General News Archives - Page 4 of 46

WVUP announces Pitch Competition Winners

Parkersburg, W.Va. (February 19, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg hosted the first stage of the WVUP Pitch Competition in the Proud Room of the main campus on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

The WVUP Pitch Competition gives student entrepreneurs an outlet to present their business ideas to community figures with business acumen. The judges included: Kathy Eddy, Erickson Foundation trustee; Tres Ross, Ross Foundation executive director; Dr. Jacqueline Khorassani, senior director of Entrepreneurship and Career Development at Marietta College; Michele Wilson, dean of WVUP’s Workforce, Technical, and Computer Information Science Division; And Gregory Hill, WVUP Business Instructor.

“I’m very grateful to be a part of this and especially thankful to Dr. Jackson, NACCE, the Erickson Foundation, and the Ross Foundation for helping make it possible. This is an amazing opportunity for everyone involved,” said Charles Almond, C.O. and Charles F. Erickson distinguished faculty chair in Entrepreneurship. “For the students, it’s a chance to be innovative and solve a real-world problem by applying what they’ve learned. They and other students can also work towards achieving a dream and helping others.”

He continued, “For the college, it’s a chance to live our missions and provide life-changing educational opportunities, and for the community it’s a chance to build a better economy where everyone can have new opportunities.”

During the competition, students presented ideas like software agencies, an ever-evolving playset for children and a back-up safety system for campers.

WVUP students Elizabeth Perdue, Eric Wright and Devon Dalrymple, won first, second and third place, respectively.

Perdue presented her idea for a mobile welding unit she could use to travel to fix heavy machinery.

“My idea was a mobile welding rig, that I can use to help support my local community,” said Perdue. “I want to help our local heavy equipment operators, whether that’s logging, farming, you name it, anything that involves big machinery where it breaks down in the middle of nowhere and you can’t reach it. I want to be able to go to them instead of them having to fight the hassle of bringing that [machinery] out to a shop.”

Perdue is a Wirt County native who graduated from Wirt County High School. The fascination for her high school welding program is what drove her to pursue a degree in welding. Perdue currently lives at North Bend State Park, where she works as a trail coordinator.

Wright presented a customizable playset for children to help expand their creativity during playtime.

“I hope it encourages kids to engage in imaginative play,” said Wright. “The idea behind my project is to create a framework in which kids can play and develop stories and ideas.”

Wright grew up in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Clearfield High School. He moved to Marietta with his wife to connect with family about 15 years ago, and he still lives there to this day. Wright is a Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) student at WVUP.

Dalrymple is creating a web development agency with one of his close friends.

“We’re a web development agency that plans to offer both the initial building and maintenance [of a website].

Dalrymple lives in Williamstown, where he graduated from Williamstown High School. Before coming to WVUP and majoring in Software Engineering, Dalrymple took a course in computer repair systems at the Caperton Center for Applied Technology, where he became captivated with the topic.

In stage two of the Pitch Competition, students will have the chance to win a grand prize of $10,000 and a spot in one of the WVUP ITC’s technology-based incubators to help them incubate their business from a concept to a company. The competition will take place on Friday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Proud Room. To register, contact Charles Almond at calmond1@wvup.edu.

WVUP’s Pitch Competition is in partnership with NACCE’s Everyday Entrepreneur program. For more information about NACCE’s Everyday Entrepreneur program, visit https://www.nacce.com/EEVF

WVU Parkersburg Professional Studies division announces Spring 2024 Education clinical students

Parkersburg, W.Va. (February 16, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg is proud to announce its Spring 2024 Clinical students.

“The Residency Model has been such a wonderful addition to teacher preparation programs. Residents are given the opportunity to work with the same cooperating teacher and the same K-6 students for an entire year,” said Dr. Bobbi Marshall, dean of Professional Studies. “Being able to participate in the same class for a full school year gives teacher candidates the opportunity to participate in the start of the school year as well as the end of the school year. The full year experience provides teacher candidates with the skills that they need to successfully step into their own classroom after graduation.”

The Elementary Education program provides field experience in the classroom as early as the freshman year. With the traditional student teaching model, teacher candidates spend a semester in two classrooms and quickly assume teaching responsibilities under the mentorship of an experienced teacher until they are teaching full-time. The new residency model places teacher candidates in one classroom for their entire senior year, and they assume responsibilities more gradually.

The Spring 2024 class of students in Education 401 includes:

TYLER COUNTY — Scott Gorby

WOOD COUNTY— Makayla Burns; Chloe Kennedy; Quentin Kennedy; Abigail Lathem; Eliza Lawrentz; Jessica Morrison; Sydney Nuckolls; Ariana Pagan; Hanna Smith; Elizabeth Weaver

The Spring 2024 class of students in Education 410 includes:

JACKSON COUNTY — Maggy Criser

PLEASANTS COUNTY — Lindsey Cross

RITCHIE COUNTY — Valerie Bircher

WOOD COUNTY — Nolan Brace; Alysha King

To learn more about the Elementary Education program, please visit wvup.edu/education or contact Bobbi Marshall at Bobbi.Marshall@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8000 ext. 442.

WVU Parkersburg hosts White Coat Ceremony to honor nursing students

Parkersburg, W.Va. (February 16, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg hosted its Spring Nursing White Coat Ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m., in the Mutli-Purpose Room.

The ceremony is the oldest, and most well-known, program of the Gold Foundation. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation established the White Coat Ceremony in 1993 at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons as a way to emphasize humanism in medicine at the very start of medical education.

While it may take different forms, the ceremony emphasizes the importance of humanistic patient care, defined as compassionate, collaborative and scientifically excellent healthcare, early in the nursing training and professional identity formation.

“We are so happy that you’ve joined us this evening to celebrate your student as they begin their journey to becoming a registered nurse,” said Director of Nursing Rebecca Duckworth.

The ceremony included greetings from Duckworth; Dr. David Lancaster, vice president of Academic Affairs; Caraline Lancaster, nursing student; and nursing program alumnus Lloyd Frazier. May M. Miller, MSN, RN and Heather Carter, MSN, RN presented the coats to the students.

The ceremony ended with students reading the Oath to Compassionate Patient Care to the audience.

After the ceremony, students, friends and family were directed to the nursing hallway for Family Night, where guests caught a glimpse of what it’s like to be a nursing student and were invited into the nursing labs.

