$34-Million Gift Supports Engineering at West Virginia U.
January 13, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
Financier and West Virginia University alumnus Ben Statler has pledged $34-million to boost research and student aid at the school’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, according to The Charleston Gazette.
The donation from Mr. Statler and his wife, Jo, is the largest in the university’s history and brings their total giving to the school to $60-million. The new funds will help establish a center for advanced engineering research and a scholarship program for students in the field.
The college will be renamed for Mr. Statler, who graduated from West Virginia in 1973 with a degree in mining engineering. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Gulf Coast Capital Partners, a private investment firm.
