by soliciting contributions from a large number of people especially from the online community,” has replaced the door-to-door sales of youngsters hocking wrapping paper and candy bars and moved it all online. It is convenient, for most “in the palm of their hand” and people give to the causes that often tug at their heart strings or resonate with them personally in the moment.

For the Marshall Foundation, introducing its own crowdfunding tool this past August 2022, was not only requested by departments, but it was also a necessary instrument to own the solicitation and stewardship process. Gifts being solicited by internal Marshall programs through outside crowdfunding sources, were challenging to track, receipt and acknowledge.

“We had been asked repeatedly if we had the capability and began looking for options available and what other universities were doing to fill that need,” said Griffin Talbott, program director of the annual fund. “If we aren’t providing a tool, someone else will.”

Other crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or offered through Facebook were not providing adequate information about who the donations were coming from, or how much each individual donation totaled. Most often, a lump sum would be received, weeks, sometimes months after the fundraiser had ended with no detailed documentation. This left the Marshall Foundation no choice but to deposit without acknowledging the true donors.

“Having our own crowdfunding tool helps to bring function inside our organization so we don’t rely on outside reporting and money collecting procedures,” Talbott said. “Our crowdfunding tool is also able to be used across multiple social media platforms for awareness, but yet has a centralized backend reporting and acknowledgement structure that caters to several of our stewardship priorities such as tracking giving history, providing tax receipts for charitable deductions and acknowledging active alumni memberships.”

Targeted for use by departments and colleges across campus, the Marshall Foundation crowdfunding platform seeks to fill a need that departments and colleges have for grassroots fundraising over a short period of time for a specific project or passion. One of the first departments to use the tool was the June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development, a subsidiary department housed within the Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development.

The June Harless Center’s mission is to provide leadership in education initiatives for West Virginia educators and students. The Center provides educators and families in rural West Virginia with a support system that addresses educational problems, sustains school improvement and provides positive growth in all educational factors.

“The site was set up about a week in advance of our large in-person event in Charleston on Aug. 9,” said Alicia Syner, program developer of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in West Virginia. “We had hoped to collect $20,000 in donations from supporters leading up to the event and by using the QR Code to donate online while physically at the event. To date we have received close to $6,000 through the crowdfunding campaign. We plan to keep the page available through December 2022.”

The event, which celebrated West Virginia’s statewide participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, raised $45,000 additionally through sponsorships and a silent auction at the event, but the crowdfunding component was the first of its kind.

“The June Harless Center was looking for a fundraising platform that was zero to low-cost, would generate a QR code for donations and be user-friendly,” Syner said. They considered choosing Mighty Cause and Facebook as their crowdfunding tool but wanted the option to “thank donors specifically and track donor information more easily through the Marshall Foundation platform.”

“For our next fundraiser, I would take full advantage of the tool by customizing a thank you letter and email as well as uploading a video,” Syner said. “The Marshall University Foundation crowdfunding tool is easy to navigate and share with donors. We could not have pulled this off without Griffin and his team. I highly recommend using this tool for your next fundraiser.”

Interested Marshall University departments may apply online by visiting the giving website. There are policies and guidelines in place to assist a group in determining if they are prepared to launch a crowdfunding campaign and each project submitted is thoroughly reviewed. Only a select number of campaigns will run “live” at any one time, to prevent overcrowding of competition, and there is a donor wall for each project that allows supporters to be recognized, if they choose, and motivate others to become involved.

Project coordinators should be faculty or staff at Marshall University, have the sponsorship of their department chair and/or dean of the college, at least three people assigned to their team, seed money for 50% of the goal, photos, videos and a designated project or initiative with a specific timetable of how they plan to reach that objective.

“Donors are giving online, and this crowdfunding tool goes hand-in-hand with that trend,” Talbott said. “It is easy for departments and schools to get started and easy for donors to react.”

For more information about the Marshall Foundation crowdfunding tool, you can contact development@marshall.edu or visit https://give.marshall.edu/submit-application to apply.

Maxine Hurst and her husband Wilburn gave to worthy causes all their lives. With no children of their own, they were able to support their own and other churches, charities and civic projects, as well as supporting their family and friends.

“They never sought credit or recognition,” said Maxine Hurst’s cousin Keith Wellman. “For all of their generosity over the years, Maxine’s final request was to leave the bulk of her estate to her beloved alma mater Marshall University.”