The Spring 2024 White Coat recipients included: Sofia Chloe Aliac; Amber Amick; Macey Anderson; Sophie Beattie; Paige Berkley; Shilyn Butcher; Carter Calvert; Ashlynn Dinnin; Alisha Dolly; Joyce Eddy; Samantha Fowler; Corinna Fullmer; Eian Grigsby; Charlene Haller; Grace Harper; Kennedy Harris; Logan Henthorn; Lydia Hostottle; Kayleigh Johnson; Rebecca Kalb; Rosella Lacey; Isabel Lynch; Ian Martin; Lauren McDonnell; Daphne Miner; Bianca Norman; Joseph Overbaugh; Kaylin Parsons; Rachel Phares; Karissa Reynolds; Michaela Rogers; Elaina Ross; Cierra Ruch; Tori Sigman; Avery Smith; Megan Snyder; Laci Stone; Elijah Thomas; Katelyn Tucker; Alvin Varghese; Elyssa West; Brayden Whited; Natalie Wood; Kayla Yeager; and Evelyn Yeager.

Fall 2023 WVU Parkersburg graduates announced

Parkersburg, W.Va. (January 24, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg awarded certificates and associate and bachelors degrees to December 2023 graduates.

Graduates who attained a 3.50 to 4.00 grade point average (GPA) earned academic honors, as follows: 3.50-3.749, Cum Laude; 3.75-3.99, Magna Cum Laude; and 4.0, Summa Cum Laude. The December WVU Parkersburg graduates include:

BARBOUR COUNTY — Philippi: Makenna Howe, AAS, Surgical Technology

BERKELEY COUNTY — Inwood: Dawn Rix, AAS, BOG

Martinsburg: Daryl Bullock, AAS, Child Development

CALHOUN COUNTY — Creston: Rebecca Burdette, AAS, Elementary Education; Hannah Stephens, BAS, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude

Grantsville: Stoney Harper, AAS, BOG

CLAY COUNTY — Nebo: Alexis Copeland, AAS, Surgical Technology

GREENBRIER COUNTY — Lewisburg: Mary Pence, AAS, BOG

HARDY COUNTY — Moorefield: Ashley Kesner, BAS, Child Development

JACKSON COUNTY — Evans: William Durst, AS, General Studies; Deborah Keffer, RBA; Ellie Keffer, RBA

Given: Ella Casto, BA, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude

Kenna: Megan Pauley, RBA, Magna Cum Laude

Le Roy: Austin Anderson, AAS, Criminal Justice

Ravenswood: Chloe Blevins, AAS, Surgical Technology, Cum Laude; Rachel Fisher, BAS, Business Administration; Case Fletcher, AAS, Electrical Reliability & Maintenance; Olivia Haynes, AAS, BOG; Emma Jacobs, CERT, Child Development, Magna Cum Laude; Dana Knapp III, RBA; Jordan Knotts, AAS, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude; Sabrina Mills, AAS, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude; Lauran Mitchell, CERT, Child Development; Kaden Williams, AS, General Education

Ripley: Alex Burns, AAS, Computer & Information Tech; Jessica Casto, BS, Business Administration; Maggy Criser, AAS, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude; Kelsie Davis, AAS, Business Administration; Hunter Harper, AAS, Nursing, Magna Cum Laude; Isaac Parsons, AAS, Nursing; Zaya Settle, AAS, Digital Communication, Magna Cum Laude; McKenzie Stalnaker, AAS, Strategic Communication; Emily Webb, CERT, Business Administration; Johnathan Zuniga, BA, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude;

Sandyville: Chloe Shinn, AAS, CERT, Business Administration; Samantha Wines, AAS, Nursing

KANAWHA COUNTY — Charleston: Ryan Dormagen, RBA,

Clendenin: Jennifer Mitchell, AAS, Child Development

MASON COUNTY — Evans: Stella turner, BAS, CERT, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude

Leon: Valissa Bailes, BAS, Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude

Letart: Brittni Kaylor, AAS, Surgical Technology, Cum Laude; Adrianna Stewart, CERT, Child Development, Magna Cum Laude

New Haven: Tyler Bumgarner, BAS, Business Administration

Point Pleasant: Madison Gritt, AAS, Business Administration; Racheal Killingsworth, AAS, Child Development

MONONGALIA COUNTY — Morgantown: Brittany Sheeder, RBA

OHIO COUNTY — Wheeling: Jacie Baker, BAS, Supervisory Management

PENDLETON COUNTY — Franklin: Ashley VanMeter, RBA

PLEASANTS COUNTY — Belmont: Samuel Kincaid, AAS, Technical Studies; Logan White, AAS, Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude

Friendly: Isabella Hileman, CERT, Criminal Justice

Parkersburg: Cody Moore, BA, Elementary Education

Saint Marys: Mariah Evans, AAS, Agribusiness, Magna Cum Laude; Emily Hadley, AAS, Nursing Magna Cum Laude; Hannah McCrobie, AAS, BOG; Teddi Northrop, BAS, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude; Jeremy Rhodes, CERT, Chem & Polymer Operator Tech; Lane Snyder, AAS, Nursing

RITCHIE COUNTY — Cairo: Valerie Bircher, AAS, Elementary Education

Ellenboro: Terry Williams, RBA

Harrisville: Haley Nutt, AA, General Education; Clinton Owens, CERT, Child Development

Pennsboro: Sharin Echard, AAS, Nursing; Chandos Hamilton, AAS, Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude; Tanner Langmeyer, AAS, Nursing, Magna Cum Laude

ROANE COUNTY — Spencer: Robin Bloom, AAS, BOG; Emily Chandler, AAS, Nursing, Cum Laude; Bethany O’Brien, AAS, Nursing; Colton Saunders, CERT, AAS, Business Administration; Angela Simons, AA, General Education; Savannah Williams, AS, Business Administration

TYLER COUNTY — Middlebourne: Scott Gorby, AAS, Elementary Education; Abigail Rose, AAS, Business Administration

Sistersville: Emma Grimes, AS, Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude; Asia Keller, AAS, Nursing; Hallie Placer, CERT, AAS, Business Administration

West Union: Amanda Gist, BA, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude

WIRT COUNTY — Elizabeth: Madelynn Cogar, CERT, Business Administration; Chloe Decator, AAS, Nursing; Courtney Hulsey, AAS, Elementary Education; Penny Shrader, BAS, CERT, Business Administration; Jessika VanMeter, AAS, Nursing

Parkersburg: Michelle Hurley, AAS, BOG

WOOD COUNTY — Belleville: Jordan Flinn, BA, Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Sarah Hanley, AAS, Elementary Education; Alisha Hayes, RBA; Sophia Morrison, AAS, Criminal Justice

Davisville: Brandon Dix, RBA, Cum Laude; Kailey Elliott, BA, Elementary Education; Amu Hutton, BS, Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude; Eliza Lawrentz, AAS, Elementary Education, Cum Laude

