WVU Foundation honors President and Mrs. Hardesty
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“These endowments will be a permanent and meaningful recognition of the outstanding service of David Hardesty to the University, Foundation and the State and of Susan Hardesty as the founder and national chair of the Parents Club and First Lady of WVU,” said David Hamstead, chairman of the board and interim president and chief executive officer of the WVU Foundation. The Festival of Ideas was founded by President Hardesty during his undergraduate years at WVU in the late1960s and was revived in 1996 after he became president. Each year, the lecture series brings key figures from the fields of sports, politics, business, research, entertainment, scholarship, and culture to the University. The endowed fund will help to underwrite the costs associated with bringing preeminent thinkers and speakers to campus, which can range from $20,000-$60,000 per speaker. Mr. Hardesty has said that his founding of the original version was one of his more meaningful dreams realized. He revived the series with the hope that “when (you) attend Festival of Ideas presentations each spring at WVU, (you) will be reminded that an undergraduate can leave a lasting mark on this institution and on the world, if they work hard, seize every opportunity and believe in their dreams.” The Mountaineer Parents Club, created in 1995 as one of five student life initiatives of President Hardesty, now has more than 60 local clubs and 16,000 families. “Susan has provided the commitment and leadership which has enabled the Club to achieve much success,” said Mr. Hamstead. Parents are able to stay informed about services available at the University, share ideas with other parents and help to provide a supportive environment for students. The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University and its non-profit affiliates. Contact: Pam Fronko Director of Publications & Information Services WVU Foundation 304-284-4056 pfronko@wvuf.org |
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