Foundation

A longtime benefactor, supporter and West Virginia University alumnus is being remembered for his devotion and loyalty to his alma mater.

The generosity of hundreds of West Virginia University alumni and friends has made the recovery process a bit easier over this past year for many victims of last summer’s devastating flooding in central and southern West Virginia.

Honoring strong connections to the Mountain State and bold leadership, the 2017 West Virginia Business Summit and Annual Meeting will kick off this year with the induction of three pioneering individuals into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.

West Virginia University’s art collection will soon gain a new limited-edition piece, a gift made possible by Blenko Glass. This year’s piece to celebrate West Virginia's 154th birthday, “Sun Over the Mountains,” is a vase inspired by the mountains and rolling hills of West Virginia and is the first designed by Blenko’s newest designer, Aaron Harvey. It has one companion piece, titled, “Moon Over the Forest.”

Dr. Robert L. Totterdale characterizes himself as a lifelong learner, and established an endowment in his mother’s name in the academic area that represents the second segment of his life’s education. As a result, the Dorothy F. Totterdale Scholarship will be offered at the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics to foster that desire to learn in management information systems students.

Writing, literature and poetry students at West Virginia University will benefit from a gift from late alumnus and West Virginia native Russell L. Isaacs. Isaacs, who died in April, left $252,000 in his estate to the WVU Foundation to provide scholarships to students in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

Within hours of learning about flooding in southern West Virginia last year, the WVU community sprang into action, and is still working on recovery projects in the flood-damaged region as we approach the first anniversary of the devastating event.

The Roberta and William Gellner Equine Endowment will advance the mission and goals of the equine program, which is housed within the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, with discretionary funds to support scholarships, research and other opportunities.

The West Virginia University Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2017 Outstanding Philanthropy awards. This year’s recipients are Verl and Sandra Purdy, Milan Puskar Outstanding Philanthropists; Jack Rossi, Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropist; the Bernard McDonough Foundation, Hazel Ruby McQuain Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation; and Dominion Energy, Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation.

Five new members will be inducted Saturday into the Order of Vandalia, the highest honor for service to West Virginia University. The five possess a variety of talents and professional backgrounds, but share a common love for the University as demonstrated by their many contributions to its mission.