Volume 4: 2016
west virginia
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Dear State Family: It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the fourth edition of STATE magazine — an edition dedicated to our exemplary 125 years of delivering life-changing education and outreach to thousands of individuals and families. As you read about West Virginia State University’s outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends featured on the pages herein, I hope you, like I, will appreciate the meaningful contributions and significant impact the State family has made and is continuing to make across the Kanawha Valley, the State of West Virginia and beyond! From the sustained greatness of our championshipwinning baseball team to our incredible alumni, including Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Katherine Johnson, the mathematical genius behind America’s first human space flight and Apollo 11’s flight to the moon, it is abundantly clear that the passion and perseverance displayed by each member of the State family featured within this edition are truly inspiring. With each passing day, we are working to build a stronger university — a university founded upon a rich, storied history that is poised for a bold, promising future. I am deeply proud of the State family’s continued commitment to excellence, accountability and student-centeredness, which, each and every day, is strengthening the communities in which we live and work. The increased level of deep-rooted passion, sustained dedication and lasting commitment exhibited daily by our exceptional students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends is humbling. As a result of our collective efforts, we are actively achieving our mission of serving the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research. As we celebrate State’s enduring legacy and 125 years of service, I hope you enjoy the tremendous examples of passion exhibited by the State family. And, as my tenure as President of West Virginia State University enters its final months, I will forever cherish the memories my family and I have been blessed to experience here with the State family. GO STATE! With warmest gratitude,
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. President West Virginia State University
Volume 4: 2016
F E A T U R E S
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EXECUTIVE EDITORS
T H A N K YO U Students share how the ongoing Campaign for WVSU is already having a dramatic impact on their college experience.
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TR AC Y MCKIBBEN The road to international business success ran through Institute for lawyer turned entrepreneur Tracy McKibben.
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GREEN THUMBS UP Kids in WVSU Extension Service’s SCRATCH program are becoming “agripreneurs” by growing and selling their own fresh garden vegetables.
Kimberly Osborne
Vice President for University Relations and Operations
Ashley Schumaker
Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the President
Patricia Schumann
Vice President for University Advancement President, WVSU Foundation, Inc.
MANAGING EDITOR Jack Bailey
Director of Public Relations
ART DIRECTOR
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E N G L I S H A S A S E CO N D L A N G U A G E Mexican native Karen Gatica is one of hundreds of international students who have travelled to State to take part in the University’s new ESL program.
Yuma Nakada
Director of Publications and Design
PHOTOGR APHER Todd Griffith
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Director of Photographic Services
MAN ON A MISSION Chemistry Professor Dr. Tom Guetzloff is on a mission to run marathons in all 50 states by the time he turns 50.
CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Browning
Director of Communications Gus R. Douglass Land-Grant Institute
CL A SS NOTES Keep up with the latest news about Yellow Jacket alumni.
Belinda Fuller
Director of Alumni Relations
Mark L. Fuller
Communications Production Specialist
Stacy Herrick
Communications Specialist Gus. R. Douglass Land-Grant Institute
Katrina Slone
Executive Assistant University Relations and Operations
STATE is published annually by West Virginia State University.
COV E R : 12 5 T H A N N I V E R S A RY Since 1891, State has been making a difference in the lives of generations of Yellow Jackets.
Story ideas and feedback for STATE magazine may be sent to Jack Bailey at jbaile19@wvstateu.edu. To be added to our mailing list, contact Belinda Fuller at bfuller@wvstateu.edu.
In November 2015, West Virginia State graduate Katherine G. Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a civilian. In bestowing the award, President Barack Obama called Johnson, “a pioneer in American space history,” whose mathematical calculations “influenced every major space program from Mercury through the Shuttle program.” High praise indeed for Johnson, a native of White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., who first came to Institute at 10 years of age to attend the high school that was formerly part of West Virginia State’s campus. “You got the best education there could be at the time (in Institute),” Johnson recalled recently in the documentary ‘Rise Up West Virginia.’ “You knew everybody. It was a small high school and it was pleasant to be there, but everybody knew you. Everybody in the high school knew everybody in the college and it was just like being at home.” Johnson excelled at high school and graduated early, enrolling in college classes at West Virginia State by the time she was 15. At State, Johnson became immersed in the mathematics program, and was inspired by one of her professors, Dr. William W. Schiefflin Claytor, to dream bigger. The young professor encouraged Johnson by telling her that one day she would make a great research mathematician, and that he would help her. “Many professors tell you that you’d be good at this or that, but they don’t always help you with that career path. Professor Claytor made sure I was prepared to be a research mathematician,” Johnson recalled years later during an interview for a NASA educational publication. Johnson excelled in her studies and graduated summa cum laude from State in 1937 at age 18 with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and French. Continued on page 20 Photo courtesy of NASA/Bill Ingalls
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Four West Virgina State students from completely different backgrounds have one thing in common – The Campaign for WVSU. “My grandmother was freaking out,” explained Brooke Riffe, a freshman from McDowell County, W.Va. That is how Riffe describes her grandmother’s reaction to learning the criminal justice major received the Booker T. and Gloria M. Stephens Scholarship. The WVSU alums established the scholarship, benefiting students from economically depressed McDowell County, in 2015. And the appreciation is evident, “I wrote a ‘thank you’ note for helping McDowell County students because we are low on money. It helps us. It really helps us.” Gifts to the Campaign fund more than scholarship opportunities. They also provide library and technology enhancements, facility improvements and learning collaborations, including hands-on research opportunities. This year, 13 Research Rookies, including sophomore Colby Gainer, are receiving a stipend as they conduct hands-on research alongside WVSU faculty researchers. The program has been supported, through the Campaign for WVSU, by AT&T, American Electric Power and The Dow Chemical Company and enables freshmen and sophomores to conduct research, which is most often reserved for upperclassmen at other institutions of higher learning. “It has really helped me a lot as far as getting the last little bit of my schooling paid for,” said Gainer, an Elkins, W.Va., native. “Without that, I might not be able to come to this school, I might have to go somewhere closer to home.” Since joining the State family, a once timid Gainer says Institute has become a home away from home where he has learned much more than how to plate fish genes in a lab. “This project is a lot of responsibility because it’s pretty much on me to come in when I need to come in and do my project,” he said. Gainer is one of several students working with Dr. Jonathan Eya, researching the impact of a fish’s diet on its genes. “At the end of the semester, we do a presentation to some of the donors, and I think that is a great experience. You’re going to have to do that your whole life so it’s never a bad thing to get in front of people, and have the confidence to talk and show what you know.” Tat’ana Dillard Sims is a fellow Research Rookie, from Kannapolis, N.C., with dreams of becoming a marine biologist. “‘Thank you’, like genuinely, deep down ‘thank you,’ because some people really don’t have the opportunity or the money to go through and follow through with their dreams,” Dillard Sims said of her message to Campaign supporters. “Programs like this, where people donate, you can
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live out your dream and still afford it.” The research opportunity was a pleasant addition for Dillard Sims, whose family has long-established ties to the University. “When it was time to pick a school, it wouldn’t have been right to go anywhere else but here,” she said. Since arriving, she’s learned more about the unique history of the entire State family. “The adversity that the school itself had to overcome. The people that started it and founded it, they didn’t just let anybody knock off or put them on the back-burner for anything. They tried to better themselves regardless of the circumstances. So the history that the school holds makes me feel proud that I’m continuing on the legacy they started.” “It’s amazing. There are so many influential people that have been through here: Carter G. Woodson, Booker T. Washington — and it’s wild just to be on the same campus as some of those people who have been on the forefront to what we are doing here,” Joshua Caiquo said. The Long Beach, Calif.
