Contact: Jack Bailey (304) 766-4109 Jbaile19@wvstateu.edu

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Officials with West Virginia State University (WVSU) and Huntington National Bank today announced a $275,000 commitment from the regional bank to fund a variety of new and existing initiatives at the university.
Portions of the funding will be used to establish a farmer’s market, develop a new public leadership program, and endow a recognition program for WVSU faculty, while other parts of the funding will go toward supporting existing university scholarships and programs.
“This commitment from Huntington is truly transformational for the university as it will allow us to launch several new programs to serve our surrounding community while at the same time provide additional support for scholarship and other program that are already serving our students,” said WVSU President Ericke S. Cage. “I want to say a personal thank you to Huntington’s West Virginia President Chad Prather for his commitment to helping make our university and our state a better place.”
Prather said he saw an opportunity to offer Huntington’s support to a great group of leaders. “West Virginia State University is poised to positively impact Charleston and the entire state,” Prather said. “The leadership team’s vision will create opportunities for both the students, alumni and the community. We are honored at Huntington to be able to contribute in a meaningful way to such an impactful organization.”
A portion of the funds will go toward the creation of a new farmer’s market to create a space for local farmers and producers to sell their fresh produce to community members and WVSU students, faculty, and staff. The new market will be located across W.Va. Route 25 from campus. A permanent open-air building with concrete floors will be constructed in the vacant lot across from Wallace Hall, allowing not only accessible space for the farmer’s market but also use for an outdoor classroom and other events when the market is not in season.
Another portion of the funds will be used to establish the West Virginia Center for Public Leadership. The purpose for the new center is multifaceted but will include providing a platform for public leaders to engage in professional development activities through conferences, professional education, and other events that are open to thepublic. The new Center for Public Leadership will also support work associated with the Certified Public Managers program, a nationally recognized certification available to public officials. WVSU has been chosen as the sole provider for the state of West Virginia to deliver the program of professional development and education, authorized by the National Certified Public Management Consortium.
Another portion of the funding from Huntington will be used to create an endowment fund to establish a WVSU Professor of the Year award. The award will honor an outstanding faculty member who embodies excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.
Funds from the commitment will also go toward supporting the Huntington Bank Expendable Scholarship program at WVSU, which was previously established. The program supports scholarships for five students annually.
Another portion of the funds will go toward supporting the Opening Soon Inc. Entrepreneurial program offered through the WVSU Economic Development Center. Opening Soon Inc. is a business and product development program for entrepreneurs, start-ups and micro-enterprises in Kanawha County, surrounding areas, and with Zoom has become world-wide.
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Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $183 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank and its affiliates provide consumers, small and middle-market businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations with a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services. Huntington operates more than 1,000 branches in 11 states, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Visit for more information.