Betty Schoenbaum

Betty Schoenbaum was inducted into the inaugural College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. She was previously inducted into the College of Education and Human Services Hall of Fame in 2006.

Schoenbaum and her husband, Alex, established the Alex and Betty Schoenbaum Teacher Preparation Scholarship in 1989 through the Schoenbaum Family Foundation. The fund was created to support education majors at West Virginia University and encourage recipients to remain in West Virginia to teach following graduation. The endowed fund reflects the family's commitment to education in West Virginia and has grown to $1 million and has provided financial support to hundreds of students.

Schoenbaum served as president of the Schoenbaum Corporation, as well as president, secretary, and treasurer of both the Schoenbaum Family Foundation and the Blue Galaxy of Sarasota, Inc. Her many honors include honorary degrees from the University of Charleston (Doctor of Humanities, 1999) and The Ohio State University (Doctor of Business, 2001), as well as the 2004 Spirit of the Valley Award from the YMCA of Kanawha Valley. She received the Most Loyal Mountaineer Award from West Virginia University in 1993.

Schoenbaum passed away in 2018 at the age of 100.