Funded by their estate, the Wilburn and Maxine Hurst Academic Scholarship supports Cabell and Wayne county students in the College of Education and Professional Development. Before her passing in 2018, Maxine Hurst also established the Mona Wellman Samson Scholarship Fund in honor of her mother who was a longtime teacher in Cabell and Wayne counties. That scholarship also supports Wayne County graduates.

Sophomore nursing major Kami Chapman, from Wayne, West Virginia, is one of the recipients of the Mona Wellman Samson Scholarship. Chapman said she wants to be a nurse because it impacts people’s lives in a hands-on environment with person-to-person contact.

“My scholarships have pushed me to spend more time on campus studying to keep the scholarships,” Chapman said. “I would love to tell Mrs. Hurst thank you for leaving your estate to the university in order to help students pursuing their careers.”

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Hurst was also an educator, teaching high school math for more than 40 years.

“Several years ago, because I was also a teacher, she gave me the school bell her mother – my Aunt Mona Samson – had used during her first one-room schoolhouse teaching assignments,” Wellman said. “I will gift it to my daughter who is also a teacher.”

Hurst received her teaching degree from Marshall and graduated with honors. She went on to get her master’s degree in mathematics from Columbia.

“In 40-plus years of teaching, she was a no-nonsense individual and expected her math students to be the same,” Wellman said. “As with her students, Maxine had high expectations for the younger members of our extended family. She stayed on top of us. When asked how we were doing she generally meant in our academics. I always sought her approval.”

Wellman said his oldest cousin was intelligent, confident, well-organized and strong. She knew how things worked and could fix or repair virtually anything mechanical.

He said her message to all students would be to work hard on your studies and value your education for it is an opportunity of a lifetime.

In a broken world all-too-often filled with tales of heartache and despair, every once in a while comes a story so powerful and full of hope that it has to be experienced to be believed.

That is the story of one Lester Hicks.

Hicks’ tale is one of overcoming unimaginable odds to rise above and reach heights that many, including himself, never thought possible. It is a story of perseverance, determination and sheer willpower that propelled a young man from the heart of rural Georgia to an award-winning career as a safety engineer at world-renowned security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, and achievements as an accomplished author and athlete that was part of one of the greatest sports stories ever told.

And he has done it all with a gracious heart, taking the life lessons taught to him by his family and friends and applying them in everything he does in life.

“The secret to my success is sweat equity and determination against all odds when failure is not an option,” a proud Hicks said. “I was determined not to allow anyone to outwork me in the classroom, in the workplace and on the football field and basketball court. Sometimes, I have to pinch myself to see if I am caught up in a dream because my accomplishments are so unlikely for a person of my background. But I always remember and embody these words, ‘Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything that you need.’”

Hicks’ story begins in impoverished southern Georgia in the early 1950s in a two-room shack with no running water or heat source outside of an old, black potbellied stove that was the main attraction on cold winter nights. Hicks was the 12th of 14 children and four grandchildren raised by uneducated sharecropper parents surviving on a $2.50 weekly income.

Hicks likes to point out that he got to where he is today because his parents had, what he likes to call, P.H.D.s. “We survived because they were poor, hungry and determined,” Hicks said with a smile.

Still, despite the challenges that he and his family faced, he remembers a caring home where he was showered with love and taught the values of servanthood every day of his life.

He lived in that two-room home in Georgia before moving to Steubenville, Ohio, as a boy. And that, Hicks will admit, is where his story really began.

“We took poor to a whole new level,” Hicks said. “My father couldn’t read or write at all, and he was identified by an ‘x’ as his signature. My mother had a fifth-grade education. But both were hardworking, spiritual and honest people who didn’t have the benefit of electricity, water or heat. I was the first and only person in my family to attend college. Although we didn’t have much, my success is a reflection on their hard work.”

As Hicks began to grow into his large, lanky frame, he began to find interest in various sports. He was a defensive lineman and tight end for the mighty Big Red football team at Steubenville High School. He was also a basketball star and a sprinter, high jumper and distance runner on the track and field team.

Because of that success, Hicks began getting calls from major universities all around the country. Nebraska, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State and many of the colleges in and around Ohio gave a long look at the talented multi-sport athlete from eastern Ohio. But while fast, the one thing Hicks could not outrun was his grades. Before long the offers dried up and Hicks found himself attending Ellsworth Community College in Iowa as a last resort.

It was there that Hicks’ path took an interesting turn that led him to a little town on the banks of the Ohio River to play for the Thundering Herd.

