West Virginia University (WVU) has announced a $5 million gift from Steve Ballmer, owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, and his wife, Connie, in honor of late NBA legend and WVU alumnus Jerry West.

Half the gift will establish a fund in West’s name to support completion grants, which provide monetary assistance for WVU students at risk of leaving the university due to financial challenges. The remaining funds will bolster the Jerry West Scholarship, which goes to undergraduate students from West Virginia with demonstrated financial need.

“This generous gift from Steve and Connie Ballmer ensures that future generations of West Virginia University students will have the opportunity to explore their passions, discover their purpose, and achieve their own success, just as Jerry West did,” said WVU president Gordon Gee. “It not only preserves a remarkable legacy, but will also empower the next wave of leaders to chart their own paths, grounded in the values of determination, excellence, and service that West exemplified throughout his life.”

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