“It’s amazing. There are so many influential people that have been through here: Carter G. Woodson, Booker T. Washington.” biology/pre-med major has been on the forefront of change driven by Campaign donors. Caiquo is a member of the Yellow Jacket football team — the first team to use the newly constructed Gregory V. Monroe Athletic Complex, which was made possible by the facility’s namesake and other donors. “When they did the unveiling, we walked in and everybody was in complete shock. It was an awe factor, a shock factor and it is so cool.” While Caiquo, Dillard Sims, Gainer and Riffe all found their way to State along different paths, their experiences have been stellar and the support received from donors is highly appreciated. “When I came here, I had a lot of mixed feelings. And since I’ve been here, I’ve loved my experience,” Gainer said. “I’m glad I’m part of it,” said Riffe of the State family. “The history here makes it even more memorable,” said Dillard Sims of her educational experience. “It ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I wouldn’t change it for anything,” said Caiquo. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Learn how you can support the Campaign for WVSU by calling (304) 766-3021.
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State Graduate Builds International Energy Business from New York City For Tracy McKibben, the road to owning her own international energy consulting company ran through Institute. A self-described small town girl from Georgia, she always wanted to be a lawyer while she was growing up. Today, McKibben is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of MAC Energy Advisors, LLC, a consulting and investment company that assists clients on renewable energy and clean technology investments. Based in New York City, McKibben’s company conducts business throughout Europe and Africa, and is looking to develop more business in the United States. For McKibben the path that started in Jackson, Ga., has always been about broadening her horizons and having the confidence to do so. “I grew up in Jackson, Ga., about 30 miles south of Atlanta,” McKibben said. “At the time, it was a small town where it seemed like everyone knew everyone.” She always wanted to go to law school and become a lawyer. When it came time to apply to colleges, her SAT scores came to Institute because she had inadvertently entered the school’s code to have her scores sent to WVSU instead of another school. This proved to be a happy accident as McKibben was contacted by the University. Even though she had never been to West Virginia before, she liked what she heard and decided to become a Yellow Jacket. McKibben received a presidential scholarship to attend WVSU and lived on campus in Sullivan Hall during her four years in Institute. “I made a lot of really close friends,” she said. “I am still very close to a number of friends that I made in school.” Even though she graduated from State in 1991, she said that she and her college friends stay in close contact and return to campus every few years for Homecoming. On campus, McKibben was active in student government, and also served as a cheerleader for the football and basketball teams. In addition, she was active in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which she credits for her lifelong interest in community service.
McKibben graduated from State with a degree in political science before continuing her education at Harvard Law School. “It was very competitive, applying and being admitted to Harvard Law,” she said, “but I was able to compete and fit in well. I thought I received a very good grounding, a very good education at West Virginia State. It gave me the foundation to go on and have a very successful career.” Following graduation from Harvard in 1994, McKibben served as a law clerk for one year for U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler, before going to work as a corporate litigation counsel for the global law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, LLP in the group’s Washington, D.C. office. McKibben was with the firm for six years before going to the U.S. Department of Commerce where she served as the Director of Executive Secretariat for the Office of the Secretary from 2001-2002 and Special Counsel for International Trade and Investments from 2002-2003. She left to join the White House where she served as the Director of European Economic Affairs and European Union Relations for the National Security Council from 2003 through 2007. She left public service to become the Managing Director and Head of Environmental Banking Strategy at Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. before seeing the opportunity to start her own company. McKibben founded MAC Energy Advisors, LLC in 2010 because she enjoyed working in the renewable energy sector and sensed lots of untapped market potential. “I thought I would be a lawyer. And I did it,” she said. “I’ve always believed in taking chances and going after things that interest me. That is necessary for the entrepreneurial spirit. Did I think I would be running a business? No, I thought I would be practicing law, but my business has continued to evolve.” While much of her work has been overseas, she sees great potential for renewable energy in West Virginia, and perhaps, more specifically, opportunities that WVSU can take advantage in the future. “Companies who rely heavily on coal will have to adjust their business models, and this is a real opportunity for the state to focus on,” McKibben said. “How do we embrace this changing energy environment to best position our citizens to take advantage of that? Making sure you’ve got the type of workforce that companies would be able to use if they came here. West Virginia State could benefit from that by educating the students who are going to have to work in a future that is very different than it is today.” While she has lived and worked in New York City for several years, she has a special place in her heart for Institute and the State campus. She spoke so fondly of the University that her niece, Tabetha Davis, also chose to attend WVSU. “We were both at Homecoming this year,” McKibben said of returning to campus during the fall of 2015. “It was refreshing to come back and see the growth of the University. The campus is gorgeous. I was very proud to be back.” Vo l u m e 4 : 2 0 16 | 07
Young gardeners bring produce to market through WVSU program Six-year-old Warren Brown is developing quite the green thumb thanks to a youth agriculture program led by WVSU Extension Service at garden sites throughout downtown Huntington, W.Va. “I like picking vegetables,” he said as he polished the soil off a recently unearthed turnip. Brown is one of many youth in downtown Huntington taking part in the SCRATCH Project, which stands for Sustainable Community Revitalization in Appalachia Through Children’s Hands. The goal of the multi-year project is not only to teach young people about agriculture, but also how to harness its power as a sustainable business enterprise. “On the front end, these kids are learning about garden care: how to grow their own vegetables and fruits, garden maintenance, harvesting and processing,” said Melissa Stewart, assistant program director for WVSU Extension Service. “Going a step further, they’re learning how agriculture lends itself to community sustainability as a business enterprise.” Upon harvesting the crops from three garden sites that have been set up throughout Huntington, the young farmers are selling their harvest to restaurants and at food co-ops in the region. SCRATCH-grown foods are commonly available at Huntington’s Wild Ramp market and have been used in the creation of menu items at Butter It Up, a coffee shop and café, and Black Sheep Burritos and Brews. Organizers of those businesses are intrigued by the program’s concept and think the story behind it helps bolster success. “Any time product is brought in to the market, 0 8 | We s t V i r g i n i a S TAT E
the story behind it is really important,” said Wild Ramp Market Manager Shelly Keeney. “SCRATCH products are unique to our store. We don’t have any other kids growing product and bringing it in to sell. I’m happy to see it. It’s the way it should be going.” Sweet potatoes were an early success for the project. At Butter It Up, the potatoes were used as a side dish for the café’s Paleo-friendly lunch options. Black Sheep Burritos and Brews has used them to make their well-known sweet potato salad and, more surprisingly, a specialty craft beer they call the Sweet Pot. The SCRATCH Project launched in 2011 through a five-year grant from the USDA to bring more locally grown and healthy food into Huntington. At the time, the city was receiving national attention after being named the unhealthiest city in America. Two of the project’s three active garden plots are located on formerly vacant lots donated by the City of Huntington and are adjacent to community centers. A third site is located at an elementary school. As the program’s initial grant comes to an end this year, organizers are planning for its sustainability well into the future. “These kids, and the Huntington community as a whole, have become so invested in the SCRATCH project that ending it after the initial funding cycle has never been our vision,” said Stewart. For information about supporting the SCRATCH Project, visit scratchproject.org or call (304) 532-1670. With sustainability part of its founding mission, as well as its name, it appears that the SCRATCH Project has only scratched the surface of its full potential.
