Building new opportunities for high schoolers: The Walter B. Jones, Jr. Scholars Endowment

The transformative legacy of architect, visionary and esteemed colleague Walter Jones will now be honored long into the future thanks to The MetroHealth System’s new Walter B. Jones, Jr., Scholars Endowment, announced Thursday, June 13th at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) of Cleveland’s annual luncheon.

As MetroHealth’s Senior Vice President of Transformation, Walter had a tremendous impact on the MetroHealth community. He joined the system in 2014 and went on to lead the design, construction and opening of The Glick Center, which stands as a lasting tribute to his vision, leadership and commitment to excellence. He passed away in 2023.

Walter had a unique and profound influence on individuals in construction careers, from lifelong managers to high school students. During the building of The Glick Center, Walter was especially invested in the success of high school students in construction mentorship or internship programs who worked alongside him at the Campus Transformation Center. Walter fostered a welcoming and collaborative learning environment where young people were able to experience the hands-on education they could only get through working on a billion-dollar construction project in real time.

Now, through the Jones Scholars Endowment, established in partnership with the Jones family, students will continue to build upon the foundation Walter laid.

Through the Jones Scholars Endowment, MetroHealth and UNCF Cleveland will annually award a one-year, non-renewable $5,000 scholarship to a highly deserving high-school senior from any of the following programs:

• Lincoln-West School of Science & Health – the only high school of its kind located on a hospital campus
• ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program of Cleveland, which provides internship and shadowing experiences at MetroHealth
• Student interns from a construction firm or sub-contractor who has completed work at or with MetroHealth
• Students participating in any other formal MetroHealth mentoring/internship program

To ensure the annual scholarship is sustainable, The MetroHealth Foundation aims to raise $250,000 within the endowment. Longtime MetroHealth partner Turner Construction graciously committed a major gift to become the lead funder for the Jones Scholars Endowment. As construction manager on The Glick Center, the Turner Construction team collaborated closely with Walter and shared a mutual understanding of the importance of the project in the community.

“Walter was one of a kind, a true visionary leader,” said Taurean Spratt, Turner’s Vice President and General Manager, Ohio Region. “We are proud to contribute to carrying forward his legacy in a way that will inspire young people coming into the field to think in new, innovative ways that create welcoming spaces for all.”

Karpinski Engineering, another MetroHealth partner, has also made a gift to the endowment.

UNCF of Cleveland, with 80 years of history connecting underserved young Clevelanders with higher education opportunities, will partner with MetroHealth to select recipients of the scholarship.

Supporting this endowment will honor the collaborative, innovative spirit of Walter B. Jones, Jr., who left a lasting impact on the healthcare design industry nationwide, and of course, on MetroHealth. To contribute to the endowment, visit The Walter B. Jones, Jr. Scholars Endowment page on our website, or contact Lynn Iams: [email protected].