In 2016, a Philippi, WV, native and his wife established an endowed scholarship supporting education majors at Fairmont State University. The couple has recently arranged a planned gift as part of their estate plan and additional cash funds to further support aspiring teachers through the existing Dr. Bob and Susan Hawkins Endowed Scholarship.

Dr. and Mrs. Hawkins, now living in Virginia Beach, VA, are retired educators who are committed to the education profession and the support of future teachers. They have a strong desire to help students who are devoted to a teaching career but unable to afford a college education.
 
“College is much more expensive today than when Susan and I were undergraduate students,” said Dr. Hawkins. “I can’t stand the thought of a person who could become such a fine and caring classroom teacher as my wife being unable to get a degree because of finances.”
 
A planned gift, either through a will, making the foundation a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account, ensures that funds will be available even after the donor has died, said Fairmont State Foundation President Julie R. Cryser.
 
“To give not only additional funding but to ensure that the fund grows after they pass is generous, thoughtful and strategic,” Cryser said.
 
Dr. Hawkins, a Fairmont State University alumnus, began his career as an educator at Fairmont Senior High School before teaching at Hampton University in Hampton, VA., and as an adjunct professor at Virginia Wesleyan University. During most of his career, he served as an Education Specialist for the Department of Defense, Defense Acquisition University, serving as the Director of Faculty Professional Development designing curricula, conducting educator training, and designing and delivering management and executive level training programs and seminars.
 
He credits his success to his experience at Fairmont State. In particular, he remembers Dean George Turley, who was an advocate and mentor to Hawkins throughout his undergraduate experience. “I really did not realize what a quality education and preparation for life I received at Fairmont State until much later in my life,” he said.
 
Mrs. Hawkins’ introduction to Fairmont State came through Dr. Hawkins and especially by attending his annual Theta Xi Fraternity, Kappa Gamma Chapter Alumni Association events. Her college experience took place at larger institutions, including the University of North Carolina, and Virginia Tech, where the couple met when studying in the doctoral program together. She has been fascinated with the small and close-knit community that Fairmont State offers and the resulting connectedness on campus. For this reason, they chose together to support Fairmont State with their initial endowed scholarship in 2016. They consider Fairmont State University to be a place to belong, to be involved, to be connected, and to receive an excellent education.
 
“The heart of the Falcon Family knows no limits,” Mirta M. Martin, president of Fairmont State University, said. “By including Fairmont State in their estate planning, the Dr. Bob and Susan Hawkins Endowed Scholarship will inspire and support tomorrow’s educators for years and years to come. The Hawkins’ selfless generosity will have an immeasurable impact, as our students entire the education profession and make their own contributions.”
 
The Dr. Bob and Susan Hawkins Endowed Scholarship is available to Fairmont State University students who are West Virginia residents majoring in education.
 
This gift was made through the Fairmont State Foundation Inc., the non-profit organization that solicits and administers private donations on behalf of the Fairmont State University.

Fairmont State University alumni and friends contributed more than $300,000 in a 24-hour period on the second Falcon Day of Giving on Thursday, October 29, exceeding the fundraising goal by more than $50,000. 

“Our loyal alumni and friends have not let COVID-19 or anything else stand in the way of supporting Fairmont State University,” said Julie R. Cryser, president of the Fairmont State Foundation, which organized and carried out the campaign on behalf of Fairmont State University. 

More than 600 donors, up from 387 last year, provided funds for everything from athletic scholarships to support for student programs and university projects. Athletics raised more than $140,000, with the men’s and women’s basketball teams leading the effort at nearly $29,000 and $24,000, respectively.  

Donors gave more than $89,000 to support scholarships, both academic ($44,000) and athletic ($18,000), while schools and colleges earned nearly $35,000 to support discretionary funds that can be utilized for scholarships, faculty support or projects. 

“Whether they work here, are friends of the University, or are Falcon alumni themselves, these donors know and have seen firsthand the transformative impact a Fairmont State education can have,” Mirta M. Martin, president of Fairmont State University, said. “Their gifts represent their belief in our efforts. Even in the midst of a historic, global pandemic, our community pulled together and proved, once again, that there is simply no stronger community than the Falcon Family.” 

Matches and challenges secured earlier in the year and made by alumni and friends helped to spur giving. A number of donors who contributed last year generously increased their giving this year in response to the pandemic and the University’s needs. Matches and challenges increased from 2019’s Falcon Day of Giving by nearly $50,000. 

“None of this would have been possible without the support of our alumni and friends or the dogged determination of our coaches, deans, faculty, staff and students,” Cryser said. “We can’t thank the donors enough and we can’t thank those who helped us spread the word and encourage participation enough, either.” 