Br i ngs I n t er nat iona l Fl a ir To Ca m pus
The campus of West Virginia State has added a more international flair with the launch of the University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program in 2015. Designed to provide the skills and training necessary to master the English language and achieve academic success, the program also prepares students for everyday communication. In June, a cohort of more than 60 students from Mexico came to Institute to participate in the ESL program, and that was followed in July by 25 additional Mexican students. Karen Gatica, a native of Guerrero, Mexico, was among the students who came in July for the intensive fourweek course of study. She learned so much from the intensive program that she enrolled for the regular fall 2015 semester program. “I thought my English was always very good compared to my friends at home in Mexico, but when I came here I realized I wasn’t able to hold a conversation,” Gatica said. “I knew the grammar, but I did not have the ability to have a conversation. I have been improving, just having conversations with native speakers is very helpful.” Gatica, 22, had already graduated from a technical college in Mexico with a degree in business management, but when she began looking for work, companies that were hiring required a proficiency in speaking English that she did not feel she possessed.
Encouragement from her uncle, Dr. Jose Toledo, Associate Vice President of Administration for Research and Public Service at WVSU, led Gatica to giving the newly launched ESL program a try. “I knew my English wasn’t good enough so I decided to come here for this amazing opportunity,” she said. “I came for one month, then I realized I needed more, so I decided to enroll as a full-time student.” The ESL program is heavily focused on classroom instruction. Gatica said that during the fall semester she took two classes every morning, and then two more each afternoon. But in addition to the classroom, instructors in the ESL program work to match students with “conversation partners” that they can practice talking with. “We have conversation partners that we are in contact with as much as we can,” Gatica said. “Being here and being surrounded by natives, no Latinos, most of the time you have to speak English.” In addition, ESL students also venture off campus, to continue learning by interacting with members of the community. During her time in the program, Gatica said she went to the State Capitol, the Governor’s Mansion, Kanawha Falls, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and the New River Gorge. Gatica and her fellow ESL students also had the opportunity to give back to the surrounding community through WVSU Cares Day where they visited
younger kids in a YMCA program, playing with them and teaching them some Spanish. Gatica returned to Institute to continue her studies with the spring 2016 semester. She wants to continue to learn and improve her English language skills in addition to taking some undergraduate classes at the University, because she plans to enroll in West Virginia State’s Masters of Public Administration program in fall 2016. “It’s a process and as a process it will take time,” said Gatica of being in the ESL program, “But I’m happy, I’m excited and I’m trying my best.” For more information about the ESL program, visit wvstateu.edu/esl.
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Chemistry Professor Dr. Tom Guetzloff Aims To Complete Marathons In All 50 States
West Virginia State University Chemistry Professor Dr. Tom Guetzloff is a man on a mission – to run marathons in all 50 states by the time he turns 50. Inspired to run and get in shape by the death of his first wife, Christine, to cancer, Guetzloff ran his first marathon at Walt Disney World in 2004. But the former college football standout really hit his stride in 2015, running in more than a dozen marathons, including one of the largest and most well-known in the world, the New York City Marathon. “I really let myself go when my first wife was so sick,” Guetzloff recalls. “When I was a caregiver for her, I got to 265 pounds.” Guetzloff’s first wife had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and fought the disease for two years before passing away in 2003. He promised Christine that he would get back in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle in order to raise their two children, Jake and Megan. He began running; first a quarter mile at a time, but he eventually began to add distance. His first marathon at Walt Disney World was chosen because he, his wife and family had vacationed there the year before she passed away. He then ran in the Chicago Marathon and said he was hooked on marathon running. By the time he ran his third marathon in South Dakota, where he used to teach prior to coming to Institute, the idea of trying to run one in every state began to form. Now, at age 47, Guetzloff is well on his way to completing his goal. He finished 2015 having run a total of 52 marathons in his running career in 40 states. His plan is to finish his quest in Hawaii, making it the 50th state in which he runs a marathon. When possible, Guetzloff runs more than one marathon in a single trip. He took this to the extreme during the summer of 2015, however, running six marathons in six days throughout New England. “That was difficult,” he said. “Three of those days I was by myself. I really didn’t crank out my best time until the last one. I saved myself.” While the six marathons in six days was a highlight of his running career, Guetzloff also achieved another runner’s milestone in 2015 when he was accepted to run in the New York City Marathon in November.
He said that he had tried for years through the marathon’s lottery system to be accepted to run, with no luck, until this past year. More than 50,000 people competed in the New York City Marathon, and Guetzloff said it was an amazing experience, being there with so many fellow runners. And in the wake of the terrorist attack following the Boston Marathon in 2013, the level of security was incredible, he said. “There were snipers and police helicopters everywhere, I’ve never felt so safe,” he said. When he runs, Guetzloff often dedicates his races to someone and the New York City Marathon was no different. He dedicated it to a high school friend, Jeffrey Weiner, who worked on the 105th floor of the Twin Towers and was killed in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Guetzloff finished the New York City marathon in 4:44:53. He was accompanied to New York by his second wife, Holly. The couple married in July 2015, and Guetzloff said that she is very supportive of his running. A teacher at St. Joseph’s Elementary
“I definitely see this institution as an excellent school,” he said. “We shouldn’t be a best kept secret.” School in Huntington, Holly accompanies Guetzloff on his marathon trips as often as possible. Today, Guetzloff’s promise to his first wife has been fulfilled. The couple’s two children have grown into healthy young adults and are both attending West Virginia State where Megan is a junior and Jake a freshman. Guetzloff has been at West Virginia State since 2000 as a chemistry professor. He is active on campus and serves as the faculty representative to the University’s Board of Governors, a position he has held for seven years. “I definitely see this institution as an excellent school,” he said. “We shouldn’t be a best kept secret.” Once he meets his 50-state goal, Guetzloff said he is unlikely to hang up his running shoes. He said that he will still continue to run in local marathons to stay in shape, and he still has some running dreams that he may one day fulfill. He said that there is a marathon on Easter Island that he would like to run, in addition to running at the birthplace of the modern sport in Marathon, Greece. His quest to run a marathon in all 50 states has generated a lot of interest on campus among fellow faculty and students alike. “Students all the time tell me my story motivates them,” he said. “A lot of people have taken motivation from this. You have to take lemons and make lemonade. You have to cope with the loss.”
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Hundreds of West Virginia State alumni returned to the place we love so dear for Homecoming 2015, which took place Oct. 8-10. Highlights of the festivities included President Brian O. Hemphill’s annual State of the University Address, recognition of the Alumnus of the Year Judge Donald L. Graham (class of 1971) and Young Professional Achievement Award recipient Dr. Lateef Y. Saffore (class of 1996) and the Yellow Jackets football team’s thrilling victory over Notre Dame College. In addition, WVSU’s athletic booster organization, the National “W” Club, inducted eight new members into the University’s Sports Hall of Fame. The new “W” Club Sports Hall of Fame members are: John Wesley “Jack” Craig (class of 1961) for football; Arnett Hoston, Jr., (class of 1998) for football and track; WVSU head tennis coach John Simms (class of 2004); Robert Lee Smith (class of 1983) for football and track; Edward “Pete” Thurman (class of 1981) for track and basketball; and Valerie Colquitt Wright (class of 1981) for basketball. Honorary “W” Club Sports Hall of Fame inductees are Gregory V. Monroe (class of 1980), and WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. Also, during Homecoming activities two new members were added posthumously to the WVSU ROTC Hall of Fame. Joining the ranks of those enshrined in the ROTC Hall of Fame were Captains Roland Belcher and George Coleman.
