Robin Woodward came to Asheville in a most unusual way. Originally from Boston, he arrived at UNC Asheville (then Asheville-Biltmore College) as a transfer student from the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Carnegie was a highly stressful environment, and Pittsburgh wasn't a great fit as a city. His suitemate was from Asheville and also decided that this was not to his liking. "He was going to come back and finish at Asheville Biltmore College," explained Woodward. "And he announced this to me, and I was not pleased to hear he was leaving, and half in jest, I said, 'Can I come with you?' He said, 'That would be great!' And so I did."

And once he arrived in Asheville, Woodward never left. "I had a much more enjoyable experience," he shared. At UNC Asheville, he found approachable professors who were eager for personal engagement. "And I got out on weekends, hiking and driving through the mountains. Very different from walking around Pittsburgh. So that part was absolutely fantastic."

After graduating in 1969 with a degree in Physics, Woodward stayed in Asheville. His interest in conservation led him to open Blue Ridge Energy Systems, which began as a manufacturer of woodstoves and solar water heaters. Eventually, the company expanded into construction, designing and building passive solar energy-efficient homes.

Through the years, he has remained involved with UNC Asheville both as a donor and as a mentor to students. He launched a fund for STEM scholarships and has supported the AVID program as well as the Society of Automotive Engineers Student Organization. He also puts ample time and effort into engaging with the students who have received his scholarship.

"I absolutely get as much out of it as they do. Just having energetic, young people around just is such a gift at my level of maturity. They're very cool. It's very special."

A Creative Approach

Though he had already established a scholarship fund, Woodward wanted to get creative about doing more. He is thoughtful about the future of higher education and the landscape shift that is imminent with the rate of acceleration of the capabilities of AI. He wanted to meet the immediacy of the moment by structuring scholarships that could be used promptly.

Woodward connected with Associate Vice Chancellor Dr. Shannon C. Earle and began to talk through options and brainstorm ideas. "It was absolutely no pressure," he shared. "And she was listening." Woodward decided on a current-use scholarship that would provide immediate funds to a cohort of students.

Woodward's new donation will create the Robin Woodward Distinguished Scholars Scholarship fund, which will provide annual scholarships to students enrolled in the University's Honor Program who have declared a STEM major. The scholarship also provides an additional amount for each student to fund immersive experiences such as undergraduate research, internship opportunities, and study abroad opportunities. The first cohort will be chosen this spring from the class of 2028.

Woodward has also been creative about the methods in which he gives to the University. He has funded his scholarships through gifts of stock and a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from his IRA, as well as through traditional methods.

After the devastation of Hurricane Helene, he worked tirelessly alongside neighbors and friends to mitigate the destruction caused by the storm. He opened his home so that neighbors could cook and eat together. Woodward's students helped, too - they managed to travel from campus to check up on him. And then they worked together: they used construction machinery to clear roads and driveways and delivered water to the homes of several elderly neighbors.

Imaginative Solutions

To the students he mentors, Woodward emphasizes the importance of understanding how and why things work as well as having the ability to craft something tangible. "Particularly now with AI, you had better be creative, you'd better know how to do things with your hands, find imaginative solutions. We are so accustomed to measuring our success by our bank account. And that is going to rapidly change. Figure out how [to] be creative to live a rewarding life."

And he puts that into practice. An accomplished woodworker, Woodward designs and builds furniture, turns bowls, and creates other pieces - including a custom chess board, conceived by one of the students he mentors. He uses sustainably sourced wood for these projects and is eager to teach these skills to interested students while they complete their degrees at UNC Asheville.

When asked, he gave his advice for students and young people:

"Seek your passions. Find your passions. Go for it. I have done better at my level of maturity than many people because I have so many things that I'm moderately good at that I can fill my time with in some rewarding fashion. And I think that is the number one thing for everybody."