Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, has announced a $2 million gift from alumnus Jim Smith (’81)—the former head of Thomson Reuters and a member of the school’s board of governors—and his wife, Pam Kushmerick, to boost the school’s financial aid program.

The gift will fund the second cohort of the Marshall For All program, which helps undergraduate students finance their education by combining scholarships, grants, work opportunities, and family contributions without the need for student loans. In 2023, the couple donated $2 million to help fund the program’s inaugural cohort.

“The first 100 Marshall For All students have proven that by Marshall removing a financial barrier and providing wrap-around support services, the university’s students of greatest need are showing higher grade point averages and are being retained in college at rates higher than their peers who are not in the program,” said Marshall University chief of staff Ginny Painter. “Ultimately, this means higher graduation rates, improved economic prospects for individuals, and economic benefits for the region through a better-educated workforce.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/WV Funnyman)