Four Impact Scholarships Created by Hart Family
Fairmont State University alumnus Dr. William Mark Hart and his family have established four Impact Scholarships through the Fairmont State Foundation.
Dr. William Mark Hart, who earned four degrees from Fairmont State, has had a more than 38-year career in the energy industry. Hart is Chairman, President and CEO of MATH Energy Companies and recent past Chairman, President and CEO of Austin Exploration and Petroleum Company with locations in Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky and Australia. MATH Energy Company and MATH Energy Drilling Company are production companies with a focus in coal, oil, gas, gasification and renewables.
“I am a great believer in the relationship between education and career advancement and believe that it leads to improving the standard of living for all involved – one’s self, family, co-workers and many other associates,” Hart said.
The four newly established $5,000 impact scholarships--the William Marcellus and Mary Kathryn Hart Scholarship, the Dr. Wm. Mark Hart and Family Scholarship, the Kenneth Marcellus Hart and Family Scholarship and the Daniel E. Hart/Jonathan G. Hart and Families Scholarship--will each provide $2,500 a year to a student majoring in engineering, math, computer science or physics. Eligible students must be West Virginia residents with at least a 3.0 GPA and 15 credit hours and will have completed their sophomore year. Under certain situations, special exemptions may be accommodated.
Dr. Wm. Mark Hart, Kenneth M. Hart, Daniel E. Hart and Jonathan G. Hart are the children of William Marcellus Hart and Mary Kathryn Hart. All four boys received degrees from Fairmont State University and are doing very well in life and would like to give back to FSU and to deserving students.
“Fairmont State University is grateful for this generous gift that has the power to change lives through education,” said RJ Gimbl, President of the Fairmont State Foundation. “Impact Scholarships like these provide an immediate award to students.”
Dr. Wm. Mark Hart earned four degrees from Fairmont State: an Associate in Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology in 1974; a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979; a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree in Mining Engineering Technology in 1986; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology in 1988.
He also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix (1991), a Master of Science degree in Mining Engineering from West Virginia University (1994) and a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering and Environmental Management from the Colorado School of Mines (1997). Hart is also a professor at the Colorado School of Mines and an MSHA Certified Electrical Instructor. He holds two patents for stress distribution in rock lithology and CMLADS.
Hart served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Austin Exploration Limited from January 2010 to October 2016. He also served as President of International Operations at NRG Energy. At NRG, he oversaw the international business operations as president of 34 power plants, two trading companies and all feedstock in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sardegna Energy LTD living in Italy. Prior to joining NRG, he served as the Vice President and Managing Director of Newmont Mining’s Canadian operations living in Canada, as well as Vice President of Business Processes and Operations worldwide for the $12 billion mining giant. He also worked for Cyprus Amax Minerals Corporation, another multibillion company, in various engineering and operations roles and served as the President and CEO of their South Pacific operations living in Australia. He also served in several Vice President and Senior Vice President roles with Cyprus Amax.
Hart’s career in the industry began with Consol Energy. Hart has also been the chairman of four boards in various countries. He has been Chairman of the Board at Austin Exploration and Petroleum Company; he served as the Chairman of the Board of the Oakbridge Corporation in Australia; Chairman of the Board of MIBRAG in Germany; Chairman of the Board of the Cobee Company in Bolivia; and is currently Chairman of MATH Energy Companies.
The mission of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., is to support, through ethical stewardship, the mission of Fairmont State University. The Foundation will identify, establish and cultivate meaningful relationships with FSU alumni, as well as potentials and existing funding constituencies to meet contributor needs while securing funds and supporters for priority objectives identified by the FSU Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.fsufoundation.org.
scholarshipsImpact ScholarshipWilliam Mark HartFairmont State FoundationRJ Gimbl