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you don’t have a positive experience while you are in college Spend any time with Dr. Ann Brothers Smith and her then you aren’t going to come back. That’s the key to alumni passion for West Virginia State University (WVSU) is evident. engagement.” A 1964 graduate with a degree in education, Smith wears After graduating from State, Smith went on to earn a her pride in her alma mater on her sleeve. She has served as master’s degree from The Ohio State University and a President of the University’s National Alumni Association, doctorate degree in education from Wayne State University. serves on the WVSU Foundation’s Board of Directors and, She worked in the education field in New Jersey and in 2015, was elected Chair of the University’s Board of Cleveland, Ohio, before her now deceased husband, Gerald, Governors. got a job in Detroit in 1969. Smith has lived in the Motor City “The years I spent at West Virginia State as a student were ever since. good years,” said Smith, a native of Kanawha County who Smith worked for many years in the Detroit Public School has called Detroit home for more than 40 years. “I think the System as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. She relationships we built during those four years were so valuable retired in 2007 as the Associate Superintendent for School later in life. You can go anywhere in the world and there is Leadership for Detroit Public Schools. always someone from West Virginia State who remembers In rising through the ranks of the Detroit Public Schools, you.” Smith credits life lessons learned at West Virginia State. Born in the tiny community of Laing, W.Va., Smith grew “The leadership skills I learned at State prepared me for up in Cabin Creek and attended school at East Bank. During future opportunities,” she said. “Anytime you are prepared the summers, she would divide her time between her and a door opens you can step in. The values instilled in me grandmother’s home in Institute and an aunt and uncle’s home here at West Virginia State, the leadership skills, learning to in Cincinnati, Ohio. get along with people, and all the experiences I had here were Smith’s grandmother owned the popular Brothers Grocery really positive variables for success.” on Fairlawn Drive near campus, and she became quite While retired from the workforce, Smith has been familiar with West Virginia State from an early age. continually working to promote “We would slip onto campus when West Virginia State University. She were supposed to be at the Nazarene Church,” Smith recalls today with a “The success of the students is President Emeritus of the WVSU National Alumni Association and laugh. “We saw the students here and will be our legacy.” in 2010, she was recognized as the they looked so important, and the WVSU Alumna of the Year. She professors looked so dignified. It was says with pride that she has been to always the role model effect.” Homecoming every year since 1971. When it was time to go to college herself, Smith thought In her new role as Chair of the University’s Board of about attending a larger, out-of-state school, but her father Governors, Smith finds herself back on campus on a regular convinced her that West Virginia State would be a better fit. basis. She always welcomes a return to Institute. “Because of the size of the school everyone knew you and “I think it’s the most beautiful campus in America. It is everyone took an interest in you,” Smith said. “I came here small, unique and nurturing. I love the serenity of it. It is so a coal miner’s daughter in need of financial aid. I thought I peaceful, so friendly,” Smith said. “And you know that the was rich, until I got here and met classmates from all over the people here are so congenial. It’s like coming home. Every world. Kids in poverty today know they are underprivileged time I come here it’s like going home.” because they are constantly reminded, but I didn’t have that With 2016 seeing the 125th anniversary of the founding experience growing up.” of State, Smith is mindful of the history and legacy of the As a student, Smith embraced the college experience. She University. lived on campus all four years of her education, one year in “The success of the students will be our legacy,” Smith Dawson Hall and three years in Hill Hall. She also worked on said. “When you look at how many generals we have campus for the duration of her college career, under longtime produced…When you look at the number of alumni who are State Coach Grant Gray. successful business people... when you look at how many of In addition to living and working on campus, Smith also our people have become leaders around the country…. It’s embraced other parts of college life, joining the Acapella Choir, the students and their success that is our real legacy. That’s serving in the Women’s Senate and Hill Hall Council, as well what we are all about. In a nutshell, the caliber of student as being active in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. that we are able to send forth, and the success stories of “It was the extracurricular activity that really made this those students speak volumes about who we are and the such a special place. It wasn’t just a place to learn, it was a “place we love so dear!” place for fun,” Smith said. “You have to have an experience. If
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The year 2016 marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of West Virginia State University. Since its creation, State has played a role in transforming the lives of generations of families, and served as the springboard for thousands of successful careers. West Virginia State graduates have become judges, teachers, chemists, nurses, pilots, actors, athletes, lawyers, military generals, CEOs, biotechnologists and even a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Generation after generation our students have come to Institute to find their passion, and have left instilled with greater purpose to better not only themselves, but the world around them. In this milestone year, it is important to remember where we as a State family came from. Originally founded as the West Virginia Colored Institute, West Virginia State University was designated by the United States Congress as one of the original 1890 land-grant schools under the Second Morrill Act. These schools were created to provide instruction in agriculture, the mechanical arts, English language and the various branches of mathematical, physical, natural and economic science to the black citizens of the states where these individuals had
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no access to other higher education institutions because of segregation laws. West Virginia was one of the states that maintained segregated educational systems at that time. From 1891 to 1915, the original Institute offered the equivalent of a high school education, vocational training and teacher preparation. In 1915, the West Virginia Collegiate Institute began to offer college degrees. Under the leadership of long-serving President John W. Davis, the academic program was expanded and new buildings were constructed, and in 1927, the Institution was accredited by the North Central Association, a milestone that led to its becoming the longest accredited public college in West Virginia. In 1929, the Institute became West Virginia State College, and over the next few decades, State became recognized as one of the leading public institutions of higher education for African-Americans in the nation. In the late 1930s and early 1940s with the country on the brink of entering the Second World War, State played an important role in the development of the first group of African-American fighter pilots, who would come to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. On Sept. 10, 1939,
West Virginia State became the first of six historically black colleges to be authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Authority to establish an aviation program. The first pilot training class at State began on Nov. 14, 1939, and many graduates of the program would go on to serve with distinction as fighter pilots. In 1954, the United States Supreme Court gave its historic decision outlawing school segregation. The consequence of this decision for West Virginia State was a rapid transition to an integrated institution serving a predominantly white, commuting and older student population. Enrollment quadrupled during the following decades. The successful reverse integration from a historically black college to one welcoming all those seeking an education drew national attention and headlines, and West Virginia State was declared “a living laboratory of human relations.” Meanwhile in 1957, by a decision of the West Virginia Board of Education, West Virginia State was compelled to surrender landgrant status, the only one of the 1890 institutions to do so. For 31 years, alumni of the University, interested in regaining land-grant
status, looked for the right time, place and key persons to reverse this decision. Dr. Hazo W. Carter, Jr. became President of West Virginia State University on Sept. 1, 1987. During fall 1988, President Carter undertook the endeavor to regain the land-grant status or, failing that, have the record show that all possible efforts to regain the status had been made. After a 12-year effort that included efforts on both the state and national level, the college’s land-grant status was fully restored in 2001 by an act of Congress. In 2004, the West Virginia Legislature approved West Virginia State’s transition to University status, and today, WVSU offers 23 bachelor’s degrees and five master’s degrees in more than 70 areas of study. WVSU continues to cherish and advance its original mission to provide access to quality higher education for African-Americans, while it has steadily broadened its horizons to serve a more diverse student population with a wider range of academic programs. With a rich history and promising future, WVSU is positioned to become the most student-centered research and teaching, land-grant University in the state of West Virginia, and beyond.
