Mar 20, 2014 09:00 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Antero Resources Corp., has made a gift of $100,000 to the West Virginia University's College of Law to support the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development.

The center, established in 2011, trains students for legal careers within the energy sector. It also conducts objective research and policy analyses on energy issues.

Besides the Center, the donation will also be used to create The Kevin and Amy Ellis Endowed Scholarship. Kevin Ellis, a 2005 graduate of the College of Law, now works at Antero Resources in its Bridgeport, W.Va. office.

"We are deeply grateful to the leadership at Antero Resources for their significant support," Joyce E. McConnell, Dean of the College of Law, said in a statement. "When a forward-thinking company like Antero makes an investment in legal education, it's an across-the-board success for everyone involved, but it's especially great for our students."

The oil and gas company is one of the major shale gas producers in southwestern Pennsyvlania. Antereo Resources produced 640,195 thousand cubic feet of gas 2012, Pittsburgh Business Times reported. The gift is part of 'A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia's University', a $750 million fundraising effort conducted by the WVU Foundation.

Ellis said that Antero Resources Chairman & CEO Paul Rady, President & CFO Glen Warren, and Regional Vice President for Appalachia Alvyn Schopp are pleased to make contributions on behalf of the company as they realise the significance of investing in the future of energy law.

"The leadership at the College of Law is fully committed to attracting the best and brightest instructors to educate its students, and has taken forward looking steps to ensure that students have the opportunity to obtain the necessary education and experience in the area of natural resources law by establishing the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development. These commitments will enable interested students to develop marketable legal and business skills for employers in the State and regionally in the energy sector," Ellis said.

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