“I couldn’t capitalize on my talents in high school because I didn’t apply myself in the classroom. Thankfully, it was in junior college that I learned how to become a student,” Hicks said. “I had extraordinary success at the junior level, and I attracted offers from several notable and prominent blue-blood suitors from every major conference except the Southeastern Conference because they didn’t recruit black athletes during that era of college football.

“Eventually, because of the racial tension in Iowa, I asked coach Johnny Majors if I could decommit from Iowa State and accept an offer from coach Jack Lengyel for me to attend Marshall University. Initially I had declined his offer, but he was crafty and persistent and eventually I gave him a chance.”

On Easter weekend in 1971, coach Lengyel suggested that Hicks accept a free trip from Iowa to Huntington to enjoy spring break at his home in Steubenville while also spending some time on campus at Marshall University. When he arrived, Hicks was immediately struck by the story of the plane crash that had nearly wiped out the Marshall football program one year prior and how he could help. But, Hicks recalled, Lengyel did not sugarcoat what he was getting himself into.

“I was emotionally touched by the Marshall story and some of the players, especially Scottie Reese and others who I would later vicariously play in memory of. Coach Lengyel and my position coach Andy Nameth pried me away from the lure of playing for Notre Dame or the University of California, but they were very honest. He pulled me aside and said, ‘Les, we are not going to win a lot of games or play for any championships. Will you accept the challenge to help me rebuild Marshall football?’” Hicks said. “I couldn’t say no. So, I became a member of the second edition of the Young Thundering Herd in 1972.”

Hicks recalls that his first year on campus was unlike anything he has experienced in his life. “It was still a very grief-stricken campus and community. It was a very sobering experience for a young man to walk into,” Hicks said.

Once on campus, Hicks immediately made friends with Reggie Oliver and other members of the now-famous 1971 Young Thundering Herd and got to work. He recalls nights running up and down flights of steps in Twin Towers East and long hours of what he referred to as “hell” at Fairfield Stadium.

“The old Fairfield Stadium felt like two degrees from being in hell. It was not player friendly,” Hicks recalled. “The turf field was positioned in a low basin that was surrounded by a high concrete wall and the seats were aluminum. All of that meant radiant heat. At times the temperatures reached 115 degrees. We had a rule that if you lost five or more pounds during practice, you weren’t allowed to practice again that day.”

Despite the challenges and the naysayers, Hicks was determined that this team could win games.

“I had never been on a losing team until attending Marshall,” Hicks said. “I took every loss extremely hard because I detested losing. It was very difficult to attract blue chip athletes due to Marshall’s reputation as a losing program. Because of that, we were signing a lot of undersized guys who were not highly recruited at the D1 level. Most of the time, we were giving away around 30 pounds per man on both sides of the ball. And we were always hurt because of substandard nutrition and facilities. I personally was slowed with a torn deltoid muscle in my left shoulder.

“Despite those barriers, I earned a starting defensive end position. I held it until my body simply wore out. When my body became tired, I ran with my heart. Despite my health and injury struggles, I only missed one practice session due to heat exhaustion during my two-year stint with the team.”

The Thundering Herd went 2-8 during that 1972 season, Hicks’ first with the team, before improving to 4-7 in 1973. While it wasn’t exactly what he expected at the time, that experience playing for the Herd during a pivotal moment in Marshall’s history has stuck with Hicks his entire life.

Hicks went on to earn two degrees from Marshall, proudly making the dean’s list every semester while on campus. Hicks also met his future wife, Della, while at Marshall. They met while pledging for the Greek community during an event for underserved youth. After four years of dating, the pair eloped and were married in December 1977.

While his athletic journey could have taken him anywhere in life, Hicks is quick to point out that what he gained while at Marshall far outweighs anything he could have earned elsewhere.

“She knows that if I had made a detour to attend Notre Dame or Nebraska, I would be wearing a national championship ring. However, I am quick to acknowledge that the ring that she gave me is the best I’ve ever won,” Hicks said. “Marshall University was the last place that I envisioned being. But God had already ordained a wife for me in Huntington. She has been my best friend, my confidant and my ultimate supporter ever since.”

After Marshall, Hicks enjoyed a successful career in the environment, safety, health and human resources profession. Before retiring from Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Company in Marietta, Georgia, Hicks was an environmental staff safety engineer for 32 years. He earned 21 awards from the state of Georgia for his pollution prevention and community service efforts during an eight-year period.

