Armand Coulson, a West Virginia University alumnus and World War II Navy veteran, had a desire to reciprocate the opportunities afforded to him because of his higher education. To honor his memory and wish to empower others along the path to becoming an engineer, Armand and Jaya Coulson established the Armand LeRoy Coulson Memorial Scholarship to benefit West Virginia students who wish to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
Born and raised in Morgantown, Coulson was the first in his family to attend and graduate college. He enrolled in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, previously known as the College of Engineering and School of Mines, in 1938 and graduated in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree.
"I chose to major in mechanical engineering because I believed it offered the best potential to get a job at graduation,” Coulson said when planning his estate.
Throughout his engineering career, he also studied at the University of Maryland, John Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Cornell University. Coulson had a successful 44-yearlong engineering career that primarily focused on military defense electronic technologies.
After his passing, he and his wife intended to provide financial support to other deserving West Virginia natives who had the desire to pursue an education in engineering.
“He believed in empowering those who would follow him on the time-honored path of mechanical engineering,” said Carin Horn, Coulson’s daughter.
The Armand and Jaya Coulson Survivor's Trust donated $100,000 to the WVU Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship to honor their wishes.
“Each recipient of the Armand LeRoy Coulson Memorial Scholarship is informally charged to follow his or her professional dream with the intention of serving the greatest good for all concerned,” Horn said.
The Coulson family gives this gift with deep love and respect for his memory and his desire to help local engineering students accomplish their goals.
“He has left a legacy of integrity and honor with a deep dedication to family, friends, and country. Loved by all who knew him, he was generous and always willing to help,” Horn said.