Category: Foundation News

The Marshall University Foundation invites faculty and staff to participate in the Marshall University Family Campaign by enrolling in payroll deduction throughout April.

During the month, faculty and staff can sign up for payroll deduction, allowing them to make a lasting impact through regular, automated contributions. Donors can choose to direct their contributions to a specific scholarship, program fund or the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is essential for supporting key university initiatives, especially addressing the university’s most urgent needs. Every contribution, no matter the amount, helps shape the future of Marshall University.

“Faculty and staff support is crucial to our success, and payroll deduction makes it easy to contribute. It allows you to spread your gift throughout the year, making it automatic and more convenient for your finances,” said Griffin Talbott, senior director of annual giving for the Marshall University Foundation.

Enrolling this month will also count your gifts toward the university’s fourth annual Day of Giving, taking place on April 23 and 24. This virtual event encourages the Marshall community to come together and make a lasting impact on students while shaping the university’s future. Last year, donations surpassed $176,000, and this year, the goal is to exceed that amount.

During the Marshall Foundation’s Gratitude Week last fall, Mike McCarthy, vice president of information services for Marshall Health Network and chief information officer for the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine had this to say about his years of giving through payroll deductions:

“I would say it’s a feeling of connection,” McCarthy said. “You’re making a positive contribution to what you know is a worthwhile institution and one from which you have benefited as well, so you can ensure future generations can benefit.”

For questions regarding the Family Campaign or Day of Giving, please contact Talbott at griffin.talbott@marshall.edu or 304-696-6214. To enroll online, visit https://www.formarshallu.org/family-campaign-donation-form/.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced the Maier Foundation has granted $1 million toward the Marshall For All program.

“I want to sincerely thank the Maier Foundation for answering the call to support our Marshall For All program,” said Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University. “With this tremendous gift, we are that much closer to realizing our Marshall For All vision.”

The Marshall For All program allows Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degree without needing student loans, which will allow students to graduate with little to no debt. To qualify, students will need to complete a FAFSA annually and commit to actions such as graduating on time, pursuing work opportunities and participating in financial literacy programs.

“The Maier Foundation is pleased to support the Marshall For All initiative. This innovative program reflects Marshall’s commitment to affordability, accessibility and student success, especially for students with financial need,” said Brad Rowe, chairman and president of the Maier Foundation Board of Directors.

The program, announced by Smith in 2022, launched in the fall of 2023 with new first-year West Virginians and metro area students with great success. Now in its second year, the university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.

“The Maier Foundation has been an incredible partner to us, and its continued commitment plays a vital role in the success of our students and programs,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This gift provides valuable opportunities for our students, and we are grateful for your role in making a difference in their lives.”

Established in 1958, the Maier Foundation provides funding for higher education initiatives in West Virginia. The Maier Foundation was established as the Sarah and Pauline Maier Scholarship Foundation by William J. Maier Jr. in honor of his mother and wife. It was renamed the Maier Foundation in 2003.

The Marshall University Foundation is pleased to announce its Gold Seal of Transparency for 2025 with Candid, a nonprofit offering comprehensive data and insights about nonprofit organizations.

A gold seal signals a level of transparency and accountability about an organization and its operations. It is viewed by funders to verify an organization’s work and guide their giving decisions. According to research provided by Candid, nonprofits that earn a seal average 53 percent more in contributions.

“We are incredibly proud to have earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This recognition reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. It demonstrates our dedication to how we support our students, faculty and community. We are grateful for the trust placed in us.”

Candid was formed in 2019 when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged with both now operating under the Candid umbrella. GuideStar offers data with profiles on nonprofits, financials and performance metrics while Foundation Center focuses on providing information to grantmaking organizations, funding opportunities, and tools for connecting nonprofits with potential funders.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced a gift of $25,000 to endow the BDY Studios Scholarship for Entrepreneurship to benefit students in the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business.

This scholarship is endowed by Richard and Katrina Mailloux, owners of BDY Studios in Barboursville and Huntington, West Virginia, and Kate’s Ace Hardware in Daniels, West Virginia. The Maillouxes made a $10,000 gift in 2018 to establish the scholarship fund.

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in health care management from Marshall, Katrina Mailloux attended law school at Vanderbilt University. She practiced law at Ashland Oil Inc., was in-house counsel at St. Mary’s Medical Center, and completed her legal career with Steptoe & Johnson. She obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from Marshall in 2001.

