The New River Community and Technical College Foundation has received a donation from BB&T that will help future generations of students and faculty at the college.
According to Lisa DeLilly, interim director of institutional advancement, the gift will help the college match funds from a federal grant that will establish a permanent endowment for scholarships and professional development.
“BB&T is pleased to support the good work that New River Community and Technical College does in our communities. Educational excellence is the cornerstone of economic development. In an effort to support the needs of businesses in Southern West Virginia, New River continues to expand offerings to both its traditional and non-traditional student population,” commented Debby Sizemore, market president for BB&T in Beckley.
New River received a federal Title III grant in 2008 to upgrade distance learning capabilities and train faculty on the use of new technologies for the classroom. During the final three years of the five-year grant, a portion of the grant money has been donated to the New River Foundation for an endowed fund that will support the college in perpetuity. Under the conditions of the grant, the college is required to match an increasing amount each year. In this final year of the project, New River needs to raise $115,000 for the match.
“We are confident that we will be able to raise the matching funds from supporters within our nine-county service area. Our goal is to ensure that no deserving student is turned away from New River due to financial constraints. We are very grateful to BB&T for helping us achieve that goal,” DeLilly said.
For more information, or to make a donation to help meet the match, contact DeLilly at 304-929-5485.