West Virginia University (WVU) has announced a gift of $20 million over 10 years from longtime supporters Ken and Randy Kendrick in support of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics.

Made through the WVU Foundation, the gift will be effectively matched in repurposed funds, in-kind support, and new investments to help transform economics education through innovative programs for high school students and educators statewide via the Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy. The center will build on three existing initiatives: the Kendrick Educators in Economics Program, which will increase capacity and outreach in youth economic education by investing in West Virginia teachers; Economics 201, Principles of Microeconomics, which will be expanded for high school students to increase economic and financial literacy, encourage those interested in higher education to broaden their studies, and help retain and invest in homegrown talent; and the Kendrick Fellows Program, which will recruit high-achieving high school seniors to WVU, engage them in the center’s courses and activities, and incentivize them to stay in West Virginia after graduation.

Kendrick earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at WVU in 1965 and now is managing general partner and principal owner of Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. A longtime board member of the WVU Foundation, he previously established programs at the business school focused on free enterprise, funded children’s vision outreach programs at the WVU Eye Institute, and supported facilities and programs designed to benefit WVU student-athletes, including the WVU Hall of Traditions.

“On behalf of the WVU Foundation team, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Ken and Randy Kendrick for their continued partnership,” said WVU Foundation president and CEO Cindi Roth. “Their incredible history of support for WVU reflects their passion to see the Mountain State grow. This latest gift will build upon their incredible legacy by launching impactful programs to benefit West Virginia’s economy for generations.”

(Photo credit: WVU, used with permission)