The Day of Giving provides funding for students and the University, but it also serves to raise awareness about Fairmont State University and funding opportunities. People from as far away as Louisiana and California were sharing social media posts about the Day of Giving and encouraging friends, family and peers to give.  

“It was exciting to see the Falcon Family coming together to support Fairmont State University, its students, faculty and staff, especially after such a difficult year for so many people” Cryser said.  

Fairmont State University’s Creative Sustainability Council (CSC), a campus organization focused on sustainability initiatives for the University and community, has been awarded a grant of $27,120 from the Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (ASF) to implement two sustainability initiatives on campus this summer. These initiatives have been designed in partnership with Aladdin Food Service and the Fairmont State Foundation.

The CSC, a group of students, faculty, and staff whose goal is to enrich and extend sustainability practices on campus, is guided by Dr. Erica Harvey, Abelina Suarez Professor of Chemistry at Fairmont State University. Harvey is using her Suarez professorship to support student-centered sustainability initiatives that are fun and community-building, in addition to being practical and impactful.

The first initiative, a glass recycling program, will introduce a glass crusher to campus. This equipment converts glass waste like pasta sauce jars and soda bottles into sand that can be used for a variety of applications. Glass waste generated on campus by employees and students will be converted to sand for use in campus landscaping projects, offsetting the expense of buying sand each year. Community members will be able to use the crusher to recycle their own glass waste into sand, which they can take home and use for personal projects.

“Facilities trade workers will spruce up the new glass crusher location on the first floor of the parking garage. This location should lend itself to a drop/pick-up and go operation,” Stephanie DeGroot, construction project manager, said. “The identified compost location was agreed to by all parties involved and will be located at the top of the stairs leading from Prichard Hall to Pence Hall. It was a great central location with easy access for all contributing groups.”

The second initiative will introduce a composting program on campus. With over 3,800 students, Fairmont State University’s dining hall generates around 100 pounds of total food waste per day. To reduce the amount of waste being hauled to landfills in half, two commercially available, in-vessel systems will be installed behind the Falcon Student Center. The combination of food waste and carbon source materials (yard and grounds waste) in the vessels are anticipated to generate 18 tons of compost and greenhouse gas reductions of approximately 7.5 metric tons per year. The University’s facilities department, the CSC and Aladdin Food Service will collaborate to design, test and refine the composting system. The final product will supplement the landscaping needs on campus and provide a template for future composting initiatives on campus.  

“This is sustainability for our customers and clients. It helps us educate them about waste. It’s all about waste control, we’ll set up a weigh station when we first set up the compost and show them actually how much they are wasting in a day,” Jeff Swaim, Aladdin Food Services Director, said. “We want to be a part of sustainability and that’s why we want to do this, also to decrease the waste and chemical input in our landfills.”

Both projects are underway, with construction and installation scheduled for this summer. As students return to campus in the fall, these programs will be operational, with opportunities for student engagement for data collection and analysis.

After implementation and analysis in the coming year, the CSC will host an environmental science and sustainability workshop for public school teachers and community leaders in the summer of 2021. The CSC will share the details of environmental and fiscal impact these programs have and encourage the investigation and adoption of these practices. 
Harvey and the CSC believe the proposed collection of creative sustainability initiatives will provide an opportunity to have approachable, ongoing campus and community conversations about collective energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. They look forward to identifying both economic and environmental benefits of these changes and sharing what is learned.

“Our CSC members are honored and excited to receive this support from ASF,” said Harvey.  “Three student members will undertake composting research this fall. Students will be calculating greenhouse gas emission reductions from the project, and we are all looking forward to crushing our glass!  The ASF grant projects will elevate the sustainability work at Fairmont State, nicely complementing our existing solar panel array and newly donated electric vehicle chargers from an anonymous donor.  Thanks to ASF, we have also initiated collaborations with the sustainability department at Marshall University, and hope to build a statewide sustainability network.”

The Appalachian Stewardship Foundation was created as a result of a settlement with Longview Power that set up a mitigation fund to correct the damage to the environment caused by the mining and burning of coal. To date, ASF has awarded more than 1.3 million dollars in funds to promote their mission.

This grant was made through the Fairmont State Foundation Inc., the non-profit organization that solicits and administers private donations on behalf of the Fairmont State University.

Two Fairmont State alumni will continue to support a scholarship for football players over the next five years. 

Jim Ashton, a general partner for NewSpring Capital, a Philadelphia-based private equity firm, and his wife, Debbie (Turney), have committed to continuing the Jim & Debbie Ashton Football Scholarship. The annual impact scholarship supports freshmen football players from Western Pennsylvania who are majoring in business, computer science, engineering, entrepreneurship or information systems. 

