Three Northern Kentucky University students received funding this academic year from the James F. West, Jr. Economic Development Scholarship, named for the first president of the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (now BE NKY Growth Partnership).
Jim spent 35 years working in economic development and association management in Columbus, Georgia, Northern Kentucky, and Augusta, Georgia. During his 11 years serving as president of Tri-ED, starting in 1987, Jim led the strategy to establish a regional economic development organization, and attracted major companies and a significant number of new jobs to Northern Kentucky.
“Jim accelerated the concept that Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties would benefit from a regional economic development approach called the Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (NKY Tri-ED), capitalizing on the location of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Northern Kentucky, our proximity to Cincinnati, industrial and office land development opportunities, and other key business climate factors,” said former Tri-ED President and CEO Dan Tobergte.
Jim’s widow, Connie West, said his years spent at Tri-ED were the “glory years.”
“Jim’s time at Tri-ED was special, not only due to the growth Northern Kentucky experienced, but because of the amazing leaders Jim had the opportunity to work with,” said Connie. “He loved every minute of it and Northern Kentucky was the highlight of his economic development career.”
“The results of Jim’s leadership were unprecedented cooperation, exemplary recognition from Frankfort, a “can-do” attitude, and new projects like Fidelity Investments, SAFRAN, Clarion, General Cable (now Prysmian North America HQ), WILD Flavors (now ADM), plus expansions like Mazak Corp., Krauss Maffei, and DHL Airways,” added Tobergte. “Jim was quite effective. In 1998, Tri-ED facilitated a record total of 55 new and expanding projects under Jim’s leadership.”
Jim’s daughter Kelly Smith said she idolized her father and even assisted in his economic development work in Northern Kentucky by taking photos of industrial warehouses or land ready for development.
“It was kind of my first job,” said Smith. “My dad loved the growth that was happening in Northern Kentucky.”
After Jim passed away in November 2021, Tobergte and BE NKY Growth Partnership President & CEO Lee Crume collaborated with the West family and NKU to establish a scholarship in Jim’s name.
“It’s certainly fitting that the NKY business community recognizes the impact that Jim West had for Northern Kentucky with this scholarship,” said Tobergte.
Smith said the creation of a scholarship was an easy “yes” and a great way to honor and memorialize her father, enabling students to pursue similar career opportunities.
“We certainly thought it was a great idea and are proud that people respected him,” said Smith.
The scholarship, established within NKU’s Haile College of Business, supports graduate or undergraduate students majoring in economics or an economics-related major, or a fellow working in the Center for Economic Analysis and Development (CEAD).
BE NKY spearheaded the scholarship fund with a lead contribution of $5,000. A further $20,000 was raised through contributions from current and past members of the Tri-ED/BE NKY staff and Board of Directors, partners of BE NKY, people who were personally or professionally impacted by Jim’s legacy, and other corporate or foundation members from the community, including Corporex, Fidelity Investments, Duke Energy Corporation, and Zalla Companies.
“It was an easy decision for BE NKY to contribute to, and help establish, a scholarship that will honor Jim’s legacy and further the mission of economic development in Northern Kentucky,” said Crume. “Through financial contributions to scholarships such as this, and to local education organizations including Adopt A Class, TradesNKY, and Learning Grove’s NaviGo College and Career Prep, we are proud to help prepare our future workforce for successful careers in Northern Kentucky.”
NKU Director of Campaign Operations and Donor Relations Lily O’Bryan said this scholarship recognizes West’s contribution to Northern Kentucky, inspiring students to continue his legacy, while also easing their financial burden.
Economic development isn’t a career that most kids learn about in high school, said Smith, but it’s an important career path, so she hopes this scholarship will spark interest in this field and encourage young people to follow in her father’s footsteps.
O’Bryan said they plan to offer scholarships ranging from $1,200 to $2,500, depending on students’ financial needs.
“We want this scholarship to continue creating opportunities for students for many years to come,” said O’Bryan. “The generosity of our donors has allowed that to happen, and we will continue putting those resources directly toward our students’ educational goals.”
Faculty in the Haile College of Business determined which students would be best aligned for this scholarship based on academic performance, community and school involvement and engagement in the classroom. Each of the recipients also had the opportunity to connect with the West family.
Danish
Danish Khan is a first-generation, international college student from Nepal who navigated higher education in a foreign country without his parents’ guidance. During his time at NKU, he worked to find mentors, build networks and create opportunities for himself in Northern Kentucky.
“Financial support plays a significant role in allowing me to fully focus on my academic and professional development,” said Danish. “Beyond the financial aspect, this scholarship would feel like recognition of the sacrifices my family has made and the hard work that has brought me to this point.”
Danish graduates this May with a degree in economics, data analytics and statistics. He said he has always been interested in how data and policy intersect to shape real-world outcomes, and he enjoys the ability to translate complex data into meaningful insights that can influence decision-making, whether in public policy, finance, or research.
After graduation, he hopes to pursue a data analytics role where he can apply quantitative skills to solve real-world problems. He is especially interested in using data to support decision-making in business, finance, or policy settings.
“Graduating soon represents not only a personal milestone, but also a moment of fulfillment for my family, who have supported me from afar,” said Danish. “It symbolizes breaking barriers and setting a foundation for future generations.”
Princess
Senior Princess Nworah also graduates from NKU in May. She is majoring in economics and minoring in math and plans to go to graduate school.
Like Danish, she is also an international student. Princess came to NKU from Nigeria and said coming to the United States was an excellent learning opportunity that pushed her out of her comfort zone.
She decided to pursue her education at NKU for multiple reasons, including the university’s low student-to-teacher ratios and excellent research opportunities.
She chose to major in economics after taking an economics class in high school and liked that it was about the science of decision making.
Throughout her college career, she involved herself in many different activities and organizations, including serving as an ambassador for the Haile College of Business, participating in economics club and student government, and performing research with Dr. Abdullah Al Bahrani, associate dean and professor in the Haile College of Business.
Princess said receiving this scholarship made her feel seen.
“Being an international student is very expensive, and my mom pays for me on her own, so it’s nice to give her an opportunity to relax,” said Princess. “It was a wonderful experience to connect with Jim’s family. You don’t usually get that opportunity, and it felt very full circle.”
Lucy
NKU Junior Lucy Roll is a Campbell County native majoring in economics with a minor in marketing and management.
Similar to Princess, she decided to pursue a career in economics after taking microeconomics in high school and performing well in the class.
“There are not a lot of women in the field of economics, and I think it is important that it becomes more diverse,” said Roll.
During her college career, Roll worked for the NKU Center for Economic Education and was involved with an emerging leaders club that brought business professionals to the NKU campus so students could learn more about their careers.
She also appreciated the opportunity to get to know West’s family.
“That had never happened to me before,” said Roll. “You usually don’t hear from the family connected to the scholarship, which made this experience even more special and meaningful.”
“This scholarship honors a leader whose work helped shape Northern Kentucky’s economic future while investing in students who may one day help shape what comes next,” said Haile College of Business Dean Dr. Hassan HassabElnaby. “It creates meaningful opportunities for our students to pursue studies connected to economic development and understand how business decisions can strengthen an entire region.”
To make a donation to this scholarship, go to nku.edu/give, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu, and enter James F. West, Jr. Economic Development Scholarship in the text box. Contributions can also be mailed to Northern Kentucky University. Please make checks payable to the NKU Foundation and indicate the James F. West, Jr. Economic Development Scholarship in the memo line. Mailed donations can be sent to: NKU, Advancement Services, 5320 Campus Drive, AC 239, Highland Heights, KY 41099.