Elizabeth: Kelsey Moore, AAS, CERT, Business Administration, Cum Laude

Mineral Wells: Nichole Dellinger, AAS, Criminal Justice; Alexis Feick, RBA; Eli Francis, AS, Business Administration, Cum Laude; Mikayla Gessel, BA, Elementary Education; Adam Kelly, AS, Business Administration; Chloe Kennedy, AAS, Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Quentin Kennedy, AAS, Elementary Education; Abigail Lathem, AAS, Elementary Education; Jessica Life, AAS, Surgical Technology, Magna Cum Laude; Ronald Mullins Jr, BS, Business Administration; Ryan Naegel, AAS, BOG; Kelsie Schramm, AS, Business Administration; Kimberly Thomas, AAS, BOG, Cum Laude; Elizabeth Weaver, AAS, Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Elizabeth Weaver, AAS, Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Chelsey Yates, AAS, Surgical Technology, Cum Laude

Parkersburg: Samuel Abels, BAS, Comm & Media – Strategic Comm, Cum Laude; Abby Anderson, BA, Elementary Education; Kaylee Basta, RBA; Taylor Black, AAS, Business Administration, Cum Laude; Katelyn Board, RBA; Crystal Bonnell, AAS, BOG; Tara Boston, BAS, Business Administration; Nolan Brace, AAS, Elementary Education; Sara Brace, AA, General Education; Nicole Buck, BAS, Child Development, Magna Cum Laude; Makayla Burns, AAS, Elementary Education; Elizabeth Carrodus, BAS, Supervisory Management; Mason Cheuvront, CERT, Electricity & Instrumentation, Magna Cum Laude; Bradley Emerick, BS, Business Administration; Seth Fallon, BAS, Business Administration, Cum Laude; Ashley Fornash, CERT, AAS, Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude; Jon Gardner, AAS, BOG; Kensley Hager, AAS, Elementary Education; Amelia Hartzog, AAS, Drafting, Cum Laude; Abigail Homan, BA, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude; Kaliska Hunter, CERT, Welding; Rylee Jones, AAS, Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude; Sherri Jones, RBA, Cum Laude; Kaitlyn Kelbaugh, AAS, Nursing; Michele Looney, RBA; Nicholas Marucci, AAS, BOG; Brayden Mcnickle, AAS, Nursing; Jill Metheney-Winans, RBA; Jessica Morrison, AAS, Elementary Education; Benjamin Nash, AAS, BOG; Coleen Nicoles, RBA, Magna Cum Laude; Sydney Nuckolls, AAS, Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Sharon O’Neill, CERT, Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude; Tia Ohse, AAS, BOG; Ariana Pagan, AAS, Elementary Education; Jennie Parks, AAS, BOG, Cum Laude; Pamela Ritchie, CERT, Chem & Polymer Operator Tech; Hannah Sargent, AAS, Elementary Education; Harley Saxton, AAS, Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Megan Seevers, CERT, Child Development; Turner Shuman, BAS, Criminal Justice; Serenity Sprouse, AAS, Business Administration, Cum Laude; Shelby Thomas, RBA; Samantha Tingler, AAS, Business Administration; Ja’Darien Wade, AAS, BOG; Colby Whiting, AAS, Business Administration; Jenna Woods, AAS, Child Development

Rockport: Jonathan Winkler, BAS, Business Administration

Vienna: Chelsey Betts, AAS, Nursing, Cum Laude; Lydia Bice, AAS, Elementary Education, Summa Cum Laude; Lucresha Busch, AAS, Nursing; Jeffrey Cunningham, AAS, BOG; Seth Davidson, RBA; Mckenzie Flinn, AAS, Business Administration, Cum Laude; John Justice, BAS, Supervisory Management; Emily Newbanks, AAS, Surgical Technology, Magna Cum Laude; Cyan Poling, BAS, AAS, CERT, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude; Lucila Rodriquez, AAS, Criminal Justice; Cameron Tracewell, BAS, Comm & Media – Digital Comm; Kelsi Ullom, AAS, BOG;

Walker: Chad Cottrill, BAS, Supervisory Management

Washington: Dustin Corley, AS, Business Administration; Courtney Greathouse, AAS, Nursing, Cum Laude

Waverly: Courtney Clegg, RBA; Kameron Deems, AAS, Nursing

Williamstown: Jonathan Dietz, AAS, Surgical Technology; Shawntel James, AAS, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude; Ethan McIntyre, AAS, Drafting, Cum Laude

KENTUCKY — Louisa: Joshua Moore, AAS, Occupational Development, Summa Cum Laude

MISSISSIPPI — Biloxi: Aime Nuckolls, AAS, Business Administration

OHIO — Barnesville: Aden Laipply, AAS, Surgical Technology

Coolville: Ashley Roush, BAS, Supervisory Management

Pomeroy: Alysha King, AAS, Elementary Education

Beverly: Alexis Cook, AAS, Elementary Education

Caldwell: Klaudia Rayner, AAS, Surgical Technology, Magna Cum Laude

Chillicothe: Chris Echard, AAS, BOG

Belpre: Kelly Cale, RBA, Cum Laude; Megan Gorham, BAS, Business Administration; Andrea Little, AAS, BOG; Ashley Potter, RBA

Beverly: Jadelynne Baker, BAS, Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude

Fleming: Gracie Gill-Franks, AAS, Elementary

Little Hocking: Ravyn Lucas, AAS; Allie Perkins, RBA, Cum Laude

Lowell: Kathryn Offenberger, AAS, Elementary Education

Marietta: Courtney Griffiths, BAS, Business Administration; Angel Hill, BAS, Business Administration; Taylor Harney, AAS, BOG; Stephannie King, BS, Business Administration; John Spaulding, AAS, BOG; Michael Yonis III, BAS, Business Administration

Vincent: Kristen Graban, RBA; Brayden Hanes, BAS, Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude

TEXAS — San Angelo: Ryan Carman, AAS, Occupational Development

Uvalde: Kyle McCullough, AAS, Occupational Development

East Bernard: Randy Morales, AAS, Occupational Development, Summa Cum Laude.

WVU Parkersburg announces Fall 2023 President’s and Dean’s scholars

Parkersburg, W.Va. (January 24, 2023) — WVU Parkersburg is pleased to announce its President’s and Dean’s scholars for the Fall 2023 semester.

