West Virginia University alumnus Ralph Glover, Jr., believes in “paying it forward” when it comes to helping WVU students. To this end, he has established the Ralph Glover Forestry Scholarship, an endowed fund that will support undergraduate students enrolled in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design’s Division of Forestry and Natural Resources.
As a first-generation college student, Glover recalls what a privilege it was to not only attend WVU, but to have most of his college expenses covered by his parents.
“I didn’t have to contribute a whole lot to get my education, but I know now things have changed,” Glover said. “Many students have to work or leave with a lot of debt to get through school. I wanted to help them because the less they have to work or worry about the debt they’re accumulating, the more they can focus on their education.”
In addition to the support from his parents, Glover also benefitted from a scholarship.
“I received a Sears scholarship one semester,” he said. “It was a small scholarship, but it still made a difference, reducing the tuition burden on my mom and dad.”
“Most students can use all the help they can get when it comes to scholarships and financial aid,” said Robert Burns, director of the WVU Davis College Division of Forestry and Natural Resources. “Our programs are rigorous, so we appreciate knowing there is support available that can help them focus their time on academics and related extracurricular activities, rather than can carry the burden or stress of working part-time or taking on student loans.
“On behalf of those students who will benefit from Mr. Glover’s generosity and our entire division, I extend sincerest thanks for his support.”
After graduating in 1962 with a bachelor’s in forestry, Glover went on to serve in the U.S. Army for two-and-a-half years. Afterward, he worked as a natural gas leakage consultant for Heath Survey Consultants in Wesley Hills, Massachusetts, from 1965 to 1968 before beginning a lifetime career with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, serving in various roles and retiring as deputy director in 2004. A resident of Charleston, Glover remains active in the Lions Club and volunteers for the Good Samaritan Center. Glover also serves as treasurer for the WVU Division of Forestry Alumni Association.
Glover’s late wife, Marti-lou Glover, to whom he was married for 50 years, was a two-time WVU graduate. She was a member of the Class of 1964, the first graduating class in the School of Nursing, and received her master’s in nursing in 1988. In 2014, Glover established the Marti-lou Glover Nursing Scholarship as a lasting tribute to her and to honor her wishes. He and Marti-lou raised four children – all WVU graduates.
Once endowed, the Ralph Glover Forestry Scholarship will provide ongoing support to Davis College students enrolled in any one of the five programs within the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, housed within the School of Natural Resources: forest resources management; wood science and technology; wildlife and fisheries resources; recreation, parks and tourism; and energy land management.
Glover has always enjoyed working with and supporting Davis College students through his involvement with the WVU Division of Forestry Alumni Association and his prior involvement in WVU career fairs when he was working for the state Division of Forestry. He hopes this scholarship will provide another means for him to stay involved with students while also inspiring them to stay engaged with the College once they become alumni.
“After these students graduate and get their career paths established, I hope they’ll choose to stay involved with the Davis College through alumni activities and in any other way they feel appropriate – perhaps even giving back to the students who follow in their footsteps,” Glover said.
This gift was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University which runs through December 2017.
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CONTACT: Nikky Luna; WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design 304.293.2394; Nikky.Luna@mail.wvu.edu
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