A gift from Noel S. Yoho establishes an endowment that provides financial support to a student within the College’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
The West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is expanding scholarship opportunities thanks to an alum’s $230,000 gift.
The gift from Noel S. Yoho establishes the Yoho Forestry Advancement Award and Covenant, an endowment that provides financial support for one student annually within the College’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Recipients must be rising seniors who demonstrate a passion for the industry and have taken on leadership roles in forest-related organizations, clubs or community projects to showcase their ability to lead and inspire others in the field.
“This is a wonderful gift that will help our students over the years,” Gregory Dahle, professor of arboriculture and urban forestry, said. “Mr. Yoho’s dedication to the WVU forestry students will help develop the future leaders in our forestry and natural resources profession.”
Yoho, a native of Moundsville, West Virginia, graduated from WVU in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and forestry. He eventually went on to get his master’s degree in forest ecology at the University of Tennessee.
After graduating, Yoho served in the U.S. Army and got a job with International Paper Company. He later moved around to different states, where he was in charge of wildlife and recreation, became a chief ecologist and eventually started a consulting firm. He is now retired and resides in Daphne, Ala.
Yoho recognizes the importance of financial assistance. While he was in school, he received funding from the Army, had a job and received a scholarship to pursue further education. If it was not for the support he received, he is unsure if he would have ever gone on to graduate school.
As Yoho sought to give back to WVU in appreciation of the valuable education and career experiences he’s had, he decided to leave a gift to the University with the hope that the recipient of his award would follow his example. His gift includes a “pay it forward” clause, which encourages recipients to contribute to advance the field of natural resources management when they’re able to do so.
Yoho believes it’s important to give back, and he wants to nurture that same giving spirit among the recipients.
“I had a storybook career, did some pretty meaningful things and just loved what I did,” Yoho said. “WVU’s forestry school gave me both the quality and depth of education, as well as the commitment to the natural resource management, that fostered my career. This gift is going to give me a lot more than the University. I’m delighted to give it back.”
Yoho’s gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.