He was appointed as Lockheed Martin’s Safety Coordinator for the north and south campuses where he decreased the incidence rate and property damage significantly while driving down the worker’s compensation cost.

Hicks has been on the front page of the Atlanta Business Chronicle twice and has been featured in national news, television and advertising publications. He served on speaker panels at environment, safety and health conferences in Texas, Colorado, and Georgia. He lectured undergraduate and graduate engineering, nursing and safety students at Marshall University.

In 2005, Marshall University named Hicks as one of its 125 Most Impactful Black Athletes during the 20th century including all sports and, in 2016, he was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest honor of the Marshall University Alumni Association. He also received the prestigious Pathfinder Humanitarian Award from Steubenville, Ohio, and was a keynote speaker at Steubenville High School in 2016 where he talked about all that he accomplished in life despite graduating with a 1.8 GPA. In addition to that, he was honored with a community service and sports award from Lockheed Martin.

Hicks is also the author of “Against All Odds – 4th Down and Forever” detailing his life and the inspiration he drew from the single worst air tragedy in NCAA sports history.

Hicks and his wife, Della, currently reside in Powder Springs, Georgia, and they have three children and four grandchildren who have also earned multiple college degrees with honors. They remain active in their community, serving as mentors to troubled youth, Sunday school teachers and on their local literacy council, all while continuing to share their unique life experiences with the world.

Hicks is also still active at Marshall, serving as a member of the executive committee with the Marshall University Alumni Association board of directors.

“The national and local recognition that I have received over the years has been way beyond what I could have ever imagined growing up,” Hicks said. “Although I achieved innumerable successes in life, I never looked down on my humble beginnings. Moreover, I used them as fuel.”

From that small two-room shack in rural Georgia to national awards and recognition, all while helping a community heal through his time on the gridiron, Hicks has never forgot where he came from and admits that his time at Marshall helped shape who he is today and set the stage for an unforgettable journey that he takes the time to share every opportunity he can.

“Looking back, I think a lot about coach Lengyel’s sales pitch of, ‘A lot of schools want you, but we need you.’ As my life has unfolded, I have discovered that I needed Marshall far more than Marshall needed me,” Hicks said. “I cashed in on my football talent to earn two degrees. I personally learned during my time there that life is fragile. The loss of those players taught me to never take anything for granted, regardless of age. I felt privileged to be a Marshall University football player, and I felt an obligation to play through frustration, fatigue and injury.

“More than anything, I learned not to complain because millions would love to have the good and bad of my life. I treat every day as if it is my last. As a result, I accomplish what I can by not leaving anything for tomorrow. My conviction is that I am going to work as if I am going to live 100 years and pray as if I am going to die tomorrow.”

The Marshall University Foundation has announced that Michael J. Farrell and Tamela J. Farrell have pledged a gift of $100,000 in support of the new Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation at Marshall University.

“We, as a couple, feel the need to invest in our community and we do it through many different avenues, but the university has always been the one that we felt most passionate about,” Michael Farrell said.

The facility, which is to be built in the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue and scheduled to open in January of 2024, is expected to be 77,000 gross square feet, and will house classroom space, a forum and auditorium, computer and science labs, office space, meeting rooms and study spaces for students. It will be the center for economic development in the region, with the capability of hosting both small and large business gatherings.

Michael Farrell was interim president in 2005 following the departure of Dan Angel. He previously served on Marshall’s Board of Governors and is also in the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business Hall of Fame.

“When I was on the Board of Governors before I became president, we developed the master development for Fourth Avenue and this is the first step,” Michael Farrell said. “Of course, President Smith’s tremendous gift of $25 million has been the catalyst that’s made all of this happen. This is, quite frankly, the dream that has come true and will set Marshall’s business school and our campus apart its competitors.”

Marshall students will have access to a first-class education in a dynamic environment that will enhance and encourage various types of learning and collaboration. The facility will serve as the hub for student centric activities, providing students not only with instructional resources but also facilitating the practice and expertise that will prepare them post-graduation.

“We are appreciative of the Farrells’ generosity and their continued support for the university,” said Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall Foundation. “It is with their contribution to the new business school that Marshall students will excel, and our footprint in the region will be larger than ever before.”

The Farrells are attorneys and members of the Huntington-based law firm Farrell, White & Legg PLLC. The Farrells have a long-standing history of giving both professionally and personally to the university.

