A new scholarship honoring the memory of lifetime Fairmont residents James V. and Ruth D. Pallotta will be available for Marion, Monongalia or Preston County students attending Fairmont State University.

The Pallotta family has contributed funds to establish an endowed scholarship for students who have a 3.0 grade point average with first preference for students majoring in nursing, engineering, business or education. Students must be full-time status to receive this award. The scholarship is renewable provided students maintain a 3.0 during their time at Fairmont State.

The Pallotta Family Scholarship in Memory of James V. & Ruth Pallotta was established by the family’s children, J. Christopher Pallotta; Susan D. Pallotta; Mark D. Pallotta; and John Jay Pallotta.

“Words alone can’t express the enormity of my gratitude to this family,” President Mirta M. Martin said. “By honoring the memory of family through their generous giving, they will impact the lives of current and future Falcons. Support like this enables Fairmont State University to continue to provide an exceptional, affordable education to deserving, hard-working students.”

Chris Pallotta studied business administration and economics at Fairmont State and graduated in 1971. While at Fairmont State, he served on student government and the TBI Fraternity. Chris is a Bond Insurance Agency agent and an organizer/director of MVB Financial Corp. He said that he and his family have great pride in Fairmont State and want it to succeed and thrive.

“It’s a major part of the Fairmont and Marion County Community,” he said. “We hope this scholarship makes a meaningful mark on some talented student and will help them excel in their selected field and make a difference in this community and great country.”

Chris’s wife, Bobo, and both of their children also attended Fairmont State.

Chris said he uses the skills and education he received at Fairmont State every day and has a great passion for the university. He has served on the Fairmont State Athletic Association Board, raising money for athletic scholarships, for more than 30 years and has been a basketball season ticketholder since 1975.

Chris said his family chose nursing, engineering, business and education departments to support because those professions make a major impact in our community health, economy, and student population.

Mark D. Pallotta, graduated from Fairmont State in 1976 with a degree in business administration. Mark is also employed at Bond Insurance Agency as an insurance agent. Mark served on the Fairmont State Board of Governors from 2008-2015 and as the board president in 2014-15. He has great passion for the university, its purpose and vision as evidenced by his commitment to serve for those eight years. Mark’s wife LuAnne also has a degree from Fairmont State in interior design.

Susan D. Pallotta, graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in dental hygiene in 1974. She practiced dental hygiene for several years before retiring to Lake Floyd in Harrison County. She now enjoys swimming, biking and hiking all over the world.

John Jay Pallotta, who graduated from business administration in 1981 and also works in insurance sales at Bond, said he wants to help support the next generation who are eager to better themselves and their communities through higher education.

“I hope this scholarship will allow us to fund the education and achievement of students who will likely give back to the institution,” he said. “I felt Fairmont State University provided me the academic resources to understand the business environment I would be placed into, and the school’s social atmosphere better enabled me when dealing with others.”

Chris, Mark, Susan and Jay said they hope this gift also serves as a way to attract more applicants from the Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties, boosting Fairmont State’s enrollment.

This gift was made through the Fairmont State Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of Fairmont State University.