Chambers Fellowship
The visionary namesake behind West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics is empowering underrepresented students to transform West Virginia’s economy through entrepreneurship and innovation via a new Chambers Fellows program.
WVU alumnus John Chambers, former Executive Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems and current founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures, contributed $1 million through the Chambers Family Foundation to establish the program. It’s the latest in a series of philanthropic leadership endeavors designed to move WVU and West Virginia forward by fostering entrepreneurship, start-ups and inclusive job creation.
In funding the Chambers Fellows program, John Chambers wants to empower underrepresented students to transform West Virginia’s economy through entrepreneurship and innovation. It’s the latest in a series of philanthropic leadership endeavors designed to move WVU and West Virginia forward by fostering entrepreneurship, start-ups and inclusive job creation.
“In today’s world, you either disrupt or you get disrupted. The concerted effort across the public, private and academic sectors in West Virginia is driving the state’s transformation through inclusive job creation, training opportunities and a stronger innovation ecosystem.” - John Chambers
Requirements
The Chambers Fellows shall be governed by the following criteria:
- Maximum of four scholarships shall be awarded each year for three years or until the funding is exhausted for a total of 12 awards.
- The first cohort will be the 2021-22 academic year, second cohort 2022-2023 academic year, third cohort 2023-2024 academic year then subsequent years depending on qualified students.
- Qualify for the WVU Climb Higher Level 1 Scholarship (more information: https://www.wvu.edu/admissions/scholarships/first-time-freshmen)
- Students shall be majoring in Management Information Systems or Entrepreneurship in the Chambers College or minoring in Entrepreneurship in the Chambers College while majoring in Computer Science in the Statler College.
- Complete an application (linked on this page)
- Finalists will complete an interview with the Department Chair or Dean of the Chambers College.
- Preference that ¾ of the total number of students awarded through this gift will be under-represented students as permitted by law and institutional policy.
- In-State/ Reciprocity Students – provide funding for on average 2 students up to $10,000 a year for cost of attendance.
- Out-of-State Students – provide funding for on average 2 students up to $17,500 a year for cost of attendance.
- Recipients who continue to maintain a 3.25 overall GPA, continue to major in the programs listed above, and complete 30 hours in an academic year can renew the award three times for a total of four years.