Richard Mailloux attended Virginia Tech where he received a bachelor’s degree in science. He attended Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and is a gastroenterologist in Beckley, West Virginia. Although originally from Chicago, he considers West Virginia home and is proud to be part of its growth.

The Maillouxes opened Brown Dog Yoga in Huntington in January 2013 and in Barboursville in 2018. Brown Dog Yoga rebranded in 2020 to BDY Studios and now offers indoor cycling, barre, strength training, and mat and reformer Pilates classes. The couple established the Brown Dog Yoga Foundation in 2018, which supports organizations involved in improving the health and well-being of those living in the greater Tri-State area.

The Maillouxes recently broke ground on a new venture, Kate’s Ace Hardware, in Daniels, West Virginia.

“Wherever we live and are part of a community, we strive to build businesses that provide jobs, create excitement, and serve the community in a positive way,” Katrina Mailloux said. “We have both been very blessed in our careers, and it is important for us to give back.”

The Maillouxes are also involved in a joint venture that builds and sells homes in southern West Virginia.

The Maillouxes’ daughter, Lauren Vega, plays an integral role in keeping their businesses running in a smooth and organized fashion. She currently serves as the director of marketing and community outreach for BDY Studios and director of marketing and business development for Kate’s Ace Hardware. Her passion, however, is fitness and wellness, and she currently provides mobility and flexibility training with Marshall’s sports’ teams during their off seasons.

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time student majoring in entrepreneurship in the College of Business and a resident of Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, Mason or Mingo counties. The recipient must be in good academic standing with a 3.5 GPA (3.8 high school GPA for incoming freshman) and has need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The award will be renewable for up to four years, or eight semesters, if the recipient maintains good academic standing. The dean of the Lewis College of Business, or their designee, will select the recipient and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

For information regarding the BDY Studios Scholarship for Entrepreneurship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced a gift of $100,000 to establish the John A. Sturgeon Nursing Scholarship. This scholarship is generously endowed by John A. Sturgeon.

Sturgeon, who attended Marshall University in the fall of 1963 and currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia, said he wanted to give to “helping professions,” such as nursing.

“I thought it would be good to help put more nurses out there,” Sturgeon said.

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time student majoring in nursing in the College of Health Professions who has financial need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The award will be renewable up to four years, or eight semesters, if the recipient maintains good academic standing of 2.5 GPA or higher. The dean of College of Health Professions, or their designee, will select the recipient and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

“The generous $100,000 nursing scholarship will not only change the lives of future nursing students by providing financial assistance but will also strengthen the nursing program by attracting and supporting the next generation of health care professionals who will provide quality, compassionate nursing care to the community,” said Dr. Annette Ferguson, director of the School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions.

For information regarding the John A. Sturgeon Nursing Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced a gift of $100,000 to establish the Mark S. Taylor Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is generously endowed by Sally B. Oxley in memory of Mark Taylor, who died April 21, 2021.

Mark graduated from Marshall University in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and received his master’s degree in physical therapy from West Virginia University in 1982.  He was inducted into the Marshall University Sports Medicine Hall of Fame in 2006.  Mark was a physical therapist and dedicated member of the Huntington Physical Therapy professional staff for 38 years.

“Mark joined our staff of three in 1984 and helped us grow the practice to 25 staff and four offices,” Oxley said. “He was always fiercely dedicated to the care and well-being of his patients. He continues to be missed by our staff and patients.”

The scholarship recipient will be a graduate student in the School of Therapy who is a resident of West Virginia.  First preference will be given to residents of Cabell and Wayne counties and has financial need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The award will be renewable up to two years, or four semesters, if the recipient maintains good academic standing of 3.5 GPA or higher. The dean of the School of Physical Therapy, or their designee, will select the recipient and renew the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

For information regarding the Mark S. Taylor Memorial Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

The Marshall University Foundation will host its annual “Love a Donor” event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb.13, at the Memorial Student Center. This event is for students to take time to fill out the Office of Student Financial Aid’s scholarship portal and shows gratitude to the donors who make this all possible.

The Foundation will host a table with refreshments for all students inviting them to stop by the Memorial Student Center for a warm treat of hot chocolate and cookies and give students a platform for them to ask any questions they may have about the process of using the portal. The Foundation will also encourage them to write a thank you letter through the portal to thank their current donors for their contributions to the student’s education.