President’s Scholars

Students on the President’s List maintained a 4.0 grade point average while earning 12 or more hours of college credit. The scholars include:

CABELL COUNTY — Lesage: John Legg

CALHOUN COUNTY — Creston: Hannah Stephens

CLAY COUNTY — Clendenin: Tabitha Adkins

GILMER COUNTY — Glenville: Britney Beall

Sand Fork: Montaiginey Linden

GRANT COUNTY — Petersburg: Wesley Cosner

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY — Purgitsville: Abigail Eye

HARDY COUNTY — Moorefield: Jordan Mongold

JACKSON COUNTY — Cottageville: Adam Hoschar; Evelyn Yeager

Evans: Emma Bragg; Shannon Hill

Le Roy: Phala Francis

Ravenswood: Chloe Blevins; Cherie Bowles; Tannar Ebos; Raygan Hickman; Dana Knapp III; Jordan Knotts; Cassandra Lott; Sabrina Mills; Rachael Pease; Samantha Pittman; Jacob Seebaugh; Myna Spencer; Jaleigh Thompson; Anthony Vespucci

Ripley: Kyanah Baldwin; Braxton Carpenter; Kelsie Davis; Skylar Fowles; Hunter Harper; Stephanie Hernandez; Isaac Parsons; Logan Skurupey; McKenzie Stalnaker

Sandyville: Ethan Fry; Rebecca Page

KANAWHA COUNTY — Charleston: Breana Hall; Melissa Hodges; Kayla Pauley

South Charleston: April McCune

LEWIS COUNTY — Jane Lew: Gracie Spiker

MASON COUNTY — Apple Grove: Rachel Martin

Evans: Stella Turner

Letart: Cynthia Hendrick; Cassandra Mcclanahan; Adrianna Stewart

West Columbia: Kaleigh Thomas

NICHOLAS COUNTY — Craigsville: Danielle Milam

PLEASANTS COUNTY — Belmont: Randa Fluharty; Logan White

Friendly: Isabella Hileman

Saint Marys: Carla Davis; Haley Farson; Sydney Maston; Brodrick Rice; Juan Timmons; Audra Cunningham; Cole Darnold; Drake Duty; Mariah Evans; Emily Hadley; Charity Hannah; Kiera Martin; Addison Parks; Kyleigh Rupert; Evan Sexton; Lane Snyder

PRESTON COUNTY — Bruceton Mills: Wendi Glover

PUTNAM COUNTY — Hurricane: Kelsea Shingleton

RALEIGH COUNTY — White Oak: Jessica Lilly

RITCHIE COUNTY — Ellenboro: Zoe Butcher; Baylee Butta; Gabriel Ray

Harrisville: Natilea Cain; Trevor Cowan; Alexander King; Haley Martin; Cayden Moore; Raya Morrison; Addison Perkins; Chasta Rinehart

Pennsboro: Chandos Hamilton; Tanner Langmeyer; Rae Rupert; Michaela Smith; Kiarra Weekley;

ROANE COUNTY — Spencer: Mikalah Clarkson; Kaley Sisk; Zachary Whitehouse

TYLER COUNTY — Middlebourne: Breauna Anderson

Sistersville: Emma Grimes

UPSHUR COUNTY — Buckhannon: Teaira Nesbitt

WAYNE COUNTY — Huntingon: Joshua Adkins

WETZEL COUNTY — New Martinsville: Iliza White

WIRT COUNTY — Creston: Alexis Starcher

Elizabeth: Augustine McKenna

Le Roy: Moriah Cale

Palestine: Adeline Sims

WOOD COUNTY — Belleville: George Ankrom; Ariel Smith

Davisville: Brandon Dix; Eliza Lawrentz

Mineral Wells: Carter Calvert; Cami Derenberger; Eli Francis; Haley Hennen; Abigail Lathem; Ethan Smith; Elizabeth Weaver

Palestine: Emma Wyer

Parkersburg: Natalia Alvarez-Dominquez; Justin Barker; Anthony Beckett; Jaya Bell; Tara Boston; Kiersten Brookover; Kashia Brown; Makayla Burns; Heather Caplinger; Mason Cheuvront; Tyler Copanic; Katie Copeland; Abraham Cressey; Lisa Dalton; Siann Daniels; Josie Diets; Emily Ebert; Laura Elder; Samantha Ellinger; Allison Felker; Isabella File; Triston Frederick; Jacob Giffin; Mary Goe; Mikaela Grant; Raymona Grant; Alex Hay; Shaley Hughes; Jayden Irick; Kayleigh Johnson; Sherri Jones; Tanika Keller; Meredith Kupfner; Tesla Lyons; Nicholas Marucci; Daphne Miner; Blaiz Murray; Benjamin Nash; Aaron Nguyen; Sydney Nuckolls; Molly Overton; Haileah Parker; Hannah Parsons; Treasa Perkins; Abram Poling; Logan Poling; Adam Rector; Isabella Reidmiller; Kelly Rockhold; Harley Saxton; Parker Schartiger; Evan Schoolcraft; Madison Shears; Natalie Slusher; Israel Smith; Grace Sprout; Parker Stanley; James Voutour; Chase Waybright; Isaac Weekly; Dakota Weigle; Anneleise Westergard; Avery Williams; Crystal Williams; Maxwell Carnes;

Rockport: Michael Waldron

Vienna: Michael Berghoff; Chelsey Betts; Lydia Bice; Savanna Channell; Elizabeth Collie; Riley Dunbar; Owen Farish; Timothy Gibbs; Jackson Hudkins; Charles Ice; Chantel Rader; Michael Riblett; Dryden Roush; Danielle Sartin; Niveah Smith; Brandon Tripler

Walker: Chloe Dicks; Victoria Schreckengost

Washington: Adelle Fleak; Taylor Harrison; Benjamin Kaminski; Adreana Linville; Sophie McClure; Oshelle Miller

Williamstown: Tara Boyce; Alison Gates; Annabelle Haught; Avery Smith; Leslie Villers

KENTUCKY — Catlettsburg: Brenda Sutphin

OHIO — Coolville: Justin Fought; Ashley Roush

Portland: April Fraley

Racine: Christian Howell; Domenic Nudi

Barlow: Taylor Anderson

Belpre: Katherine Barker; Shayla Blackburn; Caitlin Byrne; Kelly Cale; Lanie Johnson; Samantha McGee; Samantha Nay; Nicholas Vanway;

Beverly: Jadelynne Baker

Fleming: Matthew Stuckert

Little Hocking: Emily Bayer; Ethan Joy; Allie Perkins

Lowell: Kathryn Offenberger

Vincent: Brayden Hanes

PENNSYLVANIA — Greensburg: Katie Howell

VIRGINIA — Alexandria: Caroline Farson

Dean’s Scholars

Students named to the Dean’s List maintained a 3.5 grade point average while earning six or more hours of college credit. The scholars include:

BROOKE COUNTY — Wellsburg: Tiera Parrish

BARBOUR COUNTY — Philippi: Makenna Howe

CABELL COUNTY — Barboursville: Cheyanne Hively

Huntington: Felicia Gross

CALHOUN COUNTY — Arnoldsburg: Brittany Parsons

Big Bend: Joshua Hixon

Creston: Rebecca Burdette; Hunter Hall

Grantsville: Stoney Harper

Munday: Colby Lamb

CLAY COUNTY — Nebo: Alexis Copeland

DODDRIDGE COUNTY — New Milton: Maria Bee

Pennsboro: Alexia Whitehair

Salem: Julie Blake; Makenna Curran; Payton Currey; Abigail Godfrey; Madison Lagasse; Abigail Thomas

Troy: Sidney Hinzman

West Union: Emma Chwalek; Emma Frankenberger; Abagail Gagnon; Jared Harris; Bailey Holden; Haleigh Lipscomb; Haley Lynch; Anna Trent

