b'A Message from theHonoring a Marshall Legend continued > Chief Executive Officer of theAlways resolute in championing for Marshall, he brought two new doctoral programs Marshall University Foundation to the curriculum, the School of Pharmacy and the School of Physical Therapy. More than $300 million in new buildings and renovations were completed under his When I think back to the first time I stepped on Marshallsleadership, such as the Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex, the Huntington campus in comparison to now, I find myselfVisual Arts Center located in Pullman Square, the Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex proudly smiling at all that we have accomplishedand the Chris Cline Indoor Athletic Facility. Additionally, external research funding doubled and a $30 million research endowment was established.together. Dreams of a School of Pharmacy and facility, the Arthur Weisberg Family Applied EngineeringThere were so many accomplishments under my husbands tenure that its hard to Complex, the Chris Cline Athletic Complex, and thepick one (as the biggest), said Mrs. Kopp. He was proud that he could bring back expansion of the campus into downtown Huntingtonthe engineering program and start the physical therapy school and the pharmacy seemed lofty, but with spectacular leadership andschool. He was also proud of the buildings and improvements. He was extremely wonderful people like you, those dreams came true. proud of the Marshall Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (MIIR). He worked hard to get that up and running because he thought it would be a very successful way to My dear, late friend, Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, was truly agrow research and development on campus and in the city of Huntington, she said, visionary. He and his wife, Jane, were friends to manyadding that she is unsure what his reaction would be to campus today, but would hope for continued growth and prosperity.and brought a vibrant energy to our community. All of the dreams that Dr. Kopp helped us fulfill laid a tremendousDuring their time as President and First Lady, the couple enjoyed interacting with groundwork for new dreams and goals to help us achievestudents through the competition they hosted annually to create the commemorative them. plate and holiday card designs. The competition grew to offer a cash prize to encourage more students to enter and became a well-respected and anticipated Together, you did not simply build the aspirations of thiscontest hosted annually.university, you built the futures of many new students. You helped us lay the groundwork for new programs andWe enjoyed deliberating over the entries and really enjoyed meeting with all of the facilities to structure a better city and region. Partnershipsstudents who won the competition, explained Mrs. Kopp. We were amazed at the were established in hopes of retaining our studentscreativity of our students, some of whom were not even art students. So much energy is given to athletics at the university level, we wanted to spotlight the arts as a way to in West Virginia after graduation and recruiting newboast about another aspect of Marshall.students to this beautiful place we call home. All of this led us to our current era of excellence. Today, the Stephen J. Kopp Memorial Endowment Fund for Achievement in the Visual Arts fund continues their passion for student artists, an effort funded posthumously The odds that the members of our incoming freshmanin his honor by many contributors, including Mrs. Kopp, who continues to support class remember our Huntington campus before thisMarshall University students through this endeavor.great spurt of growth are slim, as they were likelyI would advise todays students to work hard, have fun and attend as many university somewhere between six and eight years old. While itevents as possible because their college experience will be done before they know seems impossible that so much time has passed, it is trulyit, said Mrs. Kopp.amazing to think about the additions to our university and those to come. This fall, the School of Pharmacy will move into a new facility at the corner of Hal Greer Boulevard and Charleston Avenue, which will house research, instructional, As we look into the future, we are excited to reflect on thiscommunal and administrative areas. In honor of Dr. Kopp, the facilitys name is chapter of Marshall- a chapter where we are on the riseStephen J. Kopp Hall.and becoming recognized as a leader in many programs around the world; where we are supporting studentsMy husband was very proud of the School of Pharmacy and would be delighted and professors through scholarships and professorships;with its success. I am so very appreciative that Marshall decided to name the facility where we educate future business leaders from manyafter him, said Mrs. Kopp, though she is unsure how Dr. Kopp would feel about it. nations in the Brad D. Smith Center for Business andHe preferred to name buildings after donors who helped get the buildings built. His legacy is something we never discussed. His work was not done. I, personally, think Innovation; where we partner with our community to findhe is very deserving of the honor and Ill cherish it for the rest of my life.solid solutions to the problems we face. We are thankful for your continued support and encouragement to makeResiding in Elkhart, Indiana, Mrs. Kopp cares for her 96 year-old mother and actively Marshall University the best it can be for our students. volunteers at a local hospital in the breast care center. She is active in her church and enjoys getting together with her brothers families. She gardens, reads for fun and is Because you are changing lives, we are on the rise. working out and swimming at the new Elkhart Health and Aquatic Center.Ronald G. AreaChief Executive Officer, Marshall University Foundation'