A new college-wide scholarship will help West Virginia University students at the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design get important financial support.
The W. Christopher and Gina Ann Taylor Scholarship, established by St. Albans residents Chris and Gina Taylor, is a scholarship open to deserving students of any major at the Davis College. The $30,000 pledge will set up a permanent endowment that will benefit generations of Davis College students.
Chris is a two-time graduate of WVU, graduating from the Davis College in 1974 and the WVU School of Dentistry in 1979. He was a dentist and orthodontist for many years in Morgantown and Charleston. He retired earlier this year to enjoy time with his grandchildren.
The scholarship was an opportunity to give back to the college that helped launch Chris’ successful career and to say thank you to the institution.
“The Davis College was my first exposure to WVU. The education I received was excellent and allowed me to have a good professional life,” said Chris. “I just wanted to thank the college with our gift.”
Chris first came to the WVU Davis College with the expectation that he would one day become a veterinarian. Those plans quickly changed, however, from and an unexpected source that precluded him from being successful veterinarian.
“My goal when attending school at the Davis College was to go to veterinarian school, but I discovered that I was allergic to cats and horses” Chris recalled.
Chris looked to alternative programs and learned that his degree gave him the science course prerequisites to attend dental school. After a residency and a number of years of private practice, Chris completed an orthodontic residency and decided to move back to Charleston to open a new orthodontic practice in 1989.
Chris hopes that the gift will make a difference in the lives of students at the Davis College.
“I hope this gift will help the college to continue to help students like myself,” he said.
The gift creating the endowment was made through the West Virginia University Foundation, the nonprofit corporation that solicits and administers private donations for the benefit of the University
For more information on how to support WVU Davis College programs, contact Andrew S. Barnes, associate director of development for WVU Davis College.