[BEAVER, W.Va.] The New River Community and Technical College Foundation announces recipients of the inaugural philanthropy awards in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the college.
The Hollowell Dawkins Foundation received the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation Award. New River CTC Assistant Professor of Mathematics Sandra K. Lilly received the Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropist Award. Dr. Kyle and Ann Fort received the Most Outstanding Philanthropist Award.
Established to commemorate the college’s 15th anniversary, the awards will be given each year in appreciation of New River CTC Foundation donors.
“These awards are the start of a new tradition,” said New River CTC Foundation Executive Director Michael Green. “Those who have given so much of their time and resources helping others deserve acclaim for their devotion to civic and charitable causes.”
“Our scholarship program would not be possible without the generosity of local individuals and organizations who care about students’ success,” Green added.
To qualify for the Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation Award a foundation must demonstrate outstanding commitment through its financial support and engagement of others in activities that support and advance philanthropy at New River CTC. Since 1977, the Hollowell Dawkins Foundation has contributed more than $8.7 million to the Greenbrier Valley, and more than $500,000 to New River CTC Foundation in support of student scholarships. Dr. Richard “Dick” Marshall and Greg Glover, board members of the Hollowell Dawkins Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
The Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropist Award is given to an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership skills in coordinating and motivating other donors to follow their philanthropic lead for the benefit of New River CTC. They should serve as a fundraising volunteer, teacher or mentor and demonstrate exceptional commitment to the advancement of the college. New River CTC Assistant Professor of Mathematics Sandra K. Lilly was recognized for her many contributions to the Foundation, most notably for endowing the Ryan Ellison Memorial Scholarship and for her support of the Belinda Cox Memorial Scholarship. Belinda Cox was a New River CTC employee who was tragically killed in a domestic violence incident in 2017.
The Most Outstanding Philanthropist Award, the Foundation’s most prestigious award, is presented to an individual or organization with a proven record of exceptional generosity and outstanding civic and charitable responsibility. Dr. Kyle and Ann Fort led the original “Step Up to the Future” campaign that raised $2.1 million to renovate Greenbrier Hall. The couple also led the $5 million capital campaign to renovate the Kyle and Ann Fort Arts and Sciences Building on the Greenbrier Valley Campus. In addition, they have established multiple scholarships including the Benjamin Fort Teacher Scholarship, Madlyn Fort Health Sciences Scholarship, Katherine Patterson Scholarship, Robert Patterson Scholarship and the Kyle and Ann Fort Scholarships dedicated to New River CTC’s Mercer County Campus and Nicholas County Campus.
For more information about New River Community and Technical College Foundation, visit www.nrctcf.org, call 304-929-6734 or email foundation@newriver.edu.
New River Community and Technical College serves nine counties in southeastern West Virginia from the Greenbrier Valley Campus (Lewisburg), Mercer County Campus (Princeton), Nicholas County Campus (Summersville) and Raleigh County Campus (Beaver).
