I Found HomeWVU Parkersburg Alumni Issue

January 2013

This magazine is created by student writers, photographers and layout designers from the journalism class Multimedia Reporting.

copyright © 20132

Note From the EditorOne of my students might have described it best. She had “gone away” to school and realized she had become “a number.” She wandered back into WVU Parkersburg and found her way into the journalism program. She was discouraged, until she found a place of reassurance. “For me, success always started at home and with my family. I knew that if I could just find that sense of family again, I could excel,” she said. “Once I found WVU Parkersburg, I knew that it would be my home and the journalism department would become my family. From that point on, I knew I could be successful in any path I chose.”

I, too, found a home at WVU Parkersburg. I began my collegiate career here. I’m thankful every day for that opportunity, as well as the one that brought me back to this campus as an instructor.

WVU Parkersburg is a home to many. It is a place of comfort and challenge for those who are going back to school while still working full time and often raising families. The coursework and the balance of job and school are the challenge. The comforts are in smaller class sizes and professors who see students as individuals, recognize their unique talents and encourage them to succeed.

I am blessed in the journalism department to have many gifted writers, photographers, digital artists, videographers, and graphic designers come to my classroom to find the techniques needed to hone their skills. To me, they are more than students; they become like part of my family.

In this special first edition alumni magazine completed as a class project in a Multimedia Reporting class, you’ll notice that many others found unique

attributes while at WVU Parkersburg. Some stayed for a few semesters, others graduated after years of study. They’ve taken the knowledge gained from their college courses and shared it in government and politics. They help nurture others back to health in hospitals. They educate young minds in the classrooms of elementary schools. From computer

information systems to banking institutions, they give back to their communities in a variety of ways. Some even share their skills on foreign soil. They are examples of the success that this college nurtures every day.

3Torie Jackson

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Alicia Lauderman - After a rough start to college, WVU law student Alicia Lauderman found herself at WVU Parkersburg. She took several instrumental classes that piqued her interest in the field of law. She credits WVU Parkersburg for its outstanding professors, affordability and friendly students that helped her find her calling.

Carol Hysell - Pleasants County Middle School teacher Carol Hysell started her path to college later in life after feeling compelled to help students learn. She believes that WVU Parkersburg helped her achieve her

life-long dream by staying focused on what she needed.

Janice McCue - After facing adversity and losing her biggest cheerleader before graduation, WVU Parkersburg alumnus Janice McCue went on to face and over-

come any obstacle in her way. With the help and understanding of her advisors, she now oversees the Student Success Center.

Dave Thompson - Musician turned Technology Chair of WVU Parkersburg, Dave Thompson followed a twisted path on his way to his current position. Through his

tenacity, curiosity and love of learning he was able to finally settle on something he loved while gaining valuable lessons along the way.

Theresa Cowan - Dr. Theresa Cowan has spent most of her life breaking down stereotypes. After achieving her goal of becoming a doctor, she now serves as the

Director of the RN-BSN Nursing program. Cowan believes that WVU Parkersburg constructed the groundwork for her teaching career.

Rich Shaffer - Wood County Assessor Rich Shaffer took his time achieving his degree – 35 years to be exact. Shaffer used the flexibility that WVU Parkersburg

offered to pursue business ventures while still taking classes when time permitted. Now, Shaffer gives back to the community.

Sheryl Buckley - With determination and a clear path in mind, Sheryl Buckley used WVU Parkersburg to kickstart her career in the secretarial field. Through her excellent training, Buckley was able to work with two

congressmen. Buckley believes WVU Parkersburg is a great place to start and finish.

Jenny Knopp - A top-notch education, affordability and location are the main reasons that prompted Mineral Wells Elementary School Vice Principal Jenny Knopp to choose WVU Parkersburg for her education. Now, she

helps children learn to love school.

Carrie Patterson - During her time at WVU Parkersburg, Carrie Patterson stayed involved. She worked with different organizations and truly learned how to become a leader. As the Agency Fleet/Travel Coordinator, Patterson uses her leadership skills and knowledge from her BASBA degree to make sure everything runs

smoothly.

Mary Kibble-Leu - Through education and experience, Mary Kibble-Leu has been in control of her career. She thrives on challenges and the ability to grow, both of which she has found through the fields of teaching and

nursing.

26Keith Burdette - Secretary for Department of Commerce Keith Burdette started with humble beginnings at WVU Parkersburg. Encouraged by a professor, Burdette took the leap of running for office. He advanced

quickly up the ladder and still serves WVU Parkersburg and the Mid Ohio Valley whenever possible.

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Steve McDougle - A teacher at Marietta Middle School discusses his journey to the classroom and how he was able to raise a family and perform at the same time. As a member of the band Still Crazy, McDougle has achieved success in multiple genres of his life.

Cheryl Brumfield - A one time student of WVU Parkersburg became a nursing instructor at the college. Cheryl Brumfield talks about starting her career close to home and how that choice has affected her life.

