WCCC receives $500K from Miner family foundation

The donation will be used to provide scholarships for students pursuing careers in health, technology and industrial arts.

For the MVI

The Robert Miner Family Foundation recently presented the Westmoreland County Community College Educational Foundation with a $500,000 donation to establish the Robert Miner Family Foundation Opportunity Scholarships for students pursuing careers in health professions, technology and industrial arts.

The Robert Miner Family Foundation Opportunity Scholarships aim to bridge the gap for students who may not qualify for federal aid but still struggle to afford college. They will provide crucial support to students preparing for careers essential to the region’s economic vitality.

“These funds can make the difference between someone going to college or not going to college,” said Robert “Bob” Miner, philanthropist and founder of the Miner Family Foundation and a Monessen High School and California University of Pennsylvania graduate. “I know firsthand the struggles of trying to attend college and that inspired me to help others avoid that struggle.”

Miner emphasized the importance of skilled trades yet said he’s found that many students overlook pursuing these careers, which are in high demand and provide family sustaining wages in Westmoreland County, due to outdated perceptions.

“Many still think a fouryear degree is the only path to success,” added Debbie Miner, Bob’s wife. “But I’ve seen firsthand where students have pursued different paths and that student who pursued a skilled trade ended up out-earning those who pursued a four-year degree.”

Miner said it’s imperative to provide Westmoreland County employers with a skilled pool of future employees to continue remaining competitive in the realms of business, industry and healthcare.

WCCC President Dr. Kristin L. Mallory echoed Miner’s sentiment noting that the college is aligned with local employers’ current and future needs.

“Our degrees are designed by what our regional employers are seeking in skilled workers,” said Mallory. “Our local employers serve on numerous advisory boards for our programs, offering insight as to what may need to be added to or removed from specific program curriculum. Westmoreland not only provides the coursework for these careers but also provides experience for students in the practical application of that knowledge,” she added. “This scholarship will open doors for so many students.”

The Miner family’s commitment to education is generational. Their daughter Kaylee Miner is a certified public accountant and involved in the family’s foundation.

“My dad built this foundation based on his commitment to helping others and I want to continue that legacy moving forward,” she said.

This donation follows an initial $40,000 gift from the Miner Foundation in 2024. According to Megan Sheesley, executive director of the college’s Educational Foundation, the impact of the new scholarship will be profound.

“The establishment of this scholarship is not simply transactional but rather transformational. Thanks to the Robert Miner Family Foundation Opportunity Scholarship, we can help students step into the local workforce ready to succeed with as little debt as possible,” Sheesley said. “We’re grateful to have the confidence of the Miner family that we will continue to nurture and support our students who will become our future nurses, machinists and welders in our region.”

Established in 2023, the Robert Miner Family Foundation contributes to various charitable causes, including the Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and local initiatives. The Foundation is committed to making a lasting impact within the local community by keeping as much of its philanthropic work as close to home as possible. The foundation has also given scholarships to graduating high school students in Westmoreland County.