A retired Vienna, WV airline mechanic who never went to college has contributed the largest gift in the history of West Virginia University at Parkersburg and the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation, Inc.

Lloyd Vandale, who passed away in late 2000, left $950,000 to the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation in his will. Vandale’s bequest has established the Lloyd Vandale Scholarship Fund with the Foundation. This fund will provide scholarships each year to deserving students at WVU at Parkersburg.

"This extraordinary gift represents an important landmark in the college's development," said Joseph Badgley, WVU Parkersburg interim president. "It will enable future students the opportunity to pursue their dreams. This gift reflects a lasting legacy by Mr. Vandale to the importance of a college education."

WVU at Parkersburg is a regional campus of West Virginia University and one of 16 institutions of higher education operated by the state of West Virginia.

"This is a major milestone in the history of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation, Inc and WVU at Parkersburg. The Foundation is extremely grateful for Lloyd Vandale’s incredible generosity to our WVU at Parkersburg community," stated Paul D. Daugherty, WVU at Parkersburg Foundation executive director.

C. Randall Law, WVU at Parkersburg Foundation board president, also commented on the impact of the gift. "Mr. Vandale’s gift to our Foundation speaks highly of the remarkable programs of the college and the contribution WVU at Parkersburg is making in the Mid-Ohio Valley and West Virginia."

The Foundation was established with a gift of $3,000 in 1971 and now maintains over $6 million in assets. Daugherty added, "Mr. Vandale’s gift joins the more than 60 endowment funds of the Foundation that serve WVU at Parkersburg. The Foundation is greatly honored to serve as the steward of Mr. Vandale’s legacy."

The WVU at Parkersburg Foundation was established in 1971 as a private, non-profit organization to promote, encourage, and assist in the development and growth of WVU at Parkersburg, formerly Parkersburg Community College.