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S
Since its inception in 1959, the West Virginia State University Foundation has helped thousands of students realize their dreams and go on to become corporate and civic leaders across the country. Annual gifts to the Foundation help State continue to provide students a quality, affordable education. A bequest will ensure the next generation of college students have the same opportunities to pursue their dreams.
For more information about giving to WVSU, please contact: Patricia J. Schumann President (304) 766-3021 patricia.schumann@wvstateu.edu Adam Neal Vice President (304) 766-5779 aneal9@wvstateu.edu
WVSU research project studies soil from drilling sites Dr. Amir Hass isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty — literally. The WVSU soil scientist is leading research to determine if spent material from pipeline drilling processes is suitable for land application. The $100,000 project could provide a new soil amendment alternative for the state’s small farmers. Targeting 30 sites of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Hass and a group of WVSU students have collected various samples of the spent mud left behind from the process. The goal is to determine if it can safely be used on farmland, providing a benefit to both local farmers and to drilling companies who have to remove the spent mud after the drilling process is complete. “It’s a very expensive proposition to remove this waste,” Hass said. “Depending upon state regulations, it can cost upwards of half a million dollars just for waste management and removal.” Hass is quick to clarify that HDD drilling
differs from the controversial fracking processes that continue to make headlines. “We’re not talking about the deep production well that goes into the Marcellus Shale and fracking,” he said. “HDD deals with the infrastructure of pipeline systems that transport products like natural gas and oil.” HDD technology allows the crossings of ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands, creeks and heavily used infrastructure such as highways and railroads, without disturbing the landscape or disruption of commerce. The process drills underneath such systems to minimize disturbance. Once the project concludes, Hass and his students will have tested the chemical and physical aspects of 17 different soil types to determine not only if it is safe for use on farmlands but also if it could improve crop yield and soil fertility. While there are still several months left in the project, Hass’ team has yet to find any negative implications of using the mud as a soil amendment. The project runs through December 2016.
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Continued from page 03 Johnson became a teacher herself for several years following graduation, but never forgot about the encouragement her professor and mentor provided her at State to follow her passion for mathematics. One day, at a family function in the 1950s, a relative mentioned to Johnson that the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor to NASA, was hiring. They were specifically looking for African-American women to work as “computers” in what was then their Guidance and Navigation Department. She applied for the job, but the agency had already filled its positions for that year. The next year, she applied again and this time was accepted into the program. Johnson began working for the NACA in 1953. Johnson started as one of the women who worked on problems assigned from engineers in what was then the Guidance and Control Branch. As Johnson worked on the problems, she would ask questions. She didn’t want to just do the work – she wanted to know the “hows” and the “whys,” and then the “why nots.” None of the other women had ever asked these kinds of questions before, but by asking questions, Johnson began to stand out. As a computer, she calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space. Even after NASA began using electronic computers, John Glenn requested that she personally recheck the calculations made by the new electronic computers before his flight aboard Friendship 7 – the mission on which he became the first American to orbit the Earth. She went on to perform the calculations for the first actual moon landing in 1969. Johnson worked at the agency until 1986, when she retired after 33 years of service. During her tenure at NASA, Johnson received many prestigious awards. Among them were the NASA Lunar Orbiter Award and three NASA Special Achievement Awards. She was named Mathematician of the Year in 1997 by the National Technical Association. In addition, Johnson has been honored with an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the State University of New York and honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Capitol College in Maryland and Old Dominion University in Virginia. “She’s one of the greatest minds ever to grace our agency or our country, and because of the trail she blazed, young Americans, like my granddaughters, can pursue their own dreams without a feeling of inferiority,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at the time Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “Katherine’s legacy is a big part of the reason that my fellow astronauts and I were able to get to space; it’s also a big part of the reason that today there is space for women and African-Americans in the leadership of our nation, including the White House.”
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Photos courtesy of NASA
The 2015 season for the West Virginia State University (WVSU) baseball team ended the same way that so many springs do for the Yellow Jackets – with a conference championship. Coming out of the loser’s bracket in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) tournament in Beckley, the Yellow Jackets came back in the 10th inning to defeat Shepherd University 5-4 and claim their second straight MEC tournament championship. It was the culmination of Sean Loyd’s first year as head coach of the Yellow Jackets, continuing the success of the program enjoyed during legendary coach Cal Bailey’s long tenure, which saw 18 titles and 1,063 victories in a 37-year-coaching career.
“ They expect you to be good. They expect you to be successful.” “The expectations were that the program would continue to be really good,” Loyd said of taking over the head coaching duties from his mentor and friend. “I like the fact that people expect us to be good. I like the fact that people come to the field every day, and they expect you to be good. They expect you to be successful.” Even with the 2015 team starting off with a 1-6 record, Loyd said there was not a sense of panic, rather a redoubling of efforts to play Yellow Jackets baseball together as a team. “I told the guys, ‘Look we are 1-6, we have to own that. We can’t run from it,’” Loyd said. “I put something different on our board every day. I told them we are going
to win our games and our season will be dictated by three things – energy, toughness and smarts.” The combination proved successful as the Yellow Jackets turned their season completely around, finishing with a 35-14 record and the conference crown. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Loyd said of the season. “During the course of a marathon, you have to be able to withstand some setbacks.” Having high expectations and a track record of winning helps in recruiting the next wave of players who will continue to build the program. “Anytime you have success kids want to be part of that,” Loyd said. “As a coach it gives you credibility and a track record. You’ve had success because you’ve had really good players. More than anything it shows you have a track record of bringing in guys that have some talent, that are good students and that you can coach them.” The Yellow Jackets opened the 2016 baseball season on Feb. 13. Even before the season began, expectations were high for another successful season. The two-time defending Mountain East Conference champion received votes in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Coaches’ National Poll. Even though it’s a new season, the same objectives for the program remain. “Our objective is to try and win as many baseball games as we can with really good kids who are committed to getting a degree,” Loyd said. “Ultimately, we have to make sure these kids graduate. They need to be able to walk out of here with that diploma and some direction in how they will fit into society.”
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BrickStreet Foundation Makes
MAJOR INVESTMENT in the University
On Nov. 9, 2015, West Virginia State University (WVSU) received a transformational financial donation, when The BrickStreet Foundation provided $1.75 million to the West Virginia State University Foundation. The gift will be used to support up to 30 WVSU student scholarships each year beginning with the fall 2016 semester. In addition to supporting other student-centered needs, the donation expands and permanently endows the BrickStreet Scholars Fund, which was established in 2013. Students in any area of academic study will be eligible; however, preference will be given to students in business, information technology, mathematics, natural sciences, health sciences, safety or loss or insurance fields. “With this endowment, we are able to help a number of students fulfill their dreams of attending and graduating from college,” said Greg Burton, Chief Executive Officer of BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company. “A portion of the scholarship will be used for students from West Virginia who are from families of a parent who received a permanent total disability award or unfortunately died from a workplace injury. Helping families of injured workers in West Virginia is something our board feels very strongly about, and we want to give back to the communities in which we live and work. This is a fundamental part of our core values at BrickStreet.” BrickStreet will be involved in the selection process through a Scholarship Committee composed of BrickStreet employees, as well as representatives of WVSU. In addition to support of the student scholarship program, part of the BrickStreet Foundation’s donation will provide funding for studentcentered initiatives such as the Gregory V. Monroe Athletic Complex, located in the end zone of Lakin Field at Dickerson Stadium. The complex provides expanded facilities for the University’s academic and athletic programs, support for athletic training and conditioning for all student-athletes. The 15,691-square-foot facility houses the BrickStreet Strength Center with state-of-the-art weight training equipment. BrickStreet’s donation comes as part of the University’s ongoing Campaign for West Virginia State University, “Realize the Promise, Deliver the Future.” The Campaign goal is to raise $18 million by 2017.
