May 15, 2025

Gift by Wheeling University Alumnus Establishes New Scholarship to Assist Students

WHEELING, W.Va., May 15 – A Wheeling alumnus has established an endowed Alumni Science and Math Scholarship Fund to support future science and math majors at Wheeling University.

John Yasinsky, Ph.D., a member of the class of 1961 and native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently committed $100,000 to begin the scholarship fund. Now he is encouraging alumni who received degrees in math or science to make a gift and grow the endowment. 

“Establishing the Alumni Science and Math Scholarship is important to me because it is a unique and living way of saying thanks for the opportunity that Wheeling College provided me,” said Yasinsky. 

Dianna M. Vargo, president of Wheeling University, is grateful to Dr. Yasinsky for establishing this new scholarship fund.

“Generous support from alumni like Dr. Yasinsky, enables Wheeling University to provide much needed scholarships to deserving students who major in our science and math programs. We thank Dr. Yasinsky for this wonderful gift and his commitment to the students of Wheeling University,” the President said.

As a first-generation college graduate, who received a basketball scholarship and worked in the cafeteria to pay his tuition, he understands the financial challenges today’s students have to attend a private institution.

“That experience, a strong foundation in science and math, coupled with a unique liberal arts base, provided the support for my future success,” Yasinsky added. “It is my intent that the Scholarship will help students with a fervent interest and proven aptitude in science or math, who also desire a broadening foundation in liberal arts.” Such students will likely need outside financial support to achieve their education goals.

Yasinsky graduated from Wheeling in 1961 with a degree in physics and entered the University of Pittsburgh where he earned a master’s degree in physics. Yasinsky received a doctorate in nuclear science from Carnegie Tech (Mellon) in 1967. Among his professional accomplishments is his work with Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Power Lab, where he spent 10 years participating in the development of new design and analysis techniques in support of the nuclear Navy. He was selected as a White House Fellow in 1972, reporting to the Secretary of Commerce and also served as Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce.

Upon returning to Westinghouse, Yasinsky spent 20 years in executive positions responsible for nuclear power, advanced renewable energy, environmental services, industrial products, and the corporation’s international businesses, before being elected Group President. He left Westinghouse in 1993 to become Chairman and CEO of GenCorp, a diversified manufacturing company. After retiring in 2002, he served as an Executive Advisory Partner with WindPoint Partners, a leading Private Equity firm, as well as served as a board member for several public corporations, educational institutions and community and charitable organizations.

Throughout his life, Yasinsky has supported Wheeling University. In addition to providing financial assistance, he served on its Board of Directors for nearly 20 years. For his dedicated service, Yasinsky received the Ignatian Medal of Achievement and an Honorary Doctorate.

He knows that other alumni share his gratitude for the University and hopes those graduates will support the Alumni Science and Math Scholarship. Additional financial gifts to the endowment will grow in value, thus allowing the University to award more scholarship funds to deserving students.

“The Alumni Science and Math Scholarship can become a living and lasting vehicle for alumni to thank the University in a unique way that also helps provide selected students with the foundation they need for future success,” Yasinsky said. “It is important, and my hope, that our alumni will feel as I do, and contribute now to increase the initial impact the scholarship will have, and that alumni will continue to support the fund for years into the future, allowing the scholarship to become a living means to support qualifying students.”

To learn more on how to make a gift to the Alumni Science and Math Scholarship, contact the Wheeling University Development Office at 304-243-2888.