FAYETTE COUNTY — Oak Hill: Shaunna Lipscomb

GILMER COUNTY — Glenville: Jordanne Beall; Autumn Poole

Linn: Chase Moss

GRANT COUNTY — Petersburg: Talyssa Dodd; Kelsey Miller; Shelby Southerly

GREENBRIER COUNTY — Lewisburg: Mary Pence

HARDY COUNTY — Moorefield: Ashley Kesner; Marissa Ratliff

Old Fields: Madison Hogbin

HARRISON COUNTY — Bridgeport: Briana Bothwell; Alexus Workman

Salem: Lilly Shepherd; Lena Thompson

JACKSON COUNTY — Cottageville: Marissa Smith; Alexis Whited; Kayla Yeager

Evans: Madison Hatcher; Brady Hesson; Lucas Smith

Gay: Kelci Ashby; James Bostic

Given: Lanna Bragg; Triston Lanham; Autumn Osborne

Kenna: Taylor Leaptrot; Shelby Mckemy; Megan Pauley; Dharma Thomas; Jason Thomas

Le Roy: Breona Anderson; Alexis Knopp

Ravenswood: Samantha Bragg; Shilyn Butcher; Daniel Caldwell; Jonah Carmichael; Chelsey Helmick; Emma Jacobs; Richard Mahan; Jace Meadows; Lauran Mitchell; Kali Moore; Emily Parsons; Deanna Schindler; Aspen Sheets; Riley Shockey; Noah Smithson; Brittany Summers; Adrien Whited; Kinsey Wolfe

Ripley: Hunter Brown; Bradford Camp; Isaiah Casto; Evelyn Crooks; Hunter Evans; Gabriel Haynes; Megan Higgins; Megan Kay; Jake Mcgraw; Ian Roach; Abigail Roberts; Zaya Settle; Olivia Talbert; Alec Vance; Emily Webb; Savanna Whited; Stormie Wilkinson

Sandyville: Kristen Hinzman; Lyndsey Powell

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Kearneysville: Myckayla Reed

KANAWHA COUNTY — Belle: Chad Brown

Charleston: Ashley Goodall; Taylor Hicks; Emma Meade; Kara Reedy; Samantha Vititoe

Clendenin: Jennifer Mitchell

Cross Lanes: Nick McCracken

Elkview: Morgan Sweeney

London: Brittany Burkhardt

Sissonville: Madalyn Carpenter

South Charleston: Kailey Chapman; Heather Hudson

Saint Albans: Skyler Nomar

Tornado: Emily Grishaber

LEWIS COUNTY — Weston: Maggie Wyatt

MARION COUNTY — Fairmont: Richard Cole; Tammy Cole

MASON COUNTY — Letart: Ashton Broughman; Emma Gibbs; Brittni Kaylor; Mariah Young

PLEASANTS COUNTY — Saint Marys: Ryan Kent

Mason: Jace Ervin; Kaylee Ferguson; Carrie Hankinson

New Haven: Tyler Bumgarner

Point Pleasant: Vannessa Clark; Madison Gritt

MONONGALIA COUNTY — Morgantown: Brooke Mcdonald; Brittany Sheeder

OHIO COUNTY — Wheeling: Jacie Baker; Shelby Fluharty

PLEASANTS COUNTY — Belmont: Linsie Asher; Emma Broce; Delaney Brookover; Andlyn Corathers; Lance Craven; Cali Masters; Scott McGraw; Brady Rinard; Savanna Wheeler

Friendly: Joleen McBrayer; Trenton Renner

Saint Marys: Jenna Barnhart; Natalie Bartug; Adam Bennett; Olivia Birkhimer; Ella Bullman;

Chance Cox; Addison Davis; Ethan Davis; Isabella Davis; Jaela Davis; Josiah DeMoss; Halle Deweese; Logan Eddy; Micah Evans; Wilvens Faucette; Ava Giovinazzo; Sophie Greenleaf; Laura Hacker; Ryleigh Haught; Alexandra Hause; Christian Houser; Noah Hubbard; Savannah Keife; Camaron Lancaster; Preston Lawhon; Katie Lawrence; Hannah Mayo; Chrissa McCoy; Adam Mercer; Mary Morrison; Jay Mote; Teddi Northrop; Bernadette Occilien; Willow Peyton; Callie Powell; Jeremy Rhodes; Brooke Schneider; Mia Schofield; Bricia Shultz; Madison Sturgeon; Allyson Tidwell; Emma Weikart; Eric Wherry; Carson Wyborney

Waverly: Sydney Cummings; Layne Kincaid; Emma Kirby; Luke Shingleton

Williamstown: Zachary Knight

RITCHIE COUNTY — Cairo: Alex Hendrickson; Laci Hilkey

Ellenboro: Madison Hall; Terry Williams

Harrisville: Hayden Bartlett; Garrett Copeland; Garrett Cunningham; Dylan Edwards; Garrett Flesher; Lindsay Flevaris; Joshua Gilmore; Andrea Huffman; Tyler Huffman; Lillie Law; Zeke Lindsey; Addison Smith; Kaitlyn Sullivan

MacFarlan: Kaylee Copeland

Pennsboro: Andrea Davis; Jayci Gray; Kennedi Grimm; Melody Grinter; Amanda Hayes; Rhett Johnson; Creed Knight; Sydney Kopshina; Alexis McDonald; ViviAnne Mendez Cunningham; Whitley Patterson; Vanessa Patton; Conner Shaffer; Casey VanScoy; Ryan Weekley; Tanyon White

Pullman: Lavaya Sandy

Smithville: Lisa Tallhamer

ROANE COUNTY — Gandeeville: Brianna Fields

Looneyville: Andrew Jetton

Spencer: Annalise Aylor; Payton Bailey; Robin Bloom; Braylin Bowe; Kolleen Bradley; Lucas Hall; Ottumn Metheney; Addison Parkins; Colton Saunders; Angela Simons; Marleigh Unger

Walton: Kaley Thurman

TAYLOR COUNTY — Flemington: Paige Zacavish

TYLER COUNTY — Alma: Lea Ahouse; Cadence Kemp

Friendly: Jordan Ebert

Middlebourne: Addison Fletcher; Caylei Forrester; Jacob Lancaster; Zoe Lemasters

New Martinsville: Lexus Rocchio

Shirley: Megan Kinney

Sistersville: Selene Holcomb; Colby Nichols; Sarah Riddle; Hailey Sandy; Kaci Shanabarger; Nicole Stroller; David Wickham

West Union: Maleah Weber

WAYNE COUNTY — Huntington: Cassie Brumfield

Kenova: Mackenzie Rogers

WETZEL COUNTY — Jacksonburg: Megan Brown

New Martinsville: Mallory Dennis; Caleb Lawrence; Praxton Pierce; Madylen Still

Paden City: Isaac Beverlin; Kyra Dennis; Jocelyn Sawinski; Colsen Spragg; Carlee Sweeney; Kylee Yeater

