State Treasurer Larry Pack on Friday was honored by his alma mater, West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech), with the Ed Robinson Lifetime Achievement Presidential Award during an annual homecoming celebration on the Beckley campus. The Ed Robinson Lifetime Achievement Presidential Award is presented to an outstanding Golden Bear who has provided exceptional support to their alma mater and has gone above and beyond to support fellow Golden Bears and the institution.

“As a proud alumnus of WVU Tech, this award is truly an honor and a blessing,” Treasurer Pack said. “WVU Tech helped shape my career as an accountant, entrepreneur, and now your State Treasurer. My time at Tech also fostered my passion for public service and dedication to the Mountain State. I’d like to thank Tech for selecting me for this prestigious award. It’s a great day to be a Golden Bear!”

In addition to the Ed Robinson Lifetime Achievement Presidential Award, WVU Tech also presented the Golden Bear Empowerment Faculty Award to Jemma Cook, Ph.D. and the Golden Bear Alumni Association (TGBAA) Outstanding Alumni Award to Kaci H. Foster.

Cook is a psychologist and behavior analyst whose academic training began at West Virginia University, where she earned her undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in psychology with an emphasis in behavior analysis. Cook currently serves as a faculty member at WVU Tech, where she teaches courses in behavior analysis, behavioral neuroscience, and behavioral pharmacology and conducts research focused on reinforcement, extinction, and relapse-related behavior. 

Foster is a 2003 and 2004 graduate of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, earning degrees in public service administration and history and government. An active student leader at WVU Tech, she was active in student government and campus media. Foster currently serves as Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, where she leads statewide marketing, communications, and student access initiatives.

Winners were honored at a reception and dinner at The Resort at Glade Springs on Friday, February 20. They will also be honored during the basketball games at the Raleigh County Convention Center on Saturday, February 21.

Full biographies of the winners can be found at alumni.wvutech.edu/awards.