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01.
West Virginia State University Accreditation Reaffirmed for 10 Years West Virginia State University’s (WVSU) accreditation has been reaffirmed for another 10 years by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. The HLC granted WVSU’s 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation, the maximum length of time granted by the educational accrediting body, with no findings or deficiencies. WVSU was first accredited in 1927. Of all West Virginia’s higher education institutions, WVSU has the longest record of continuous accreditation. The University hosted peer reviewers with the HLC, April 13-15, 2015, who evaluated the school’s ongoing adherence to the HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status. The HLC is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting institutions of higher education that are based in the 19-state North Central region of the United States.
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02.
Mathematics Professor Receives Prestigious Fulbright Award Mathematics Professor Dr. Sonya Armstrong has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Award and will spend part of 2016 teaching in the Slovak Republic. She will spend February through July 2016 living in the Slovakian city of Banska Bystrica, while teaching and doing research at Matej Bel University. Armstrong will be part of the Department of Mathematics at Matej Bel University and will teach mathematics and statistics courses. The Fulbright is the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world. Scholars are selected through open, merit-based competitions. Armstrong earned her doctorate degree in mathematics education and her master’s degree in statistics, both from the University of Rochester. She also holds a master’s degree in numerical science from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Bernard Baruch College.
03.
University Earns National Rankings for Academics For 2015, Great Value Colleges ranked WVSU as the fourth most affordable small college east of the Mississippi. The listing looked at colleges with less than 4,000 students in the eastern half of the United States. In its ranking, Great Value Colleges cited WVSU’s proximity to Charleston, as well as major metro markets in other states. It also highlighted the University’s Honors Program and opportunities for students to pursue research. The University’s biology program also earned national recognition, being named one of the 50 best small colleges for a biology degree by Best Value Schools. The rankings looked at colleges and universities with fewer than 3,000 students. In ranking WVSU’s biology program the third best in the country, Best Value Schools cited the low student to faculty ratio and research opportunities. Best Value Schools also ranked WVSU’s social work program 10th in the country of the 50 most affordable selective schools for a bachelor of social work degree. In its rankings, Best Value Schools cited the University’s location, as well the Alpha Delta Mu National Social Work Honor Society and the school’s Social Work Student Organization. Best Value Schools also recognized the University’s bachelor of science in business administration degree as the third best in the country among small colleges. In its recognition, Best Value School’s cited the seven different concentration options available, as well as extracurricular options such as the Delta Mu Delta honor society and the Dean’s Business and Economics Student Advisory Board.
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04.
Students Place in Top 100 of International Business Competition A trio of West Virginia State University business students finished among the top 100 teams in the world in a recent computer-based business simulation. Seniors Tyler Clendenin, Elizabeth Jump and Hannah Keller participated in the international competition during the spring 2015 semester as part of a Senior Business Seminar taught by Dr. Abainesh Mitiku. Competing in the Business Strategy Game marketed by McGraw-Hill Education, Inc., the participating teams were assigned to operate an athletic footwear company that produces and markets both branded and private-label footwear, and competes head-to-head against footwear companies run by other teams. The students who comprise each company are responsible for assessing market conditions, determining how to respond to the actions of competitors, forging a long-term direction and strategy for their company, forecasting upcoming sales volumes and making business decisions. During the week of April 6-12, 2015, the WVSU students’ company, known as Axiomatic Footwear, earned global top 100 rankings in earnings per share (42nd in the world), return on average equity (95th in the world) and stock price (61st in the world). During the time Axiomatic posted these top 100 performances there were 6,136 teams from 335 colleges and universities participating in the Business Strategy Game.
05.
University Dedicates New Public Relations Research Laboratory The University dedicated a new Public Relations Research Laboratory for student and community marketing research in April 2015. The laboratory is named in honor of Diane Slaughter, executive director of the West Virginia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and longtime supporter of the WVSU public relations program. The new research lab is located on the second floor of Cole Complex. The new Diane Slaughter Public Relations Research Laboratory is designed as a multi-purpose space that will be used as a traditional classroom with multi-media technology including a computer lab area, a client/team meeting space and a two-way viewing area with audio-visual accommodations for conducting focus groups and marketing research.
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06.
University Continues to Expand Degree Programs Responding to the needs of not only students, but the state economy, West Virginia State University (WVSU) began offering a pair of new degree programs with the start of the fall 2015 semester. The University now offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Music Performance for students who seek competitive music careers or will pursue graduate work. The goal of the program is to prepare professional vocalists and musicians to meet the musical needs of the Kanawha Valley, the state and the nation, as well as to prepare them for future graduate study. With the start of the fall 2015 semester, the University launched a new Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Designed for working professionals in the Kanawha Valley, the new MPA degree utilizes a cohort model with both evening and online classes. The curriculum for the MPA program uses a hybrid model that divides coursework into two streams. The Administration/Management stream focuses on the executive side of Public Administration, while the Policy/ Research stream emphasizes analytical policy skills and research. Beginning with the fall 2016 semester through a new partnership with West Virginia University, WVSU students will be able to earn a master’s degree in social work. This partnership expands the education possibilities for both universities, including shared resources of faculty, staff, classrooms and access to the WVSU campus.
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07.
Thomas Health System Provides Health Care Services at West Virginia State Thomas Health System began serving West Virginia State University (WVSU) students, faculty, staff and the greater Institute community at an on-campus Thomas Care Clinic with the start of the fall 2015 semester. Located in the James C. Wilson University Union, the walk-in Thomas Care Clinic is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with nurse practitioners and physician assistants in consultation with physicians. Services available at the Thomas Care Clinic include treatment for minor abrasions, bronchitis, asthma treatment and therapy, as well as wellness visits, health screenings, immunizations, vaccination and comprehensive physicals.
08.
University and Montclaire String Quartet Announce Collaboration The West Virginia State University (WVSU) College of Arts and Humanities began a new collaboration with the Montclaire String Quartet beginning with the fall 2015 semester. The quartet, formerly the resident quartet of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO), is now the Quartet in Residence at WVSU. “The addition of the Montclaire String Quartet to the West Virginia State University community is an exciting development in the partnership between WVSU and the WVSO,” said Dr. Scott Woodard, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “The Montclaire String Quartet represents the finest in culture and music the Kanawha Valley has to offer. The students, faculty and staff of West Virginia State University will now be privileged to have increased access to the cultural enrichment made possible by the inclusion of this ensemble on our campus. We welcome them with open arms.”
09.