Marvin Boyce - Now the Vice President of Huntington National Bank, Marvin Boyce credits WVU Parkersburg and his former professors for his success in business.

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Jessica Williams - Jessica Williams restarted her education by pursuing a teaching degree. She now teaches kindergarten students in Panama City. During her time at WVU Parkersburg, she enjoyed being a part of extra-curricular activities and what they could teach her. Now she is passing her knowledge to a new generation.

Doug Anthony - Doug Anthony chose the Parkersburg campus over Morgantown to start his career in Computer Information Technology. He is now a full-time employee at WVU Parkersburg and has been a part of some of the most important technological advances on campus.

Business, Economics & Mathematics Division - Journalism Students Record Campus History

Education & Humanities Division - Two Studies Unite for Excellence

Health Sciences Division - Nursing Students Bond During Classes

Science & Technology Division - Professors Engage Students in Active Learning

Social Sciences & Languages Division - Passion, Education Lead to Successful Graduates

Writer’s Biographies - Get to know the writers and creators of this magazine.

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I Found Confidenceby Rachel Terzo

Graduation day is a day of relief and accomplishment for some, and a halfway mark for others. Regardless of the path taken by WVU Parkersburg graduates, the sense of gratification and preparedness for the road ahead is felt after the diploma exchanges hands. Alumnus and current WVU Law student Alicia Lauderman is one student who took advantage of the many ways WVU Parkersburg coaches students to success. Lauderman is a May 2010 graduate with her B.A. While at the college, she was the Vice President of the Psi Beta Honorary Society and a member of the Psychology Club. She is currently a third-year law student, president of the WVU College of Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, Vice President for the Alliance for Social Justice, a Student Attorney in the WVU Family Law Clinic, and the assistant juvenile justice monitor for the Adjudicated Juvenile Rehabilitation Review Committee of the WV Supreme Court of Appeals. In the beginning, Lauderman wasn’t exactly sure what her future held. “I spent several years in three different colleges for undergrad trying to decide what exactly I wanted to do with my life. WVU-P is where I enrolled in two life-altering classes, Constitutional Law and Criminal Law, taught by David Kurtz and Judge Jeffrey Reed, which piqued my interest in the field of law. The small classes and the ability to get to know professors on a more personal level than you would normally get in a big university allowed me the opportunity to pick their brains a little - okay, a lot,” she said. WVU Parkersburg is proud to be among one of the least expensive four-year colleges in the nation. Despite the low tuition rates, many students still work to pay for their courses. Though Lauderman had to strive diligently for it, WVU Parkersburg was able to assist her in obtaining a degree while she worked. “I worked for Verizon, now Frontier, during my undergrad years and managed to make it to law school with no undergrad debt, thanks to my employer and to our affordability. If I had completed my four-year degree at a large university, I would not have been in the same position,” Lauderman said.

The staff at WVU Parkersburg takes great pride in preparing students for their future endeavors. “I cannot brag enough about how accessible and helpful some of my professors were. In the world of psychology, I owe my thanks to Phil and Denise McClung and Cathy Mutz. In the law community, David Kurtz and Judge Jeffrey Reed probably put up with more harassment from me than they would have preferred. Math was not always my forte, but I enjoyed the liveliness that Al Edwards brought to his math classes, as well. I also met many other wonderful professors there and developed some wonderful friendships that I still try to maintain today,” Lauderman said the relationships she built at WVU Parkersburg provided a foundation and gave her confidence for success. Once Lauderman was on the fast track to law school, she was able to start her career as an intern at the Capitol in Charleston, W. Va., in the political science department. With training, education and coaching aside, starting a new career

can be nerve-wrecking. Some students wonder, “Am I really as prepared as I think I am?” Lauderman gives us a brief insight into her experience in her internship. “I fully expected to be intimidated by the whole experience; however, I was amazed at how much I knew in regard to the topics discussed by different committees during the legislative session, thanks to the professors at WVU-P who stayed on top of new developments in our state and made them subject to study and discuss,” she said. WVU Parkersburg helped Lauderman find her passion. Her skepticism and weariness subsided after she received inspiration and encouragement from her professors and comrades. She shared the same anxiety and eagerness as her fellow classmates. “Affordability and passionate, accessible professors are only part of the equation. If you want something, you have to work hard and go get it. Surround yourself with people who will help you achieve your goals; if you pay attention, you will find them everywhere at WVU-P,” she said.

Lauderman poses with members of the West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest. She is an active member in the organization.

