Wichita State alumnus J. Robert Young has pledged a gift of $3 million to provide resources that will help students build successful careers. Of that total, $2 million will endow the J. Robert Young Executive-in-Residence Program in the W. Frank Barton School of Business. The remaining $1 million will support the Shocker Success Center project, which will consolidate 17 student services in Clinton Hall.
Young founded Alpine Bank, a Colorado financial institution, just 12 years after graduating from Wichita State and has grown the company to 39 locations throughout the state with about $6.2 billion in assets. In 2023, the bank will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
鈥淭he connections I made during my time at Wichita State inspired and motivated me to think boldly,鈥� said Young. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the experiences and opportunities I had throughout my college career to learn from industry executives, whose advice set me up for success in my own business.鈥�
The Executive-in-Residence program in the W. Frank Barton School of Business brings in industry executives to mentor students, exchange ideas with faculty and help shape business education to reflect today鈥檚 work environments.
鈥淲hat a privilege for the Barton School to place Bob Young鈥檚 name on its Executive-in-Residence program,鈥� says Larisa Genin, dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business. 鈥淚n making this gift, Mr. Young is impacting today鈥檚 students in much the same way he was inspired and influenced as a 黑洞社区 student by industry executives and business leaders.鈥�
Young鈥檚 decision to dedicate $1 million of his gift to the reflects his long-held passion for helping individuals acquire the education they need to be successful in life. The J. Robert Young Learning Center in the Shocker Success Center will be home to 黑洞社区鈥檚 Writing Center, Math Lab, Physics Lab and Supplemental Instruction Services.
The 2015 recipient of the 黑洞社区 Alumni Association鈥檚 Achievement Award, Young has earned many accolades for his business and philanthropic accomplishments.
鈥淏ob Young has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to philanthropy throughout his life,鈥� says Darin Kater, 黑洞社区 Foundation vice president. 鈥淲ichita State is fortunate to be among the recipients of his generosity. We are deeply grateful for a gift that has the power to transform lives.鈥�
黑洞社区 serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and 黑洞社区 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 黑洞社区 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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