Criminal Justice Students Take Top Honors at Statewide Conference West Virginia State University (WVSU) Criminal Justice students walked away with top honors in three out of four categories at the annual West Virginia Criminal Justice Educators Association conference Nov. 12-13, 2015, at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. The team from WVSU won first place in the Quiz Bowl competition at the annual conference which represents all colleges and universities in West Virginia that offer Criminal Justice as a major. Quiz Bowl team members were Eli Crush, Cassie Province, Dori McDonough, Jamaine Hunt and Breanna Jeffers. The team from WVSU also finished first in the Crime Scene competition. Team members were WVSU students K.C. Dodd, Tyler Brewster, Cassie Province, Dori McDonough, Jamaine Hunt, Breanna Jeffers, Eli Crush and Daniel Riggs. Finally, WVSU student Carla Brooks won first place in the graduate paper competition, while Christopher Dolin placed third in the undergraduate paper competition. Vo l u m e 4 : 2 0 16 | 27
10.
Bayer CropScience Invests in Campus Security On Nov. 30, 2015, the University received a $600,000 contribution from Bayer CropScience. The contribution will be used for campus security and related enhancements benefitting students, faculty and staff. Among the enhancements the university plans to pursue will be a diesel generator capable of supplying electricity to fully power even the largest facility on campus, an additional University Public Safety Officer whose duties will include the assessment of campus safety needs and improvements, new police cruisers and a surveillance camera system.
11.
Women’s Tennis Team Continues Run of Championships The West Virginia State University women’s tennis team won their third straight Mountain East Conference (MEC) tournament championship during the fall 2015 semester when it defeated the University of Charleston 5-1. The tournament championship came on the heels of the team’s third straight regular season MEC crown. In addition, in the fall of 2012 the Yellow Jackets defeated West Liberty to win the final championship in the former West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The MEC tournament win earned the Yellow Jackets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in May 2016.
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CLASS NOTES
’30s 1937: Ercelle S. Carter (Home Economics/Elementary Education) celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 25, 2015, and was recognized on the Congressional floor by U.S. Rep. Alex X. Mooney, R-W.Va. She began her teaching career at Shawnee Elementary and retired in 1979 from Mound Elementary after nearly 30 years of teaching. A native of Fayetteville, Carter resides in Institute.
’40s 1940: Dr. James “Jimmy” Huger (Business Administration) was honored by the Daytona Beach library’s Friends of the Library in 2015. Huger, a civil rights trailblazer and pillar of the AfricanAmerican community, turned 100 on Jan. 4, 2015. He earned his high school diploma and associate degree from BethuneCookman University, his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State University and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. As a member of the Montford Point Marines in the 1940s, Huger was named a sergeant major, the highest rank a noncommissioned officer could earn. He and other members of the all-black group received the Gold Congressional Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in 2011. In addition to serving on many local boards, Huger was the first African-American to serve as a member and chair of the Volusia County Council, and he held a seat on the Daytona Beach City Commission for many years. Huger resides in Daytona Beach, Fla.
’50s 1954: William Archie was inducted into the McDowell County Sports Hall of Fame in the Legends category. A graduate of Elkhorn High School and West Virginia State, Archie went on to be a long-time coach and athletic director at Norfolk State University. A native of McDowell County, Archie currently resides in Norfolk, Va
’60s 1964: Dr. Virginia Gill Simmons was selected for the prestigious English Language Teaching Fellowship by the U.S. Department of State. Simmons was appointed to a 10-month Fellowship project teaching English in Cambodia and is one of only 165 U.S. citizens selected for the 2015-2016 English Language
Fellow Program. The English Language Fellow Program is the premiere opportunity for highly qualified Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages professionals to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad. Simmons resides in Wilmington, N.C. 1964: Bob Thompson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame for 2015. A renowned pianist and jazz musician, Thompson completed the 23rd season of “Joy to the World,” his widely acclaimed holiday jazz performance produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In addition to a distinguished solo career as the leader of the Charleston-based Bob Thompson Unit, Thompson has also been a member of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage band since 1991. A native of Queens, N.Y., Thompson currently resides in Charleston.
’70s 1975: Debra F. Harris (Social Work) was featured in the 16th edition of Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. She received her Master of Arts degree from Atlanta University (now known as Clark Atlanta University) and graduated from the National Center for Paralegal Training, an American Bar Association Approved Program. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A native of Charleston, Harris resides in Atlanta, Ga. 1976: Carolyn Evelyn-Holland (Philosophy) recently published a new book, “The Realm of Awe.” Holland is also the author of the “Brothers of the Dark Veil” series. She is from Plainfield, N.J. and currently resides in Hillsborough Township where she is working on her next novel. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Stars. 1979: Dr. Hunter O’Hara (Education) recently published a new book, “Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationships: The Way of the Shamanic Teacher.” O’Hara is a full professor of Education at The University of Tampa, where he also served as department chair for 11 years. O’Hara resides in St. Petersburg, Fla.
’90s 1990: Jonathan Krieps (Accounting and Finance) was named chief operations officer for North State Bank. Krieps joined North State in September 2010 and most recently served as senior operations officer. Krieps earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State University, an MBA from the University of Charleston and is also a graduate of the School of Banking at Louisiana State University. Krieps currently resides in Raleigh, N.C.
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CLASS NOTES 1992: Michael Arbogast (Elementary Education) received the 2015 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) West Virginia Principal of the Year Award. Arbogast is Principal of South Charleston High School. Under his leadership the school has increased its graduation rate, and in 2014 the senior class earned $1.8 million in scholarships. Arbogast received the award from the NASSP at a Kanawha County School Board Meeting in August 2015. He currently resides in St. Albans. 1994: Dr. Roslyn C. Clark Artis (Political Science) was recently appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC). Artis is one of six members of the council that consists of university presidents and academic leaders who provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters related to homeland security and the academic community. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Artis resides in Miramar, Fla. 1999: Larry D. Bailey (Education) was recently named Principal of Capital High School in Charleston. Bailey has 16 years of experience as an educator, with the last eight as an administrator. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Education from West Virginia State in 1999, Bailey earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2007 from High Point University. Bailey currently resides in Hurricane. 1999: Bryan Shaw (Criminal Justice) has been appointed by the West Virginia Small Business Development Center as a new business coach for the Huntington area. Shaw previously worked in the telecommunications field as a senior marketing specialist and manager. He received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State, Master of Science degree in technology management from Marshall University Graduate College and Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Shaw resides in Sissonville.
’00s 2009: Michael “Stryker” Sidenstricker (Communications) and his team at Casting Life Films won an Emmy award in 2015 for the documentary “Hunger in America.” Sidenstricker, who now goes by Stryker, is a graduate of George Washington High School and West Virginia State with a degree in communications. He resides in Nashville, Tenn.
