Ruey Yuan Lin sits at old Mountaineer Field in 1958, during his time as a graduate student at WVU. His son, Raymond, is celebrating the University’s impact with a generous gift to benefit scholarships, chemistry education, outreach programs and more. (Submitted photo)
Nearly 70 years ago, West Virginia University welcomed Ruey Yuan Lin and prepared him for a successful career as a research scientist. His son is now showing his gratitude with a generous gift to aid education, outreach and life-changing experiences for future students in his father’s honor.
Raymond Lin’s gift will cover housing and dining costs for six West Virginia students annually, including two students majoring in chemistry at the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and four students in any major. Two scholarship funds, named for the elder Lin, will provide this financial support.
The gift will also benefit the Chemistry Learning Center, the WVU Extension Energy Express program and the Adventure WV Well-Being Adventure Series. The learning center facility at Clark Hall will be renamed the Ruey Yuan Lin Chemistry Learning Center.
“Through these scholarships and support for chemistry education, Raymond Lin is honoring his father’s legacy in a way that will help students succeed in their studies,” Greg Dunaway, dean of the Eberly College, said. “We are grateful for the Lin family’s generosity and applaud them for taking an active role in removing real barriers for West Virginians as they pursue their education and work towards a rewarding future.”
Ruey Yuan Lin started graduate school at WVU in 1958 and earned his doctorate in chemistry in 1961. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University at Buffalo, he worked for more than three decades as a research scientist at Carborundum Company, Stauffer Chemical, and Howmedica, a subsidiary of Pfizer.
During his career, he received 13 U.S. patents and won five prestigious “R&D 100” awards for his research.
“Almost 70 years ago, West Virginia University gave my father a shot at the American dream,” Raymond Lin said. “A fully funded education at WVU put him on a path where he emigrated from Taiwan and became a U.S. citizen, had a successful career in science, and provided me and my brother with a comfortable life in the suburbs — something that he had never known as a child growing up during wartime in China.”
Lin said the University taught his dad about more than chemistry; his experiences at WVU prepared him for a future in the United States. During his time in Morgantown, Ruey Yuan Lin made meaningful friendships, became a lifelong fan of football and basketball, and enjoyed watching “double headers” for 75 cents at the Warner Theater on High Street.
“My family is grateful for the opportunity that West Virginia University gave my father,” Raymond Lin said. “I hope this gift can help provide the same opportunity for a new generation of students.”
Lin’s gift to Adventure WV supports opportunities for WVU students to blend social connection with wellness education and mental health support. Activities include nature hikes, cycling, kayaking, art-based therapy programs and more.
"The Lin family’s support for Adventure WV will enable the high-impact programming known as the Well-being Adventure Series to continue to be offered to students at no cost,” Nathan Harlan, executive director for experiential programming and services, said. “Programs like these have been critical in addressing student loneliness, isolation and sense of belonging, all factors that contribute to mental health and wellness. We know that many of our students struggle to find and build community while at WVU.
“This includes graduate and professional students, and especially international students. Over the past several years, we've seen impactful outcomes — especially when cost isn’t a barrier for students. We are grateful to be able to continue this important work through the Lins’ generosity.”
The family’s gift is also laying the groundwork for future WVU students to excel via Energy Express. The free program aims to help elementary school students in West Virginia’s rural and low-income communities maintain and build their reading skills during the summer months, while also providing nutritious meals.
“The Lin family’s generous gift is a powerful reminder that education changes lives across generations; and through Energy Express, that opportunity will reach children across West Virginia, strengthening reading and writing skills, building resilience and confidence, and providing daily meals that nourish body and mind,” Melissa Calabrese, director of Energy Express, said. “We are so grateful for their belief in the transformative power of education and for helping ensure that young people in our rural communities can discover their own paths forward.”
When Raymond brought up the idea of a gift to WVU with his father, Ruey enthusiastically supported the idea.
“I want to express my gratitude to West Virginia University,” Ruey said. “Without the University, I would not be where I am today. They established me as a researcher in a field where I was able to contribute to society.”
Ruey, now 95, lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife, Tip. Last June, they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.
Raymond Lin is a portfolio manager at FullerThaler Asset Management, an investment firm in San Mateo, California. He lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife and two daughters.
The Lin gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University, in conjunction with Day of Giving. The 24-hour fundraising event, held March 25, raised more than $22 million through 11,202 gifts made by WVU alumni and friends.