A fund that has helped dozens of West Virginia University graduates pursue professional and graduate education is now under the stewardship of the WVU Foundation. The H.E. Kidder Endowed Scholarship Trust will now benefit from the substantial resources and sound management of WVU’s fundraising arm.
The trust, currently valued at close to $500,000, was created from the estate of H.E. “Doc” Kidder, who taught animal sciences students in WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design from 1954-1988. In its 22 years, the trust has provided scholarships for post-graduate study for Davis College students interested in professional or graduate education, and it’s also supported travel expenses for students participating in the college’s livestock, dairy, poultry and meats judging teams.
“Over the years, the fund has experienced some significant loss in principal as a result of investment returns and an increase in student support,” said Paul Lewis, assistant director for outreach and community affairs in the Davis College and one of Kidder’s colleagues in the college’s Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences.
To maintain the trust’s viability, trustees looked at possibilities that would allow them to seek contributions for the fund. Trustees decided to move the funds into the WVU Foundation to take full advantage of development support.
“The help of the Foundation will best assure the enduring viability of the Kidder Trust,” Lewis said.
To date, the scholarship arm of the trust has supported 56 graduates of the college in studies in human and veterinary medicine, law and graduate studies. One of those recipients is using his veterinary education at WVU.
Darin Matlick is a WVU Extension Service Veterinarian and serves as Director of Farm Operations and Administration for the Davis College.
“I was fortunate to receive the Kidder Scholarship as a graduate of the animal science program, and I was able to reduce my tuition cost for veterinary school,” Matlick said. “This was a huge help financially to me and my family, but it was also a great honor to receive this scholarship in Dr. Kidder’s name. Dr. Kidder was a great teacher and mentor to so many, and I’m proud to be part of that legacy.”
Contributions to the H.E. “Doc” Kidder Memorial Endowment may be made by sending checks made payable to the WVU Foundation with “H.E. “Doc” Kidder Memorial Endowment/3V959” written in the memo line.
“These funds will be placed in the endowment principal to assist us with building the fund to $1 million,” said Julie Cryser, director of development for the Davis College. “If you would like the funds to be utilized now to assist with sending students to judging contests, please also write a note saying you would like the funding to be placed in the ‘spend/cash’ portion of the endowment, and those dollars will be utilized this academic year, rather than being placed in the endowment principal.”
Checks can be mailed to the WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, Seventh Floor, Morgantown, WV 26507.
Private funds donated through the WVU Foundation go to support student scholarships, faculty development, academic programs and public services initiatives at WVU.
The Foundation, in partnership with the University, is currently conducting A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The goal of the largest fundraising effort in the history of the University is to raise $1 billion by December 2017. For more information on the campaign, visit www.astateofminds.com.
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dw/11/07/14
CONTACT: David Welsh, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
304.293.2394, David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu
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