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’10s 2011: Avery Hale (Business Administration), Air Force Airman 1st Class, graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas, after completing an intensive, eight-week program that includes training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. Hale earned distinction as an honor graduate. Hale graduated in 2007 from Regina High School, South Euclid, and she earned a bachelor’s degree in 2011 from West Virginia State. Hale is currently stationed at Minot Air Force base in North Dakota. 2011: Jonathan B. Tucker (History) was recently named the Director of Linen Services, Courier and Mailroom Operations at Charleston Area Medical Center. Tucker was a Yellow Jacket football player for four years while a student at State. Tucker resides in Charleston. 2012: G. David Miller (English Literature) is the new ministerial intern at First Parish Church in Weston, Mass. Miller is a 2012 graduate of West Virginia State and currently a third-year divinity student at Andover Newton Theological School. A native of Saint Albans, Harris resides in Newton Center, Mass. 2012: Capt. Kenneth Tyree, Jr. (Regents Bachelor of Arts) was named State Fire Marshal by the state Fire Commission in 2015. Tyree, who was recently named as the Charleston Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year, oversaw the responsibilities of the Charleston Fire Department Inspection Bureau. Tyree, who served nine years in the U.S. Air Force, is an E.M.T., Certified Fire Inspector and Arson Investigator, and is the past President of the Fire Marshal’s Association of West Virginia and Past Board of Director-International Fire Marshall’s Association.
ALUMNI EVENTS 2016 MARCH 17 FOUNDERS DAY & WVSU DAY OF GIVING Join the Yellow Jacket family for a special Founders Day celebration on March 17, the 125th anniversary of the founding of West Virginia State University. A full day of activities is planned for this special anniversary, including a ceremony in the Walker Convocation Center highlighting the pivotal role that WVSU has played in both the state and the nation. Alumni and friends are invited to help recognize this milestone by participating in the WVSU Day of Giving. For more information, please visit wvstateu.edu/125. APRIL 8 BLACK & GOLD GALA AT THE CLAY CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES The fourth annual Black & Gold Gala will be held on April 8, 2016, and will include a special Campaign for WVSU announcement, as well as a silent auction. Attendees will experience an elegant evening of entertainment and dancing as they celebrate West Virginia State University’s profound contribution to the region, and recognize those who make it possible. All proceeds will benefit the WVSU Foundation. For more information, please visit connect. wvstateu.edu. APRIL 9 ALUMNI APPRECIATION DAY AT BASEBALL & SOFTBALL GAMES Lady Jackets vs Urbana University (Ohio) (Double Header) Jackets vs Concord (Double Header) APRIL 23 WVSU CARES DAY Cares Day is West Virginia State University’s largest community service event, bringing together Yellow Jacket students, faculty, staff and alumni for a one-of-a-kind volunteering opportunity. Project sites around the community of Institute, and in Kanawha and Putnam counties, focus on various initiatives such as outdoor clean-up, working with youth, literacy education, serving meals, office work and a variety of other worthwhile endeavors. For more information and to volunteer, please visit wvstateu.edu/caresday. MAY 4-7 NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE Alumni from around the country will gather in Chicago for the WVSU National Alumni Association’s 23rd National Conference. The conference will focus on the importance of alumni support to the continuous growth of West Virginia State University and will feature seminars, presentations, luncheons and dinners, as well as sight-seeing tours and activities in and around Chicago. MAY 14 COMMENCEMENT D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center AUGUST 12-21 WEST VIRGINIA STATE FAIR Join WVSU at the State Fair in Lewisburg, W.Va. SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1 HOMECOMING 2016 Join the fun of WVSU’s annual Homecoming celebration! Tailgating, a parade, football game, awards dinners, the annual Yellow Jacket 5K – there’s something for everyone! This year’s Homecoming will be held September 29-October 1, 2016. For more information or to register for events, please visit connect.wvstateu.edu/homecoming.
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November 2014 – October 2015 Dr. Elayne C. Abnathy, ’57 Mr. Roy B. Ailstock, ’62 Dr. Donald F. Anderson, ’53 Mr. Edwin C. Anderson, Jr., ’58 Mr. Leon “Tojo” Anderson, ’76 Mrs. Ruth Rogers Anderson Mr. Billy J. Barbour, ’60 Mr. Harry K. Black, ’71 Sen. Harriett E. Byrd, ’49 Ms. Florence Casey, ’60 Mr. Toney L. Clay, ’78 Mr. Robert L. Cooke, ’67 Mr. Michael J. Cotton, ’69 Col. (Ret.) Theodore “Ted” A. Crawford, ’55 Ms. Angela Jane Daugherty, ’09 Ms. Celeste Y. Davis, ’77 Col. (Ret.) Preston Davis, ’49 Dr. Lincoln I. Diuguid, ’38 Mr. Richard L. Dunlap, ’64 Mr. Dexter. Eure, ’46 Mr. Warne Ferguson, ’63
Ms. Edith A. Gholston, ’47 Mrs. Charlotte T. Ginestra, ’63 Mr. Vance E. Gray, ’48 Mr. Sylvester Hairston, ’55 Mrs. Rosa Mae Hightower, ’42 Mr. Antonio Deshon Hill Mr. Ernest E. Hissomv, ’72 Mrs. Nancy Jean H. Huffman, ’71 Mrs. Kathy Sue Kanney Hughes, ’73 Mr. James Samuel Jackson, ’68 Mr. Frederick D. Jefferson, ’46 Ms. Rita J. Johnson, ’83 Rev. West Johnson, ’74 Mr. Roland A. Jones, ’59 Ms. Janet L. Knighton, ’60 Mr. H. Edward “Ed” Lacey, ’73 Mrs. Mildred D. Leonard, ’42 Mr. Ronald E. Lewis, ’62 Mr. Earl Francis Lloyd, ’55 Mr. Roy L. McClain, ’68 Mrs. Dorothy Layne McIntyre, ’41
Mr. Robert W. Medlock, ’49 Mrs. Joyce Hendricks Miller Mrs. Rowene D. Morgan, ’41 Mrs. Hortense W. Morris, ’56 Mrs. Sheliah D. Payne, ’02 Mr. Alphonso W. Nabors, ’52 Mr. James W. Neal, ’74 Mr. Lawrence Y. Peters, ’70 Rev. Charles L. Poindexter, ’54 Dr. Beny J. Primm, ’50 Ms. Janie Hackworth Rhodes, ’75 Ms. Pearl M. Shingleton, ’82 Mr. Quewannco “Que” C. Stephens, II, ’92 Mr. James A. Stokes, ’80 Mrs. Ida L. Taylor, ’91 Mr. Lamont “Kool-Aid” Timmons, ’94 Mrs. Gladys Walker, ’41 Ms. Belinda A. Wilkerson, ’08 Mr. Dondre A. Williams, ’04 Mrs. Odessa Marie Wilson, ’42 Mr. Vernon U. Wood, ’54
N E W COLLEC T ION SHOWC A SE S
Just in time for the 125th anniversary of the founding of West Virginia State, retired University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. R. Charles Byers has produced a collection of drawings detailing both existing and historic campus buildings. Titled “A Place We Love So Dear,” the collection features hand-drawn images of such well-known campus landmarks as the Carillion, or Clock Tower, as well as the Water Tower, the Drain-Jordan Library, the Wilson University Union and Keith Scholars Hall. The collection also features drawings of a number of historic campus buildings that are no longer standing, such as the Auto Mechanics Building, Glasscock Hall, Gore Hall, Prillerman Hall and the A.B. White Trades Building. A 1968 graduate of State, Byers spent more than 40 years working at the University in a variety of capacities including serving as a Professor of Education, Vice President of Planning and Advancement, as well as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “A Place We Love So Dear” is available for $40, and proceeds from the sale of the collection go to support student scholarships. You can order online at connect.wvstateu.edu/byerscollection or by phone at (304) 766-3130.
PO Box 1000 Institute, WV 25112-1000
wvstateu.edu
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Institute, WV 25112 Permit No. 1