“The support of Jim and Debbie Ashton will have immeasurable impact,” Mirta M. Martin, president of Fairmont State University, said. “Our student athletes work hard, and the Jim & Debbie Ashton Football Scholarship rewards them for them for their diligence and passion, both on the field and in the classroom. This gift is also a reminder of the kind of people that make up our Falcon Family – alumni like the Ashtons who not only remember their precious years here on our cozy hilltop campus, but who also feel a responsibility to give back and lift up another generation of Falcons.”

“Debbie and I both enjoyed our time at Fairmont State University and have always looked for ways to give back,” Jim said.  “I was once a recipient of a football scholarship and know how important it was for me at the time.” 

Ashton said the couple strongly encourages giving to support Fairmont State students and believe it is especially important to give back when times are tough.

“There have been many successful graduates of Fairmont State,” Jim said. “Many live in different parts of the country now, but their journey started at the beautiful campus on the hill.” 

Jim and Debbie both graduated in 1980 with business degrees, which he said was key to obtaining their first jobs out of college. 

“We were able to draw upon lessons learned in the classroom and apply them to the real world,” Jim said. 

Debbie grew up in Fairmont, not far from campus. Jim grew up in Brownsville, a coal mining town in Western Pennsylvania.

“I thought it was a beautiful campus and was excited to continue my athletic career with the football team,” Jim said. “After a few seasons, our class won the conference championship in my senior year.” 

Coach Dave Ritchie was an early mentor for Jim both on and off the field. In the fall of 2019, Jim was able to visit with Ritchie during a 40th reunion of the 1979 conference championship team. 

“Other than meeting each other, we both made lifelong friends that we met at Fairmont State University,” Jim said. 

“We are so honored that Jim and Debbie have decided to continue their support of our Fairmont State football program and our exceptional student athletes,” said Fairmont State Foundation President Julie Cryser.

Karen Poole flipped through her Fairmont State yearbook recently and realized how significant so many professors and friends who she met while attending college were to her success in life.

“Back then, I did not realize how important they were and that someday I would be in a position to give back in such a major way,” said Poole, who recently made Fairmont State University the beneficiary of 5 percent of the residuary of her estate to support the School of Education, Health & Human Performance.

Planned gifts, either through a bequest like Poole’s, making Fairmont State University the beneficiary of an IRA or life insurance policy or even creating an income producing charitable gift annuity help Fairmont State to plan for the future and supports growth. 

“A great university is defined by more than a beautiful campus and excellent academic programs. Its most important asset is its people,” Dr. Mirta Martin, president of Fairmont State University, said. “Karen Poole’s generous gift is a testament to the fact that Fairmont State has long been home to dedicated teacher-mentors who have passionately educated generation after generation of Falcon alumni. And Karen herself is the perfect example of what we hope all our alumni can strive to become – service-minded, caring people who give back to their communities. Her gift will help us continue our tradition of educating civic-minded leaders of tomorrow”

Karen (Lucas) Poole grew up in Newell, WV, and graduated in 1965 from Oak Glen High School, located in the upper tip of the Northern Panhandle.

She had considered going to school closer to home but was afraid that she would be expected to be back home every weekend. Many of her friends chose to go to college in Morgantown, WV, but being a “small-town gal” she wanted a smaller school with a similar environment.

“I liked the community feel of ‘The College on the Hill’ and knew my innate fear of getting lost would not be a problem there,” she said.  “I auditioned for and got a spot on the majorette squad of the Fighting Falcon Marching Band, so I packed my bags and headed to Fairmont.”

She started her education as a math major but soon realized that elementary education was a better fit. She lived all four years in Morrow Hall -- the first year as a freshman requirement and the next three years as a resident assistant. 

Dr. Edmund E. Collins’ physical science class was her favorite, and he became her unofficial advisor. 

“I still think that he was responsible for me being selected as Student Teacher of the Year in ‘69, and I know he was instrumental in getting me my first teaching job in Monongalia County,” she said. 

She also has fond memories of Lawrence Wallman who taught speech and was feared by many students for his gruff approach.  

“He forced me out of my public speaking fear and helped me develop a new sense of self-confidence,” she said.

The summer after graduating, Karen married William Poole, who still had a year left before graduating from West Virginia University. 

“I was the bread-winner,” she said.  “I began teaching second and third grades in Summers Elementary, a four-room school located on a mountain beyond Sabraton. The next summer Bill got drafted and joined the Army, so I returned home to teach in the elementary school I had attended, with many of the same teachers who had taught me!”  

