Virginia Tech Names Roanoke Medical School for Smiths
The Board of Visitors approved a resolution naming the Roanoke facility after Jim and Augustine Smith, whose $20 million gift established the university's largest scholarship endowment.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Scholarships
Live Poll
Do you think big donor gifts meaningfully expand college access for local students?
Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors approved a resolution naming the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's Roanoke facility after Jim and Augustine Smith. The Roanoke-area natives and Virginia Tech alumni donated $20 million in February 2026.
Why it matters
The gift established the largest scholarship endowment in Virginia Tech history and will fund scholarships with a focus on in-state students. For Roanoke, it ties a major donation to the city's medical school as the institution plans further expansion.
The gift is a $20 million scholarship endowment, the largest in Virginia Tech history, and two students have already received awards from it. The medical school graduated 56 students last year, and how many scholarships the full endowment will support remains unspecified.
The players
Virginia Tech Board of Visitors
The governing board that oversees Virginia Tech and approved the resolution naming the Roanoke medical school facility after the Smiths.
Jim and Augustine Smith
Roanoke-area natives and Virginia Tech alumni whose $20 million gift established the university's largest scholarship endowment.
The details
The Board of Visitors approved the naming resolution at a Tuesday meeting in Blacksburg. The Smiths' gift funds scholarships at the medical school, and Virginia Tech plans a new 176,000-square-foot building for the Roanoke facility.
Timeline
February 2026: Jim and Augustine Smith donate $20 million to the medical school.
2025: The medical school graduates 56 students.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Board of Visitors approves the naming resolution.
Season Trajectory
The Smiths' gift extends the growth of Virginia Tech's Roanoke medical school, which is planning a 176,000-square-foot building that could double its enrollment. It marks a major shift toward donor-funded scholarships for in-state students at the institution's medical campus.
The donation directly funds scholarships at the Roanoke medical school, with a focus on in-state students who may be able to pursue medical training closer to home. Students already receiving awards from the endowment could see reduced tuition costs.
The takeaway
Major philanthropic gifts can rapidly expand access to higher education, especially in-state students pursuing medical careers. Students interested in medical school scholarships should monitor announcements from their local university foundations.
Further reading
Explore more on Scholarships for context on how major donations like this one are funding students in Roanoke.
Live Poll
Do you think big donor gifts meaningfully expand college access for local students?
