Foundation

Four promising West Virginia University doctoral students are continuing their academic journeys with support from the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows program.

West Virginia University graduate Doug Skaff Jr. embodied the Mountaineer spirit as an alumnus, business leader and public servant. Following his death, his family is honoring his legacy with a scholarship gift to benefit future students at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics.

The 2025 Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship recipients — Samantha Moon, Zachary Ellis, Leah Peck, Birkely Richards and Leah Rogers — are drawing upon firsthand experiences for motivation to make a difference in West Virginia. Each has been awarded the competitive scholarship which provides $20,000 annually for up to three years.

West Virginia University supporters gave $260.7 million over the past year, making it the third highest year of giving in the University’s history. Their gifts will benefit education, health care and prosperity to make a positive impact across the Mountain State and beyond for years to come.

Michael T. Benson, the 27th president of West Virginia University, never planned on trading beach breezes for the hills of Morgantown. But life — and leadership — has a way of pulling people toward places where they’re most needed. He has already begun to fully immerse himself in campus life, with plans to meet as many members of the WVU community and residents of the Mountain State as possible in his first few weeks on the job.

J. Wayne Richards will serve a two-year term as chairman of the West Virginia University Foundation Board of Directors. The 1981 mining engineering alumnus is president and CEO of GR Energy Services based in Sugar Land, Texas.

In recognition of their loyalty and service to West Virginia University, five Mountaineers will be inducted into the Order of Vandalia during a Friday (June 6) ceremony. The 2025 inductees are Judge Irene Berger, Dr. John Brick, Tom Jones, Ken Kendrick and Carolyn Long.

West Virginia University students pursuing degrees in education, engineering, nursing and oral health care will benefit from a generous alumni couple’s planned gifts totaling $2 million.

Eight remarkable members of the West Virginia University Class of 2025 who have distinguished themselves through academic excellence and by making significant contributions on campus, across the Mountain State and beyond have been honored with the Order of Augusta, the most prestigious University student award.

According to West Virginia University alumni leader David K. Hendrickson, there’s only one “team” at WVU that consistently remains undefeated — the Mountaineer Marching Band. Hendrickson’s passion for the band motivated him to make a $50,000 gift to support the Pride Practice Field and Facility in conjunction with this year’s WVU Day of Giving, and he challenged other alumni to match his gift, raising over $150,000 in total to support the project.