INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Wellpoint West Virginia has donated $100,000 to West Virginia State University (WVSU) to establish healthcare scholarships aimed at strengthening West Virginia’s rural health care workforce and expanding opportunities for students pursuing careers in the medical field.
The investment was announced during the university’s Day of Giving and Founders Day celebrations, highlighting a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of health professionals who will serve communities across the state.
“We are grateful to Wellpoint West Virginia for this transformational $100,000 investment in the future of healthcare in our state,” said Ericke Cage, president of WVSU. “This generous support will expand scholarship opportunities for our students pursuing careers in healthcare and directly strengthen the pipeline of highly trained professionals committed to serving West Virginia’s rural communities.”
The scholarship funding will support students preparing for careers in healthcare fields where workforce shortages remain a significant challenge, particularly in rural communities where access to care is often limited.
“West Virginia’s health care system depends on strong local talent and the next generation of professionals who are committed to serving their communities,” said Tadd Haynes, president of Wellpoint West Virginia. “By supporting students at WVSU who are pursuing careers in health care, we are helping strengthen the workforce that will care for families across our state for years to come.”
The contribution supports the university’s State of Tomorrow Capital Campaign, a $25 million initiative focused on enhancing academic programs, expanding campus resources, and strengthening workforce pathways for students across West Virginia.
“At WVSU, we are focused on preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders, and partnerships like this one so that talent developed here at home can stay and make a lasting difference in improving quality and outcomes across rural West Virginia,” said Trey Jones, vice president for university advancement and president of the WVSU Foundation. “Investments like these in our State of Tomorrow Capital Campaign solidify that we will meet the workforce needs of West Virginia and beyond for years to come.”
For more information about the State of Tomorrow Campaign and how to contribute visit www.wvstateu.edu/stateoftomorrow.
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About Wellpoint West Virginia, Inc.
Formerly UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc., Wellpoint West Virginia serves more than 140,000 Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries living in West Virginia. Wellpoint has served Medicaid beneficiaries in West Virginia since 2003 and WVCHIP members in 2021. For more information about Wellpoint, visit https://www.wellpoint.com/wv/medicaid.