Doctoral students within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of History at West Virginia University are benefiting from a $30,000 gift made by distinguished history alumnus Greg Monahan, of Portland, Ore.
The gift will fund the Greg Monahan Travel Award for European History, a scholarship that will offset the travel expenses of students traveling to Europe to complete research on topics of European history.
Elizabeth Fones-Wolf, chair of the Eberly College’s Department of History, said she is “deeply grateful” to Monahan for establishing the scholarship.
“Professor Monahan, a specialist in French history, is aware that it is crucial for students studying European history to conduct dissertation research in Europe, and his generosity will enhance the success of many future students,” Fones-Wolf said.
Monahan’s donation creates a lasting legacy that eases the financial burden for high-achieving students who need to take their research abroad. For almost three decades, Monahan taught history at Eastern Oregon University. Now his lifelong achievements and devotion to higher education will have a longstanding impact at two institutions.
“None of this would have been possible without that marvelous group of people in Morgantown,” Monahan said. “It is a department—and a University—I shall always hold dear to my heart. This gift is an utterly inadequate way of saying thanks.”
Amanda Dymacek, associate director of development, said support for graduate education is perfectly timed as the Eberly College works through its 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future to enrich graduate student learning and increase graduate student enrollment.
“This gift will support a student whose research will increase the prestige of the Department and College, in both America and Europe,” she said.
The contribution was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $750 million comprehensive campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2015.
For further information on the comprehensive campaign, please visit http://www.astateofminds.com or http://www.eberly.wvu.edu
For more information, contact Amanda Dymacek, at 304-293-9251 or Amanda.Dymacek@mail.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
hh/7/23/13
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