Karen joined Bill in Frankfurt, Germany, after a year and taught in the Department of Defense elementary school on base. The couple returned to the United States in 1973 and settled in Virginia, where she began an 18-year career of middle school teaching. During that time, she earned a master’s in secondary administration and supervision and soon accepted a position as a middle school assistant principal and finished out the remaining 12 years of her career. 

The couple wanted to do something that will impact future generations and hopefully make the world a better place because they were once in it, she said. They have also been impressed with the expansion of programs and facilities at Fairmont over the years. 

“Bill and I both grew up as the oldest child in small-town families with financial challenges and would have been unable to go to college without assistance from loans and scholarships,” she said.  “Those small towns have not survived well, but because we had good educations, we were able to find employment and opportunities in other locations. We feel very blessed, and fortunate, that we were able to do so and want others to have the same opportunities.”  

Poole’s gift was made through the Fairmont State Foundation Inc., the non-profit organization that solicits and administers private donations on behalf of the Fairmont State University.

The Fairmont State University School of Nursing has received $100,000 from grants and private funders to support the purchase of an advanced pediatric patient simulator that will provide its students with enhanced learning opportunities and realistic real-world experiences.  

“In the acute care clinical environment we are not able to guarantee that all students can participate in the care of pediatric patients. Many times, if at all, students are frequently placed in the role of an observer,” said Laura Clayton, associate dean of the School of Nursing. “The use of simulated learning experiences will allow the students to assume the role of a registered nurse caring for pediatric clients, including those who are acutely ill.”

The Maier Foundation, Inc, through a $50,000 grant, along with the Carl DelSignore Foundation, through a $25,000 grant, and an individual anonymous funder provided the $100,000 needed to purchase the simulator.

“Our current pediatric simulator is over nine years old and provides limited learning opportunities for our students,” Clayton said.  “At the time of its purchase, it was considered the state of the art; however, simulation manikins have progressed in the last couple of years.”

The pediatric simulator will be purchased after the new year and will be available for students by late spring. 

“Fairmont State prides itself on the depth of experiential learning opportunities we offer,” said Fairmont State University President Mirta M. Martin. “The hands-on experience our nursing students will get by virtue of this generous gift will not only make them stronger, more well-prepared health care professionals, but it will also help set them apart from other job candidates upon graduation.”

The primary focus of the Maier Foundation, Inc. is on the furtherance of higher education in West Virginia and on the higher education of West Virginia residents attending colleges and universities elsewhere. In addition, the Foundation makes educationally-related distributions to cultural and other organizations in the Kanawha Valley.

“Our hope is that these funds will assist the School of Nursing as it upgrades its simulation laboratory to provide an enhanced learning experience for the students,” said Brad M. Rowe, president of the foundation.

The Carl Del Signore Foundation was created after the passing of Carl Del Signore in 1985. Del Signore was the son of Italian immigrants and hailed from Tucker County. He quit school in the tenth grade, fought in World War II on the USS Harder and later formed the Buffalo Coal Company, as well as many other companies. 

“We are glad to be a partner with the School of Nursing in providing the best educational experience for their students,” said James L. Crickard, treasurer of the foundation.
The ASN program was established at Fairmont State University in 1964 and a RN-to-BSN program was added in 1989 and LPN-to ASN program began in 2009.  For academic year 2018-19 there were 249 ASN students in the program (178 traditional program, 38 LPN-ASN, and 33 Weekend) and 150 RN-BSN students.  

In May, Fairmont State University’s School of Nursing was ranked the No. 1 nursing school in the state by RNCareers.org, a team of nurse educators, nurse practitioners, RNs and LPNs who work to provide the information they wished to have when they started their nursing careers -- including credible nursing school rankings.

Also in May, Mon Health Medical Center signed a two-year agreement to provide $100,000 a year for two years to support new faculty positions at the assistant/associate professor rank, which will allow the university to increase the number of students taken into next year’s nursing program by eight and provide advising for nursing students. 

Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate (15%) than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). West Virginia’s average RN salary is around $58,000, nearly $15,000 more than the state’s median household income. 

“In a state where jobs that offer good wages and benefits are hard to find; where the health care industry is growing; and where an aging and unhealthy population will require more care, nursing degrees offer part of the solution,” said Julie R. Cryser, president of the Fairmont State Foundation.

The use of simulation for clinical learning activities provides students with hands-on real-world opportunities that have been shown to enhance skill development in critical thinking decision-making, delegation, prioritization, collaboration and teamwork, thus allowing students to be immersed in the full scope of practice as a registered nurse.