Marshall University Foundation
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Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
Weisbergs donating $2.5 million to Marshall University; gift will support Division of Engineering and Computer Science
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Arthur and Joan Weisberg, founders of State Electric Supply Co., Arthur’s Enterprises and Service Wire Co. in Huntington, are contributing $2.5 million to Marshall University to support the Division of Engineering and Computer Science in the College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE), President Stephen J. Kopp announced today. Kopp said the Marshall University Foundation, Inc. will receive the entire amount of the gift within five years.
The gift was announced during a news conference in the Drinko Library on Marshall’s Huntington campus. Kopp also announced that the Arthur and Joan Weisberg Division of Engineering and Computer Science is being named in honor of the couple not only for today’s gift, but for their many years of supporting the university.
“Art and Joan Weisberg have been wonderful supporters of Marshall University for years,” Kopp said. “They have impacted the university in many ways, including establishment of the Arthur and Joan Meyer Weisberg Chair in Software Engineering 15 years ago. Today’s most generous gift will enhance the Division of Engineering and Computer Science, and benefit engineering students for generations to come. We are very thankful for their tremendous support.”
Art Weisberg said the reason for the gift to Marshall is simple. As the need for engineers grows, so does the importance of educating them locally. Marshall, he said, is the logical place for students to go for that education.
“Ten years ago we didn’t have any engineers working for us (at State Electric),” Weisberg said. “We have eight now, and they are very valuable. None of them went to Marshall. To keep bringing people in is very difficult. We have local talent here, we can’t sell ourselves short. Unless we have engineers (in Huntington), the standard of living is going to drop. Engineering is where we are going to have to fight.”
Art Weisberg describes Marshall as “an asset to the community. If we are going to keep up in the future, we have to be technologically smart,” he said. “Marshall is the vehicle we are going to use.”
Read the entire press release at: www.marshall.edu/ucomm/release/2006/pr052006.htm