Marshall University Scholarship Grows with $25K Gift

Anonymous donors contribute to endowment honoring late student journalist Jeff Nathan.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:30am

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph in soft, warm tones depicting the blurred silhouettes of college students walking on a campus, with indistinct architectural details in the background, conceptually representing the legacy of a student journalist.The Jeff Nathan Scholarship endowment at Marshall University continues to grow, honoring the memory of a student journalist lost too soon.Huntington Today

The Marshall University Foundation has announced a $25,000 gift to the Jeff Nathan Scholarship within the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The scholarship honors Jeff Nathan, a junior from Parkersburg, West Virginia who served as sports editor for The Parthenon student newspaper and was one of the 75 individuals who tragically died in the 1970 Marshall plane crash.

Why it matters

The Jeff Nathan Scholarship helps support aspiring student journalists at Marshall, keeping the memory of Nathan and the 1970 plane crash victims alive. The gift demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the Marshall community to honor its history and provide educational opportunities for the next generation of journalists.

The details

The anonymous donors have contributed $25,000 to grow the endowment of the Jeff Nathan Scholarship, which was established to support students in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University. The scholarship honors Jeff Nathan, a junior from Parkersburg, West Virginia who served as sports editor for the student newspaper The Parthenon before tragically passing away in the 1970 Marshall plane crash.

  • The Marshall University Foundation announced the $25,000 gift on April 18, 2026.
  • Jeff Nathan was a junior at Marshall University in 1970.

The players

Marshall University Foundation

The nonprofit organization that raises and manages private donations to support Marshall University.

Jeff Nathan

A junior from Parkersburg, West Virginia who served as sports editor for The Parthenon, Marshall's student newspaper, before passing away in the 1970 Marshall plane crash.

W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications

The journalism school at Marshall University where the Jeff Nathan Scholarship is housed.

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The takeaway

The growth of the Jeff Nathan Scholarship endowment ensures that Marshall University will continue honoring the legacy of its student journalists and the 1970 plane crash victims for years to come, providing educational opportunities for aspiring reporters.