Freshwater Family Foundation supports WVU Statler College student collaboration space

The philanthropy of the Freshwater Family Foundation will enhance the Statler experience for engineering students like WVU Ruby Fellow Christopher Anderson.

A generous gift to the West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources will enhance on-campus learning opportunities for students in the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Story by WVU Foundation
Photos by WVU Foundation

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The Freshwater Family Foundation’s gift will establish a dedicated student lounge area at the Engineering Sciences Building on the WVU Evansdale Campus. The Freshwater Family Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Collaboration Space and Lounge will serve as a study room, project space, student organization meeting location and a showcase room to host prospective students and their parents. 

The Freshwater Family Foundation, based in Spencer, was developed by entrepreneurs David and Scott Freshwater. The father and son wanted to give back to others by “providing opportunities to those with ‘grit’ and that take risks to better themselves and their communities.”

“Our students fit the description,” Lian Shin-Lin, civil and environmental engineering department chair and professor said. “They are intelligent, hardworking and active in leading engineering projects and activities through WVU chapters of professional societies. Statler College civil and environmental engineers make a difference by planning, designing, building and maintaining ever-efficient and resilient infrastructure for a sustainable future. The new student lounge will be a great place for learning and fostering innovation. We are grateful for Freshwater Family Foundation’s support in making our graduates highly recruited and successful.” 

David Freshwater founded his first oil and gas well service company in 1970. David and Scott later co-founded ConServ, a gas pipeline infrastructure contractor; Reserve Oil & Gas, an exploration and production company; and have since acquired and expanded their interests into several other related companies both outside and within the oil and gas industry, including gathering pipelines and a gas marketing entity. 

Scott Freshwater is a two-time WVU civil engineering graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1994 and a master’s degree in 1997. Derek, Scott’s son, is a senior in the civil and environmental engineering program.

“During my years at WVU, I spent many days and evenings in the sixth-floor lounge for civil and environmental engineering students, preparing for tests, talking about the day’s activities and working on projects,” Scott Freshwater said. “When I asked my son, Derek, if there was such a workspace today, I learned no such collaborative area existed and felt that something needed to be done to rectify the situation.”

The gift supports comprehensive renovation, from demolition of the current space to new technology, equipment and other needs required to transform it into a state-of-the-art student lounge and collaborative space. 

“If we can make the road to success a bit easier for Mountaineers aspiring to make a difference, we should,” Scott said. “And, as with most industries, meaningful connections and relationships in civil and environmental engineering foster the most successful results. It is exciting to think about how WVU students will use the space our gift supports to connect, communicate and collaborate throughout their studies.”

The Freshwater Family Foundation’s philanthropy is dedicated to projects affecting the health and economic vitality of people and communities in West Virginia.

“The ability to provide these funds to support future engineers is a result of the hard labor of many blue-collar workers throughout the decades,” Scott said. “The Freshwater Family Foundation wants to aid those who strive to be hard workers, be that skilled laborers or professional engineers entering the workforce.”

In addition to their latest gift to the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Freshwaters have made previous gifts to the WVU Alumni Association, WVU Cancer Institute, athletics and Statler College scholarships.

All gifts are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.

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