Donald L. “Don” Blankenship, a 1972 Marshall University graduate, has generously committed $300,000 over a three-year period for scholarships at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
Blankenship made the pledge in honor of his mother, Nancy Marie McCoy, who passed away in 1995. The first $100,000 gift was received in early September.
“The demographics of southern West Virginia mean that there will be a continuing and increasing need for high quality local doctors,” Blankenship said. “I am fortunate to be able to contribute in a small way toward fulfilling this need, while at the same time honoring my mother’s memory, helping my alma mater, and helping these gifted students to achieve their dreams of becoming doctors.”
Ten second-year medical students who meet the financial scholarship requirements and exhibit high academic achievement will each receive $10,000 to help defray the cost of medical school tuition. The awards will be renewed for each student annually for two years, pending satisfactory academic progress.
The students chosen to receive the awards are:
- James T. Buchanan, Jr., Chester, W.Va.
- Rudolf Burcl, Huntington, W.Va.
- John M. Davitt, Washington, D.C.
- Aaron M. Dom, Wellersburg, Pa.
- Jessica A. Layne, Milton, W.Va.
- Andrew S. Martin, Huntington, W.Va.
- Joseph V. Russo, Huntington, W.Va.
- Jonathan S. Seibert, Harrisburg, N.C.
- Stephanie L. Taylor, Cumberland, Md.
- Adam J. Van Horn, Huntington, W.Va.
“We are grateful to Mr. Blankenship for his support of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and specifically his commitment to helping our students,” said Linda Holmes, director of development and alumni affairs. “His generous gift will go a long way in assisting our students achieve their dreams.”
Don Blankenship is a recipient of Marshall University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, and he was inducted into the College of Business Hall of Fame in 1999. Additionally, he was the recipient of the West Virginia Society of CPAs’s 2002 Outstanding Member in Business and Industry award.
