MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE STUDENT AT AT TIME
​
The Kanawha Valley Mining Institute has a long history in the Kanawha Valley. Chartered January 25, 1934, the Institute was organized to build and maintain relationships within the mining community and to provide a forum for educating its members in current events and developments in mining. In 1989, the Institute began efforts to support education through financial scholarships to college students possessing good scholastic and community values. With that vision, the major fundraiser to support the scholarships was organized – Annual Hatfield Open Golf Scramble – named for Gary Joeseph “Joe” Hatfield, who served as president of the Institute from 1986 to 1996 and was instrumental in starting the initiative for support of education. The annual scholarships were named for Charles Bowling – the personification of the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute. Mr. Bowling was active in the Institute for many years and was instrumental in revitalizing the organization during the transition from the early days of meeting in Montgomery to our current home of Charleston. Joe Hatfield and Charles Bowling were inducted into the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute’s inaugural Hall of Fame class of 2009.
Approximately fifteen years ago, under the guidance of then President Jim Corsaro, a vision of having the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute live on in perpetuity through an endowed scholarship for graduating high school seniors was born. With this vision in hand, we began to set aside a portion of the funds raised each year from the Hatfield Open to fund the endowment. Those funds, combined with a generous donation from the Charles Bowling estate, provided for the first endowed scholarship to be awarded in August of 2015.
To date, the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute has awarded approximately $300,000 in annual Charles Bowling scholarships to over 200 deserving students from our local area. Additionally, we have granted endowed scholarships totaling $34,000 from our endowment fund which currently has a balance of over $200,000. For many, our scholarships provide the access to quality education and learning opportunities that otherwise would not have been available. We believe that education is vital to the success and growth of the communities where we live and work. We are committed to continuing to make a difference in the future.
The LOGO of the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute, Inc. as shown above, clearly captures the essence of the Institute. The Miner with the pick represents miners everywhere; the spiked sun represents energy, originating in the sun and released from coal through the work of miners and industry for the good of mankind; the mountains represent the care of the environment practiced by the responsible mining community, and the student represents the support of education of our younger citizens provided by the KVMI.
Special thanks to Shannon Westerman of Artistic Promotions, for his support and guidance in creating and promoting the Logo, and to artist Ted Mobley for his artistic input and patience through several iterations and modifications in the search for the perfect Logo.