The Brent Lambiotte Endowed Scholarship is available to both undergraduate and graduate students at Fairmont State University who are working at least 10 hours per week while attending college.
An alumnus of Fairmont State University, Brent Lambiotte reflected on his college experience and the financial struggles he and many other students experience while attempting to juggle the cost of attending college and working to earn the money to pay for it. After a recent campus visit, Lambiotte decided to establish the Brent Lambiotte Endowed Scholarship in support of students who are working while they attend Fairmont State University.
According to an article on Fairmont State University’s website, Lambiotte was quoted as saying of his decision to offer financial assistance to working students, “The campus visit was somewhat emotional for me and brought back a lot of memories. While the tuition cost back in my day was really cheap, it was still a struggle to attend college. Most of my memories related to the jobs I had done to stay in school. I worked in three different gas stations starting the summer between my junior and senior years of high school and continuing through my college years. At that time, working in a gas station was not like working in a convenience store/gas station today. You actually pumped gas for the customers, washed cars and did mechanic work. During my visit, I thought about how I would have appreciated some financial support when I was in college. I was really impressed with the quality of the students I met during my visit. I realized that some students are struggling with finances while attending school and hope I can help some who are in that situation.”
Lambiotte attended Fairmont State University and received his degree in Education with a focus on Industrial Arts. Throughout his career, he has taught high school and college classes, worked in the automotive industry, and has been an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business. He also earned his MBA from The Ohio State University.
Mike Davis, the president of Fairmont State University, shared his thoughts on Lambiotte’s generosity, saying, “Brent Lambiotte’s generous gift to Fairmont State students will provide crucial financial assistance to those balancing work and studies. With financial strain being a major concern for students, this scholarship, coupled with affordable tuition, can significantly impact their ability to focus on their education. More than half of the students attending college in the United States rely on gifts such as this, so we are especially grateful to Brent for establishing this impactful scholarship.”
Timothy Liebrecht, who serves as the Director of Development and Corporate Relations at the Fairmont State Foundation, echoed these sentiments and shared, “Having the opportunity to reconnect alumni like Brent with current students is immensely rewarding. In his visit, Brent afforded students the opportunity to ask him questions as he shared life lessons and career insights with them. This type of engagement impacts students’ futures by giving them access to unique perspectives and practical advice. We are incredibly grateful for his time on campus and his decision to make this financial investment in Fairmont State students. Brent is a perfect example of how one individual can make a truly life-changing impact.”
For more information about Fairmont State University, visit the school’s website.