wvu college of engineering and mineral resources announcement
DESCRIPTION
West Virginia University is proud to announce the naming of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources after businessman, philanthropist, and alumnus Ben Statler. The Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources stands as a testament to the tremendous generosity and support of Ben and his wife, Jo, both natives of Monongalia County, to WVU and the College.TRANSCRIPT
West Virginia University is proud to
announce the naming of the College
of Engineering and Mineral Resources
after businessman, philanthropist, and
alumnus Ben Statler. The Benjamin M.
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources stands as a testament to the
tremendous generosity and support of
Ben and his wife, Jo, both natives of
Monongalia County, to WVU and
the College.
The gift from the Statlers will transform
the College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources for generations of students
to come. It includes funds for the new
advanced engineering research building
to be built on the Evansdale campus
beginning in 2012, and the establishment
of the Statler Research Scholars program.
The endowment, when matched by the
state’s Research Trust Fund, will provide
scholarships and research support for
20-plus undergraduate students majoring
in engineering. This College-wide initiative
will provide an opportunity to reach a large
number of meritorious undergraduates,
easing their financial burden to attend
WVU and enriching their education through
research experiences.
The gift also creates and supports three
endowed faculty chairs in energy research
and funds a graduate research fellows
program. The matching dollars from the
state will be used initially for research
focused on energy.
This commitment will help the College
develop a strategic research agenda in
energy, with the initial focus on fossil
energy resources.
“This gift will transform the College for generations of students to come. We are forever grateful to the Statlers for their trust and generosity in our vision. We pledge to honor their names by providing exemplary opportunities for our students and faculty to contribute to technological advancements.” - Eugene V. Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean
A Transformational Gift
A third generation coal miner, Ben Statler earned his
bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from WVU in 1973.
While in college, Ben began his career at CONSOL Energy,
working as a laborer. For 30 years, he held various positions
with the company before starting his own mining company,
PinnOak Resources LLC. He served as its president and
chief executive officer until its sale in 2007. Currently, Ben
is co-founder and CEO of Gulf Coast Capital Partners, a
private investment firm founded in 2008 that is focused on
acquiring and providing capital to middle market companies
in special situations.
Ben has served on the advisory committee for WVU’s
Department of Mining Engineering and was named to the
Board of Directors of the WVU Foundation in August 2008.
Jo Statler, who worked for WVU’s School of Dentistry,
has been a strong supporter of her community and our
University. She helped launch Bonnie’s Bus, which provides
digital mammography services to women in remote areas of
West Virginia. The bus is named after Jo’s mother, Bonnie
Wells Wilson, who died of breast cancer.
The Statlers have received numerous honors from WVU,
including Most Loyal West Virginians, the WVU Foundation’s
Outstanding Philanthropist Award, and the Milan Puskar
Award. In 2009, they received honorary doctorates from
WVU during its commencement ceremonies.
The Statlers currently reside in McMurray, Pa., and Naples,
Fla. They are the parents of two children, Julie and Ben II,
and the grandparents of three grandsons.
Our Benefactors
“This is an extraordinary gift from extraordinary people. Ben and Jo Statler’s ties to WVU go back to their childhoods when they met in 4-H and through their many gifts those ties will go on forever. From healthcare, to athletics, to academics, the Statler’s have been extremely generous in helping WVU help others. The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is already outstanding on many fronts and this gift will truly take the College to the next level and benefit the students, faculty, and staff in countless ways. On behalf of a very grateful University community, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Ben and Jo Statler for their incredible support of excellence in our academic mission.”- James P. Clements, WVU President
A Lifetime of Support
In 2008, the Statlers pledged $25 million to WVU, which was the largest gift
in the University’s history. A portion of that gift, coupled with an additional
commitment, will be dedicated to the newly named Benjamin M. Statler
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Eleven million dollars of the
donation will be matched by the state of West Virginia’s Research Trust Fund,
making the total value of the naming gift $45 million. The direct impact of
their lifetime of support to WVU is nearly $60 million.
In addition to their support of WVU, the Statlers have been supportive of
many community needs including the building of Statler Wilson Gymnasium
at their high school alma mater, Clay Battelle, as well as the renovation of the
Metropolitan Theatre.
“We are very grateful to Ben and Jo for their continued generosity and commitment to WVU. The impact of this transformational gift will be experienced by students and faculty now and for many years to come. From scholarships, to advances in research, to improved facilities, the benefits from this donation will be far reaching.” - Wayne King, WVU Foundation President and CEO