“The ‘Love a Donor’ event is the perfect way for us to connect with students and an opportunity for them to show gratitude to those that make scholarships possible,” said Krystle Davis, senior director of donor relations and stewardship.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced the establishment of the Airbus Helicopters Inc. Rotor-wing Scholarship to benefit students in the Division of Aviation at Marshall University.

The scholarship is generously endowed by Airbus Helicopters in the U.S. to support underprivileged, low-socioeconomic, or need-based students who are planning to be trained as pilots in the helicopter industry.

Airbus Helicopters is the world’s largest leading manufacturer of civilian and military helicopters. A division of Airbus, Airbus Helicopters employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. Its fleet in service includes nearly 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers across 150 countries.

Airbus Helicopters’ U.S. division opened its main facilities in 1969 in Grand Prairie, Texas. It also operates a production line in Columbus, Mississippi. Airbus Helicopters’ products are the U.S. market leaders for air medical transport, law enforcement, airborne tourism, and in the corporate and VIP segment.

The recipient of the scholarship must be a student in the Marshall University Division of Aviation who has financial need per the standards of the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The recipient must be training to be a helicopter pilot and willing to be involved with Airbus in helping improve the rotor-wing training curriculum and enhancing helicopter industry standards.

For information regarding the Airbus Helicopters Inc. Rotor-wing Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced that the Valhalla Foundation, a California-based nonprofit, has gifted a multi-million-dollar grant to support the Marshall For All program.

A portion of the funds will support Marshall For All scholarships, while the remaining funds will be allocated to a dedicated Marshall For All research project focused on data collection and metric analysis.

“I have often said education is the great equalizer, and with the incredible generosity of the Valhalla Foundation we are that much closer to achieving the success of our Marshall For All objectives,” said Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University. “With the help of this grant, we will be able to dream bigger, deliver faster and define excellence. The Valhalla Foundation’s impact will echo for years to come.”

The Valhalla Foundation focuses on driving measurable, meaningful improvement in outcomes that matter to people and our planet, and is a long-term funder of efforts to improve public education.

“This gift is a tremendous step toward completing our Marshall For All vision,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This contribution will create lasting change and will be instrumental in not only supporting our students, but also gaining insights into the future impact and outcomes of this program. We are deeply honored by the Valhalla Foundation’s philanthropic spirit toward this initiative.”

The Marshall For All program allows Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degree without needing student loans, which will allow students to graduate with little to no debt. To qualify, students will need to complete a FAFSA annually and commit to actions such as graduating on time, pursuing work opportunities and participating in financial literacy programs.

The program, announced by Smith in 2022, launched in the fall of 2023 with new first-year West Virginians and metro area students with great success. Now in its second year, the university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced Bowles Rice, a regional law firm with offices in West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, has donated $15,000 toward the Marshall For All program.

“At Bowles Rice, our longstanding mission is to contribute to the success of our clients and vitality of our communities through advocacy, counsel, leadership and service,” said Marc Monteleone, managing partner of Bowles Rice and president of the Bowles Rice Foundation. “We are proud to support the Marshall For All program and its innovative efforts to end student debt with a donation from the Bowles Rice Foundation.”

The Marshall For All program allows Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degree without needing student loans, which will allow students to graduate with little to no debt. To qualify, students will need to complete a FAFSA annually and commit to actions such as graduating on time, pursuing work opportunities and participating in financial literacy programs.

The program, announced by Marshall University President Brad D. Smith in 2022, launched last fall with new first-year West Virginians and metro area students with great success. Now in its second year, the university will expand the program over the next decade with the goal of relieving student debt for all Marshall students by 2037.

“The Marshall For All program aligns perfectly with the goals of our firm’s mission,” said Richie Heath, a partner at Bowles Rice. “The university’s commitment to making higher education more accessible is vital to building a stronger, more affordable future for the next generation of West Virginians.”

Bowles Rice is a professional service organization, contributing to the success of its clients and the vitality of its communities through advocacy, counsel, leadership and service.

The firm was founded in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1920 by three lawyers engaged in the general practice of law. Through success, expansion and merger, it has grown to become a full-service law firm with more than 100 attorneys serving clients in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia – and throughout the nation – from six strategically located, regional offices.