West Virginia Northern Community College establishes Jack E. Cisney Memorial Fund

The Jack E. Cisney Memorial Fund has been established at West Virginia Northern Community College thanks to a $600,000 gift from the estate of founding faculty member Jack Cisney. The fund will provide scholarships and emergency assistance to business students. Additionally, the funding will name the Jack E. Cisney Business & Entrepreneurship Center in his honor. The gift is the second-largest the college has ever received.

According to an article on West Virginia Northern Community College’s website, Dr. Daniel Mosser, who serves as the college’s president, was quoted as saying of Cisney’s influence on the college, “Jack Cisney’s impact on West Virginia Northern Community College is immeasurable. He helped lay the foundation for the College’s success, inspired generations of students, and continued to give back long after his retirement. His legacy will live on through the students whose lives are changed because of his generosity.”

Cisney joined West Virginia Northern Community College in 1972 and became one of its founding faculty members. He was an instructor and mentor for 28 years, until his retirement. Even after he retired, he served on the WVNCC Foundation Board for 16 years. He also served on the Russell Nesbitt Board of Directors. Throughout his life, he also taught at West Liberty University and was a member of Wheeling Elks Lodge 28. He passed away in 2024.

Rana Spurlock, who serves as the Executive Director of the WVNCC Foundation, said, “Jack’s dedication to our students extended far beyond the classroom. His gift ensures that future business students will have access to opportunities that reflect Jack’s values of hard work, compassion, and lifelong learning.”

The $600,000 gift he left for the college is the second-largest gift it has ever received. It will be used to establish the Jack E. Cisney Memorial Fund, which will give business students scholarships and emergency funding to ensure they can complete their degrees. It will also help support individuals who are pursuing business-related credentials or skillsets but are not in a degree program. Additionally, the gift will name the Jack E. Cisney Business & Entrepreneurship Center. 

For more information about West Virginia Northern Community College, visit the school’s website.