Reader: Cecilia Tirpak

WIRT COUNTY — Creston: Skylar Bunch

Elizabeth: Madelynn Cogar; Kylie Cox; Brooke Cross; Baylee Dennis; Katlyn Duskey; Brandon Foutty; Jeffrey Gillenwater; Cheyenne Haines; Kennedy Harris; Connor Hoover; Allie Kerby; CiAnna Murray; Olivia Payne; Joseph Powell; Penny Shrader; Dalton Starcher; Adam Thompson; Danielle White; Justin Windland

Le Roy: Morgan Cale; Connor McKown; Allyson Nicolais

Palestine: Maxwell Flanagan; Payton McVey; Peyton Richards;

WOOD COUNTY — Belleville: Logan Bowman; Mary Ellen Brown; Ashley Gaston; Alisha Hayes; Mary Lawless; Anna Smith; Keith Smith

Boaz: Elijah Conger

Davisville: Joslyn Bradley; Alice Cochran; Amelia Davis; Mason Dilly; James Goff; Amy Hutton; Karissa Mahoney; Bobbi Murphy; Baelyn Rhyne; Taylor Sargent; Amber Welch

Elizabeth: Cory Kaufman

Mineral Wells: Christian Barton; Corey Beverage; LaToya Billiter; Ashley Braniff; Jude Childers; Lauren Cline; Peyton Collins; Ryan Cook; Natalie Crow; Dylan Daley; Alisha Dolly; Hannah Dolly; Alexis Feick; Jacob Frazier; Elizabeth Hoover; Adam Kelly; Chloe Kennedy; Jessica Life; Randy Lin; Hannah Martin; Michael Martin; Aiden Maze; Justin Maze; Katelin McCoy; Alexis McMillion; Michael Meyer; Luke Modesitt; Zachary Morehead; Ronald Mullins Jr; Colton Parsons; Lauren Powers; Rylee Richards; Caleb Rowan; Johnny Sargent; Kelsie Schramm; Nathan Schramm; Laci Stone; Kimberly Thomas; William Thomas; William Tomlinson; Chelsey Yates

Parkersburg: Samuel Abels; Caleb Akers; Isaac Algmin; Kolten Arnott; Isabel Arreola; Austin Atkinson; Anna Augenstein; Saebra Barclay-Greene; Madison Batten; Iziah Bee; Brian Bellville; Taylor Black; Nolan Brace; Lauren Brandjes; Andrew Brock; Logan Brookover; Alexandria Bryant; David Buchanan; Nicole Buck; Lamari Buffington; Bentlee Bunner; Stephaine Buchard; Ivy Burdette; Addison Buskirk; Elizabeth Carrodus; Raelee Chambers; Heavenly Chase; Andrew Clary; Jordan Claypoole; David Cobb; Wesley Comeau; Valerie Correale; Cameron Cotter; Hayden Coull; Nathaniel Cronin; Alexis Dailey; Theresa Dance; Allison Davis; Lillie Davis; Celeena Dawson; Angela Dearth; Ethan Dela Cruz; Karli Delaney; Dani Delong; Alyssa Dennis; Maryssa Dennis; Alexis Dugan; Wesley Durkin; Kylee Eckert; Eric Fajardo; Whitney Ferrebee; Stacey Fordyce; Ashley Fornash; Nicholas Fowler; Christopher Fox; Gabriella Fox-Eaves; Lloyd Frazier; Jasmin Frederick; Regan Freed; Taylor Freed; Owen Friend; Laura Gant; Addison Geibel; Anna Gibbs; Amber Graham; Kodie Grant; Maxximillian Greer; Aaron Grose; Mikhal Gruenebrerg; Kensley Hager; Nickia Hardman; Amelia Hartzog; Catherine Hayes; Skylene Holt; Ella Horton; Carson Huck; Sebastian Huffman; Kaliska Hunter; Anisa Hupp; Makenna Huss; William Hyde II; Chauncy James; Allison Johnson; John Johnson; Rylee Jones; Logan Keefer; Addison King; Natalie Klemm; Joshua Knicely; Logan Knight; Kaylei Lane; Kelsey Langdon; Jakob Leisure; Savanna Lemley; Parker Linkous; Allie Lockhart; Janae Longenecker; Michele Looney; Jackson Lovell; Amanda Lyons; Lucy Manner; Taylor Marks; Randi Marshall; Ian Martin; Nevaeh Mason; Kennedy Mays; Shelby McFee; John McGill; Elizabeth Mcclanahan; Carter Mclain; Nathanial Mcpeak; Aiden Merritt; Jill Metheney-Winans; Ava Metheny; Cole Miller; Kris Miller; Sherry Miller; Jack Mills; Colin Minear; Kaelin Morris; Jessica Morrison; Grantland Murphy; Adam Myers; Ayden Nelson; Coleen Nicoles; Maia Noland; Anthony Ott; Jennie Parks; Kaylyn Parsons; Andrew Pierotti; Jaiden Pitts; Cynthia Poling; Meredith Poole; Jacob Province; Olivia Raber; Berkeley Radabaugh; Abby Read; Kaleigh Rexroad; Julie Rhodes Logan Richard; Alec Richards; Ashley Riffle; Blake Riggs; Truman Roberts; Gianna Ross; Jason Rummer; Christian Rutherford; Katherine Rutherford; Gregory Sams; Logan Schartiger; Hunter Schrader; Samuel Schuler; Linkin Seevers; Wendy Shackett; Jackson Shea; Jackson Simmons; Alli Sims; Christopher Smith; Emma Smith; Gracie Smith; Emily Snyder; Krista Sponsler; Angel Sprouse; Emma Starcher; Aizelyn Stroehman; Audrey Sundstrom; Caitlyn Tallman; Joseph Taylor; Jeremiah Tennant; Reganne Thomas; Elliza Towner; Nhi Tran; Landon Utt; Corbin Valvo; Clara Vanfossen; Ja’Darien Wade; Lance Walters; Brittany Ward; Benjamin Watson; Zachary West; Kaleb Westfall; Mindy Whitacre; Kyialyn Wilkening; Gracie Wilkinson; Skylar Wilkinson; Heidi Williams; Skyler Williams; Mackenzie Willis; Ava Wilson; Emily Winter; Gavin Wise; Cassandra Yoak; Ayden Yost; Brady Young; Korie Hildebrecht

Ravenswood: Alan Talbott

Rockport: Toni Brainard; Kaleb Dean; Chandler Forshey; Jesse Winkler; Jonathan Winkler;

