West Virginia University’s school of engineering and mineral resources will be renamed in honor of an alumnus who recently pledged $34 million to the college. A portion of the pledge comes from a previously-announced commitment. The college will be called the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. The donation is the largest single gift commitment to any college at the university. In addition, $11 million of the donation will qualify for a match from the West Virginia Research Trust Initiative, popularly known as Bucks for Brains, making the total value of the gift $45 million. Ben Statler and his wife Jo are both natives of Monongalia County. The Statlers have supported numerous WVU initiatives including the comprehensive breast cancer program at WVU’s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.
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