For alumnus Bob Arnott (BS Chemistry, ’63), supporting his alma mater is a team effort.
As a long-time donor and member of the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry’s visiting committee, his commitment has inspired other alumni to give back, too.
“The chemistry department has been so valuable to me and other alumni in getting our start,” Arnott said. “It is important for alumni and friends to step up if they can to give future students a chance.”
After nearly three decades of annual giving, Arnott has made a planned gift to help support the department long term.
“I’ve been an annual donor for about 30 years, and this just seemed to be a good time,” Arnott said. “My wife and I were reviewing our estate plans, and I wanted to include a gift in that. It just made sense from the standpoint that my family will be taken care of, and I can afford to give in this manner.”
His planned gift will support the Chemistry Chair’s Fund, an endowed fund with flexibility to meet the department’s greatest needs, ranging from student scholarships to research to facilities.
“The gift is not restricted. I leave it to the department’s good judgment to use in any way they can. Professor Gregory Dudley is an incredible, refreshing chairperson. Whatever the department needs is fine with me,” Arnott said. “I want students to have a better chance to go to college without incurring a lot of debt. Gifts are a chance to help them get their start without being burdened. Improved facilities is a long haul. Reaching out to people and getting modest gifts is a way to help that effort in the future.”
Without the support from a WVU scholarship, Arnott would not have afforded college when he enrolled at WVU in 1959.
“WVU gave me my chance and set me on the right course to achieve any success I’ve had. I learned to think and be more logical. That’s probably the best thing I got out of my time at WVU – the experience of learning how to think,” Arnott said. “It was just a great experience with outstanding professors and classmates. I have such a positive memory of my time at WVU.”
Arnott has observed how the laboratory environment and technology has changed drastically over the years. He is working toward continued modernization and improvements as a member of the visiting committee’s facilities subgroup.
“We had very little instrumentation in those days. Today there is just an incredible amount of new and great instrumentation and technology,” Arnott said. “I remember taking a computer science course. The University’s computer probably didn’t have the power of my iPhone today. Everything was a punch card. We’ve just seen phenomenal change.”
Arnott aspires to continue encouraging other alumni and friends to find their own ways to give back, too.
“As we continue to see, funding from state and other public sources is going to be difficult in the next several years,” Arnott said. “I want to emphasize the importance of alumni and friends in supporting the University especially at this time.”
Interested in exploring ways you might make a long-term impact through your giving? Contact Pat at pat.moline@mail.wvu.edu or Amanda at amanda.wood1@mail.wvu.edu.