(The following story by Emily Spurlock appeared on The Parthenon website on February 19.)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — CSX Corporation gave Marshall University $20,000 to go toward the Nick J. Rahall, II, Transportation Institute and the College of Information Technology and Engineering.
The check was presented in Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp’s office Friday afternoon.
The Rahall Transportation Institute was given half of the money to further its research. CSX’s Regional Vice President of Public Affairs, Randy Cheetham, accepted the money on the Institute’s behalf.
“CSX’s contributions to the Rahall Transportation Institute and the new engineering school at Marshall recognize our long-standing relationship with the university and the important role it plays in Huntington, where so many of our employees live and work,” Cheetham said, according to a news release from Marshall University. “RTI’s research continues to be a vital resource for the railroad industry, strengthening its ability to support the American economy. And we look forward to the day when Marshall University School of Engineering graduates come to work for CSX.”
The other $10,000 will go to fund a scholarship for the College of Information Technology and Engineering, specifically to the construction of the new lab facility on Third Avenue, according to Sara Mullen, the director of development for the College of Information Technology and Engineering.
Mullen was in President Kopp’s office Friday to accept the money for the College of Information Technology and Engineering.
“The support from business leaders in the community is significant in terms of their workforce,” Mullen said. “A lot of our students want to stay local and want to stay in this area so it is imperative that were able to educate and support graduates who then can move on to work for a company like CSX in the future. (CSX is) looking at it from a standpoint of workforce development. We’re looking at it from student education and together we’re building a community. We’re doing this by investing in one another and providing them with a solid graduate workforce and on the other hand they are able to assist us with developing and supporting these programs.”
The Interim Dean of the College of Information Technology and Engineering, Tony Szwilski, said he was pleased with CSX’s donation.
“The CSX scholarship is a significant investment in our engineering students,” Szwilski said, according to the news release. “In addition, CSX is helping to support the engineering program’s growth and success.
Robert Plymale, director of the Rahall Transportation Institute, was appreciative of the continuous support that CSX has provided, according to the news release.
“We appreciate CSX’s ongoing financial and technical support for our research,” Plymale said. “It is an important partnership for us.”