WVU Tech launches Golden Scholars program with $1.8M gift
A $1.8 million gift from Larry and Lisa Pack funds a new scholarship at WVU Tech. The Golden Scholars program will cover all remaining costs for 13 students annually from 13 southern West Virginia counties, starting Fall 2027.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology has launched a new scholarship program funded by a $1.8 million personal gift. The WVU Tech Golden Scholars program will cover outstanding education costs for high-achieving students from southern West Virginia, the university announced on September 15.
The program is made possible by a donation from Larry and Lisa Pack of Charleston. Larry Pack is a WVU Tech accounting graduate and the current West Virginia State Treasurer. The couple joined university and state officials at the WVU Tech Library to announce the gift.
"We are deeply grateful to Larry and Lisa Pack for their generosity and their vision," said WVU Tech President T. Ramon Stuart. He stated the gift is an investment in the region's future that will open doors for generations.
Program Details and Eligibility
The Golden Scholars program will accept 13 students each year, beginning with the Fall 2027 semester. It covers any remaining costs for tuition, room, board, and meal plans after other scholarships and financial aid are applied. The award supports students for four consecutive years.
Eligibility is restricted to students from 13 specific southern West Virginia counties. Participants can be enrolled in any bachelor's degree program offered at WVU Tech.
Focus on Leadership and Service
University officials describe the program as designed to encourage college access, scholarship, and servant leadership. It includes cohort-based programming and a leadership development curriculum rooted in service principles.
President Stuart emphasized the program's potential impact. "The Golden Scholars program will change the trajectory of so many talented students right here in southern West Virginia," he said. He noted that financial barriers often hinder the region's brightest young people, and this program aims to remove that obstacle.
The program's design reflects the Pack family's commitment to leadership and service. Both Larry and Lisa Pack are natives of eastern Kanawha County and graduates of East Bank High School. In recognition of their generosity, the first seven cohorts of scholars-totaling 52 students-will be designated as Pack Fellows.
Donors' Motivation and Background
Larry and Lisa Pack explained their motivation for the gift. "We've experienced firsthand how education opens doors and changes the direction of a person's future," they said. They expressed a desire to invest in southern West Virginia students, providing them opportunities to pursue education, develop as leaders, and make a difference in their communities.
The couple's personal history informs their philanthropy. After earning accounting degrees, they worked for a local CPA firm before founding their own. Larry Pack later founded Stonerise Healthcare. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates and as Secretary of Revenue before being elected State Treasurer in 2024.
Lisa Pack, a University of Charleston graduate and current member of its Board of Trustees, received scholarships to afford her own education. Several of their six children also benefited from scholarship support.
"Scholarships do more than make a college education possible, they expand a student's potential and give them the confidence to pursue their dreams and their God-given gifts," the Packs stated. They feel blessed to give back and believe their support will create more opportunities.
The gift was processed through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit that administers private donations for the university. The first group of Golden Scholars will be selected for the Fall 2027 academic semester.