Vienna: Kadence Anderson; Austin Andrews; Spencer Beall; Rivion Bennett; Isabel Bhati; Dylan Bond; Thea Bordeaux; Elijah Brown; Jace Cox; Sidney Crabtree; Seth Davidson; Aaron Davis; Isabelle Deem; Sophia Deramo; Brayden Deuley; Matthew Doster; Kaitlyn Eaton; Devon Fancher; Mckenzie Flinn; Anna Floyd; Joseph Frazier; Liam Guns; Jacklin Haddox; Hunter Hall; Ryan Halley; Ashton Henke; Kyle Hockenberry; Matthew Jaimes; Laquiche Jones; John Justice; Emma Kiger; Alexander King; Caden Kotarski; Makynna Leversee; Allie Lowther; Isabel Lynch; Elias Mace; Deric Marshall; Daniel Martin; Jordan Mayhew; Connor McGinnis; Shelby Mercer; Megan Midcap; Margaret Mildren; Hailey Moren; Garrett Napier; Riley Nemesek; Emily Newbanks; Darren Petty; Mary Phillips; Cyan Poling; Ava Pyles; Benjamin Shrewsbury; Sydney Smith; Natasha Staats; Zoey Stephens; Jaeda Stoneking; Claire Tatterson; Ashlynn Taylor; Emmanuel Tewodros; Kylee Thomas; Nina VanWay; Lily-Rose Walker; Jackson Wharton; Kathleen Wright

Walker: Marissa Hendershot; Grace Miller; Shelby Pooler; Maddox Rader; Ethan Rowan; Caleb Stansberry

Washington: Oluwatobi Adebulu; Addison Allen; Chloe Armstrong; Steven Barton; Erin Carmicle; Xavier Collie; Lanie Cook; Drew Corley; Brody Cunningham; Brennan Erb; Alexandria Evans; Catherine Evans; Aden Floyd; Greyson Godfrey; Alexis Harris; Logan Henthorn; Cody Hively; Jackie Hunt; Lucas Jenkins; Sara Knotts; Paige Lewis; Carrick Lough; Caitrin Lowers; Gracie Lowers; Julie Mace; Michael Midkiff; Mikayla Satow; Logan Snyder; Ronald Utt

Waverly: Payton Bunch; Sierra Lynch; Joshlyn Miller; Sara Smith

Williamstown: Joscelyn Anderson; Sydney Anderson; Katelyn Blake; Brody Bowyer; Meredith Chambers; Dax Chancellor; Daphne Cockerham; Frank Conner; Lydia Conner; Aiden Corbett; Laura Delancy; Lorelei Erwin; Brandon Gray; Grace Hall; Nevaeh Hansen; Gabriella Holl; Danner Hooper; Alexander Hurst; William Isaly; Shawntel James; Kyla Jarrell; Brylee Jones; Kiersten Kerby; Braden Knapp; Remy Lefebure; Courtnie Lester; Ava Lightfritz; Ashtyn McIntyre; Jacob Miller; Brayden Modesitt; Taylor Modesitt; Trevor Oates; Faith Pickens; Natalie Sawin; Parker Schramm; Katie Schreckengost; Becca Shamblin; James Shipley; Jesse Shivlar; Alexis Sivard; Mohamed Sow; Dylan Stout; Olivia Stout; Claire Strobl; Matthew Taylor; Aaron Tingler; Conner Walker; Daniel Willis; Rylee Wise; Courtney Wood; Bradyn Woodard; Izabel Zide; Tyler Fenton

CALIFORNIA — San Diego: Melyssa Suchalla

FLORIDA — Tamarac: Sarah Quick

KENTUCKY — Louisa: Joshua Moore

MICHIGAN — Niles: Colin Leonard

MISSISSIPPI — Biloxi: Aime Nuckolls

NORTH CAROLINA — High Point: Kasey Mckinney

NEW JERSEY — North Plainfeild: Nahmira Tilghman

OHIO — Coolville: Jonathan Graham; Joshua Simmons

Guysville: Travis Ziesemer

Pomeroy: Alysha King

Racine: Herschel Ashworth

Rutland: Shalynn Mitchell

Caldwell: Klaudia Rayner

Paulding: Stewart Taylor

Akron: Tammy Glaze

Belpre: Amber Amick; Kylee Bethel; Christian Byrne; Makaylee Deaton; Morgan Dyar; Kaleigh Hesson; Adam Hinton; Andrea Little; Kiah Morgan; Stacey Schimke; Arionna Wolfe

Beverly: Madeline Kitts

Fleming: Anastasia Nicholas

Little Hocking: Tyler Kerns

Lowell: Abagail Offenberger

Marietta: Miranda Becker; Adam Catalona; Daniel Decker; Elizabeth Fisher; Melissa Fox; Taylor Harney; Madeline Hawkins; Abigail Jones; Korland Kampmeier; Greyson Kohrs; Callix Miller; Crystallee Miller; Leslie Mills; Allee Nau; Alyssa Sauro; John Spaulding; Nicholas Spurr; Che’ Venoy; Eric Wright; Michael Yonis III

Vincent: Brianne Dalton; Kirsten Graban; Hayley Snyder

Sardis: Josie Reed

TEXAS — San Angelo: Ryan Carman; Kurtis Vandenboomen

East Bernard: Randy Morales

WVU Parkersburg recognized as a top school for online programs in child development and healthcare for 2024

Parkersburg, W.Va. (January 22, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg has been ranked one of today’s best schools for online child development and healthcare degree programs by EduMed.org. Comparably, its online programs in the medical field earned top honors for their overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success.

“The WVUP Child Development Program is WVUP proud and honored to receive this national recognition,” said Child Development Coordinator Christi Calvert. “As Dr. Bobbi Marshall, dean of the Professional Studies division states, “We are proud, excited and growing!”

Calvert continued, “Students who graduate with a Child Development degree at WVUP are prepared to support very young children and their families, addressing all areas of development of each child. Although most of our students are from West Virginia, having the Child Development Program fully online and one of the most affordable, allows for students from many different states to access the program at in-state tuition rates.”

WVUP’s Child Development program is designed as a career ladder with a high level of flexibility and can be completed online. Students can move seamlessly from a one-year certificate to a two-year associate degree, then on to a four-year degree without losing any credits along the way.

WVUP’s CST-AAS in Surgical Technology and RN-BSN online programs also received top honors nationwide.

The CST-AAS in Surgical Technology program is designed for Certified Surgical Technologists interested in obtaining their associate degree. All classes are offered online to provide maximum flexibility and can be completed in 12 months for full-time students.

The RN-BSN program for Registered Nurses, prepares students for advancement in professional nursing practice and provides a knowledge base for career mobility and graduate study. Courses are taught online to fit the nurses’ academic work into their professional and personal calendars.

“Our rankings feature the programs giving future nurses and allied health professionals the best chance for success, from day one in the classroom to day one on the job,” said Wes Harris, outreach coordinator for EduMed.org. “This starts with having a price tag that students can afford, as well as providing academic counseling, career placement services, and other key resources and support that help students graduate and get hired.”