“Any of us who have the wherewithal need to be able to say thank you in a meaningful way whenever we have an opportunity,” Michael Farrell said. “This is that opportunity for me and my wife.”

The Marshall University Foundation today announced that Marshall Rises, the largest and most ambitious fundraising campaign in Marshall University history, has raised more than $176 million in support of the university.

More than 50,000 gifts were recorded during the campaign spread across 1,300 different designations at the university, ensuring that a wide range of programs and projects were directly touched by the campaign.

Marshall Rises publicly launched in October 2019 with a goal of raising $150 million, after having already secured more than $100 million during the quiet phase that began July 2016. By May 2021, the campaign reached its $150 million target, eventually topping $176 million when the campaign formally concluded earlier this year.

The conclusion of the campaign is being celebrated throughout the week on campus during the larger Thank A Donor Days celebration honoring those who make an impact at Marshall through giving.

“Marshall Rises has been a game-changer for Marshall University, the surrounding region and the state of West Virginia. Through this campaign, we have been able to touch so many different areas of campus, from the incredible programs offered, to the buildings and classrooms, to the students within those walls, and it is all thanks to the generous support of our dedicated and loyal Marshall family,” said Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall Foundation. “Working side-by-side with the university, we set a goal to raise $150 million nearly six years ago to help Marshall rise to new heights and we have surpassed that goal ahead of schedule. Through this campaign, we are helping take Marshall University to the next level as a leading institution of innovation and discovery.”

The impact of Marshall Rises is found in five pillars for success chosen to represent the most important facets of Marshall University. The campaign was to enhance the student experience; expand academics and grow the university’s reputation; create an environment of innovative learning; form a foundation of research and creative discovery; and deepen community partnerships.

The five pillars of progress ensure that students at Marshall will graduate from one of the nation’s most distinguished and dynamic universities.

“The Marshall University community celebrates the fantastic success of Marshall Rises, which is propelling our institution forward,” said Marshall President Brad D. Smith. “I want to commend Ron Area and everyone at the foundation who worked so diligently, through a pandemic no less, to ensure our students and university are provided the necessary funding for the future. And for everyone who contributed to the effort, we appreciate you.”

One of the areas most directly impacted by this campaign is student support, with more than 500 additional students receiving scholarship aid annually than before the start of the campaign. In total, scholarship aid increased by 44% during Marshall Rises, with $5 million in scholarship aid awarded annually over the past three years.

The campaign also generated an unprecedented response from the alumni community and supporters of the university, with one-third of all gifts given during the campaign generated by first-time donors. The university also saw a strong outpouring of support from the campus community, with gifts from Marshall faculty and staff nearly doubling over the past six years.

Marshall’s endowment, an important source of funding designated for specific purposes according to donor intent, grew dramatically during Marshall Rises. Prior to the campaign, the endowment value stood at $110 million. As of the conclusion of the campaign, the endowment was $205 million, an 86% increase.

Donors were able to make an impact through a variety of giving programs at the university including the annual fund, a yearly giving program targeting various areas of need, the Family Campaign, encouraging giving among faculty and staff, and planned giving for benefactors documenting gifts through wills and estate planning intentions.

“The support we have seen from alumni, faculty, staff and community supporters of Marshall during Marshall Rises has been unprecedented. It shows that the Marshall community cares deeply about the future of this university as a prosperity platform for the underserved,” said Joe Allwood, COO at the Marshall Foundation. “Through this campaign, we have been able to help more students than ever before reach their full potential through scholarship aid and financial support. We have felt the impact on campus, with major renovations to existing facilities, as well as the construction of new centers for learning. This is truly an exciting time to be a part of this university and I am already looking forward to our next chapter to further build upon this success.”

Through Marshall Rises, life-changing and cutting-edge research has expanded thanks to increased philanthropic support of faculty research in elevating Marshall’s reputation as a student focused R2 research university.

Over the past six years the university has also seen more in-demand programs for students and state-of-the-art facilities being erected like the Bill Noe Flight School and the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation.

With a goal to impact the lives of more students, to improve the community and the alumni within it, and make a positive mark on the world through action, Marshall Rises has set the stage for a future of endless possibilities.

And the transformational level of support of Marshall Rises ensures that the university will continue to be impacted by this campaign for years to come.

“I am proud and honored to be a part of this university during this unique and special moment in its history,” Area said. “This campaign was just the beginning; we already have plans in the works for bigger and better things in the very near future. After what I saw from this campaign, I believe that together, we can achieve anything at Marshall.”