MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
T
hroughout the last ten years, Stan Lanford has been a tireless supporter of Virginia Western – and the Chancellor noticed! Established by the Virginia Community College System to recognize leaders across the state who have contributed to the success of community college foundations, this year’s Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy was awarded to Stan Lanford, and a scholarship was given in his name to the college. Chairman of Lanford Brothers Company, which currently has over 250 employees and completes $25 million of work each year repairing and replacing bridges, roadways, guardrails, and signs in four states, Stan is an enthusiastic supporter of community colleges. He served on the Virginia Western Community College Local Board for eight years and was its Chair for an additional two years. He has served on the Virginia Western Community Col-
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lege Educational Foundation Board for the past six years and is currently its secretary. During this time, Stan played a tremendous role in securing gifts for Virginia Western’s first major gifts campaign in 2005 that raised $4 million. Stan and his family have also established the Stanard and Betty Lanford Endowed Scholarship in memory of his parents, providing tuition assistance to Virginia Western students seeking an engineering degree. “I believe in education,” Stan says. “Over half of all the higher education students in Virginia are enrolled in community colleges. When students from Virginia Western transfer to fouryear institutions, they maintain the same grade point average, or higher, than students who begin at four-year schools. Virginia Western does a great job of preparing people for the workplace, which ultimately makes them better to have in the community.”
Virginia Western Educational Foundation Alumni & Friends News • Volume 1 • Issue 1