On Tuesday, the West Virginia University College of Law announced that it is the recipient of $7.5 million from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust. This is the largest gift in the history of the law school, according to WVU Today. The gift will go towards the funding of a $25 million renovation and construction project that began in the fall.
“As for all of the law students and the faculty, who we have tremendous respect for, this gift is less about them, and more about the people that they will help in their lives,” said Stephen P. Farmer, a member of the McQuain Trust Board of Trustees. “As they go forward and live their legal career as a lawyer, or law-maker, judge or educator, they will work tirelessly every day and they will on a day-to-day basis improve the lives of the people they come in contact with.”
Jim Clements, the president of West Virginia University, said, “Mrs. McQuain’s gifts to the University and to the Morgantown area have changed the face of our community, and our University in immeasurable ways. Her spirit of generosity and her compassion for others lives on and inspires the projects of the Charitable Trust – projects that truly change lives. We are deeply appreciative to the leaders of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust for making this historic investment in our College of Law.”
The Thomas R. Goodwin Professor of Law and William J. Maier, Jr. Dean, Joyce McConnell, said that the gift is ‘transformative’ and it will help “launch the law school into a new era of legal education and service. It will have a direct impact on the lives of our students, on our alumni and on the state’s attorneys who continue their education at the law center. It will also have an impact on those in our state who depend on the legal services provided by our law clinics.”
The project includes 20,000 square feet of space for classrooms, the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development, and law clinics. The gift from the Hazel Ruby McQuain is part of A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. This is a fundraising program run by the WVU Foundation for the University. Its goal is to raise $750 million.
“It is difficult to put into words what the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust means to WVU and our local community,” Wayne King said. King is the president and CEO of the WVU Foundation. “Its long history of generosity toward so many different causes will be felt well beyond our years. On behalf of the WVU Foundation, we are very thankful for this wonderful gift to the College of Law and all of the contributions of the Trust and its leadership.”