The Gold and Blue Travelers have made a $50,000 gift to the West Virginia University Foundation to create a scholarship in honor of Bill Sites, special projects assistant in the WVU Presidents Office.

The Gold and Blue Travelers are a group of individuals who have given of their time and financial resources to support the University. In his position, part of Sitesduties include assisting President and Mrs. David C. Hardesty Jr. in hosting the Travelers on their various trips. Each trip is designed to offer them a unique experience and learn about WVU programs, opportunities and partnerships around the world.

For Sitescommitment to the group, the Travelers have funded the award, based the criteria on his wishes and named the scholarship in his honor. A 1965 graduate of Moorefield High School, Sites has used this opportunity as a way to give back to his alma mater.

The William R. Sites Scholarship will provide for an incoming WVU freshman who is a graduate of Moorefield High School or its successor. A student who demonstrates financial need and academic promise, by maintaining a 3.0 GPA , will be recommended annually to the WVU Financial Aid Office by the scholarship committee and principal of Moorefield High School. If no students qualify for the award in any given year, the income will be held so that two students may be awarded the scholarship the following year.

Over the past eight trips, I have been fortunate enough to travel with (the Gold and Blue Travelers) and have been able to be of some assistance to many of them,Sites said.At the closing meal of the last trip, Jerry Blaney, announced the creation of an endowed scholarship to be set up in my name as a way of thanking me for my efforts on behalf of the Gold and Blue Travelers and the University.

Nearly 35 individuals accompanied the group on its first trip and over 80 people have traveled on at least one of the trips. Sites has served as a host on each trip. The group has made eight trips to more than 20 countries on five continents.

It has been my great good fortune to have met, traveled with, and become friends with, many of the University’s most generous supporters and friends,added Sites of his experiences.

Following graduation from Fairmont State College in 1969, Sites went back to Moorefield High and taught chemistry and general science until 1974. He has been employed at WVU since 1990.

The WVU Foundation is an independent 501�(3) corporation chartered in 1954 to generate, administer, invest and disburse contributed funds and properties in support of West Virginia University and its non-profit affiliates.