EduMed.org researched and analyzed more than 7,700 accredited schools using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and from the schools themselves. The website’s data science team then applied a proprietary algorithm to rank all qualifying schools for each healthcare discipline. Primary data points include:

Academic counseling services
Career placement services
Student-to-faculty ratio
Tuition
Percent of students receiving school-based financial aid
Amount of school-based aid per student

Take a look at the full rankings to see where WVUP placed:

Best Online Child Development Programs – https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/child-development-degrees/#4-year-schools

To learn more about WVUP’s Child Development program, contact Child Development Coordinator Christi Calvert at christi.calvert@wvup.edu.

To learn more about WVUP’s Nursing and Health Science programs, contact Dean of the Nursing & Health Science Division Kathy Frum at kathy.frum@wvup.edu.

WVUP’s BOG discusses upcoming Higher Learning Commission visit

Parkersburg, W.Va. (January 17, 2024) — WVU Parkersburg President Dr. Torie Jackson reviewed the 18 criteria that the Higher Learning Commission will use to evaluate the college during its visit in March, at the Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday.
The HLC is one of seven regional accreditors in the United States, with the purpose of accrediting degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions.
Jackson gave examples of each criteria in her President’s report and tied them into five criterion:
• Mission
• Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
• Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support
• Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
• Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning
The board welcomed Vasanth Ananth, a new Board of Governor member, who is taking over for former member Steven Hardman. The Honorable Ellen Smith, 3rd Family Court Circuit judge swore him in during the meeting.
Ananth is a Wooster, Ohio native, who graduated from Wooster High School, and went on to graduate from the London School of Economics in London, England. He then pursued law at Ohio State University and has been working in the Oil and Gas field with Antero Resources for the past 10 years. Ananth lives in Marietta, Ohio and works with local community organizations, like the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley, where he serves on the Board of Directors as president.
“I’ve been involved with the United Way and some other community organizations for a while. Through those organizations, I’ve seen an impact at WVUP, its staff, its leadership and its students in the Mid-Ohio Valley and beyond,” said Ananth. “I just thought it (WVUP) would be a place where I can make a difference.”
Ananth said he has only heard WVUP spoken about in high regard from friends and colleagues, and thought joining the board would be a good opportunity for him.
“I’m pretty excited to see what WVUP can do with the old OVU campus and the transition that is going to happen up there,” said Ananth. “It’s going to provide a lot of opportunities for people in this area and I’m really grateful to be a part of that transition.”
Jackson brought one policy before the board to take action on. The BOG policies to reflect a review of the Payment and Refund of Fees policy.
Jackson said as the policy currently stands, students who do not attend class during the first three weeks of a semester get withdrawn with no penalty, whereas students who attend class during the first three weeks, and choose to withdraw, must pay a penalty. Jackson proposed to change the policy to reflect anyone who withdraws within the first three weeks of classes will receive a 100% refund for their classes.
The board unanimously approved to review the policy and send it out for comment. If there are no substantive comments, the board will vote on the policy during the next BOG meeting.
The next meeting will take place on March 19, 2024.

WVU PARKERSBURG BOG TO MEET TUESDAY, January 16

West Virginia University Parkersburg’s Board of Governors will meet Tuesday, January 16, 2024. The meeting will take place at 3:15 p.m. in the Francis and Nina Phares Board Room (Room 1300A) on the main campus.

Visit the Board of Governors agenda page to view the complete agenda.

Phi Theta Kappa inducts new members

Parkersburg, W.Va. (Jan. 8, 2023) — The Sigma Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa inducted new members during a formal ceremony on November 29, 2023.

The Sigma Omega Chapter would like to welcome its newest members who accepted their invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa during the Fall 2023 enrollment period:

Breona Anderson; Penny Burke; Robert Castillo, Wesley Comeau; Carla Davis; Zoey David; Nichole Dellinger; Sophia Deramo; Haley Farson; Madison Hall; Alex Hay; Tyler Huffman; Rylee Jones; Benjamin Kaminski; Augustine McKenna; Harley Saxton; Avery Smith; Gracie Spiker; Grace Sprout; Olivia Talbert; Kimberly Thomas; and Leslie Villers.

Witnessed by friends and family members, these students took the official oath of membership with the Sigma Omega Chapter President Anastasia Nicholas to uphold Phi Theta Kappa’s four Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship.

Professor Andrew Walker, co-advisor for the chapter, served as guest speaker and explained the four Hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa to those in attendance.

“The induction ceremony is a time for us to celebrate our new members. I am very proud of what these students have accomplished and continue to accomplish,” said Sigma Omega Chapter Advisor Marie Butler. “The Fall 2024 induction ceremony was our first in person induction ceremony we have had since the COVID 19 pandemic. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate with these new PTK members in person!”

Membership to Phi Theta Kappa is by invitation only. Eligible students must be currently enrolled at WVU Parkersburg with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and have completed at least 12 credit hours leading to an associate degree. Students meeting these requirements who have previously earned an associate degree and are currently enrolled as students pursuing an additional, declared associate degree are also considered eligible for membership.

For more information on becoming a member, contact advisors Marie Butler at mbutler1@wvup.edu or Professor Andrew Walker at wwalker1@wvup.edu.

WVU Parkersburg holds 2023 Fall Commencement

WVU Parkersburg held its annual fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., in its College Activities Center.

Kevin Smith, Alumni and Manager of Distribution Systems at Appalachian Power, served as the keynote speaker.

Smith encouraged the Fall 2023 class of graduates that being themselves would help carry them through life.

“Just be yourself, that’s why you’re here today and that is what has brought you to this celebration of this great accomplishment,” said Smith. “Take what you’ve learned and apply it, prepare well for interviews and even dress up a little for the occasion, but just be yourself and then hang on for the ride that follows.”

Smith earned his associate degree in 2019, and a Bachelor’s in Supervisory Management in 2021, both from WVU Parkersburg. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Executive Leadership from Liberty University. He is a Roanoke, Va. native, but currently lives in Lynchburg, Va. with his wife, Sarah, and their two kids, Kaitlin and Macon.

WVU Parkersburg President Dr. Torie Jackson reminded the graduating class that they would always have a support system behind them.

“While you were here at WVUP, we hope you learned in your classes, but we also hope that you realized that you have a support system beyond that of your family and friends. You have a campus of supporters that are here to celebrate your success today and that will continue to be WVU Parkersburg Proud of all of your future accomplishments,” said Jackson. “We believe in you!”

She continued, “Think of new and innovative ways to do things, agree to get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to accomplish those dreams knowing that we’re here to have your back.”

Over 100 graduates crossed the stage, with 292 students earning certificate, associate and bachelor’s degrees, pending final grades.

To watch the Fall 2023 commencement ceremony, visit youtube.com/wvuparkersburg.