College Facilitates Opportunities for Students

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If you want something, you have to

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I Found An Emberby Richard Moore

Growing up alongside seven brothers and sisters in rural Pleasants County in the 50s and 60s, working hard and supporting the family was the way of life for Carol Hysell. Her parents placed a strong emphasis on education and wanted all of their children to earn a high school diploma, but, after that, securing a steady job became the expectation. “After we graduated high school, it was just known that you were to go out and get a job,” she remembers. “We didn’t pursue college because, with eight children, you couldn’t afford it. We just didn’t have the means.” For more than 20 years, Hysell did what she had been taught. She “put her nose to the grindstone” while working secretarial and bookkeeping jobs and holding down positions in Christian schools in both Pleasants and Doddridge counties. But a spark still burned inside her, although she didn’t realize it until she started taking adult classes at the PRT Vocational-Technical Center just north of St. Marys.

College Ignites Passion For Teaching “The high school kids were there, too, and they kept coming up to me and asking me what they were supposed to be doing and, of course, I helped them,” she said. “The instructors that were there encouraged me and told me I should really think about becoming a teacher.” Heeding that advice, she enrolled at WVU Parkersburg a short time later. The spark still flickered and the college proved to be the fuel needed to ignite Hysell’s passion for learning and teaching. “I found the ember that was stoked and fanned until it burst into a flame of enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference in the lives of my students,” Hysell said of her time at the college, which resulted in a bachelor of arts degree in Elementary Education (K-8) in 1996. The school taught Hysell that it was okay to go “outside the box” when trying to reach her students. “The flame of enthusiasm allows students to excel when the material is presented in a challenging and interesting way,” she said. Hysell, who is now a language arts

and reading teacher at Pleasants County Middle School in Belmont, admits going back to school 25 years after her high school graduation was a daunting proposition. The instructors and her fellow classmates were quick to ease any concerns, however. “I was very apprehensive, very nervous,” she said, “I knew that I would be the oldest one in my class, but once I got there, the teachers were just so supportive and the students just acted as if I was one of them.” Hysell said she is indebted to WVU Parkersburg and those who made her education possible. It was obvious to her that the college was focused on the needs of the students. She found the Student Success Center to be an especially valuable asset and said it was heavily utilized by students in need of tutoring services. Hysel l had several outstanding instructors, but said three had a significant influence on her. “Connie Cadle and Dottie Bibbee had a great impact in the area of children’s literature and Maggie Berdine instilled great confidence in me when she asked me to join the tutoring staff and assist in reading,” she said. Those areas are Hysell’s passion. She considered herself “blessed” when she was hired as a language arts and reading teacher at Pleasants County Middle School shortly after graduation. “Those are the two subjects that I absolutely love,” she said, “They couldn’t have hired me to do a job that I liked better.” The quality of education Hysell received at WVU Parkersburg became evident in just her fourth year as a full-time teacher when she was named Pleasants County’s “Teacher of the Year.”Pleasants County Middle School Principal Lori Barnhart said Hysell brings a unique approach to teaching. “Carol is an excellent teacher and the students love her,” she said. “She is really innovative and creative” Barnhart said Hysell is one of the school’s leaders and takes great pride in being a teacher. She creates and decorates

Carol Hysell works with students in her classroom at Pleasants County Middle School. Carol considers her job a blessing in her life. See Ember on page 38

I like to thinkT h a t I ’ mCHANGING the worldONE PERSONat a time

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I Found FulfillmentStudent Success Center Director Achieves Life-Long Dreams

by Olivia Hefner In the spring of 2005, the weight of the world was lifted off Janice McCue’s shoulders. She walked proudly across the WVU Parkersburg stage, an extra joy in her step, as her name was called. When she looked down into the crowd; her friends, family, teachers and colleagues cheered her on as she achieved one of her life goals.

Today, she ranks that occasion as one of the most important moments of her life. “It was one of the best things - the highlights you always remember. It’s up there with things like your wedding day, the birth of your children and even your grandchildren.” However, any true story of success is always filled with trials and obstacles which give way to the true determination, resourcefulness and tenacity of the protagonist. Janice’s story is no different. Janice would have attended college immediately out of high school, “it wasn’t

really encouraged at the time,” she said. While her dreams of college were put on hold, she pursued other options in the work force. Janice went to work full time with Public Debt and the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. “These were good jobs and I was happy, but I was also a machine. I went through the emotions everyday. I couldn’t put my personality into my job,” Janice said. After her time in the work force, Janice’s story has another plot twist. Janice settled with her husband Pat and started a family. They had two daughters - Andrea and Allison. Janice became a stay at home mom, a caretaker and volunteer for many organizations — all the while maintaining her desire to achieve a degree. While her children were younger, she devoted her time to caring for them and staying active in her church. Yet, watching her children learn only made her want to earn her degree even more. When they were a little older, she decided to go for it. “They probably knew my speeches better than I did. At the same time, though, I was worried I was taking too much time from my family,” she said. “It was a constant battle against going to class and spending time at home.” When she originally enrolled at WVU Parkersburg, she thought she would like to be a teacher, but a few business courses quickly rerouted her to that section. “I had lots of experience in this field and I had intentions of doing portfolios to get credit for my time spent in the workforce, but I just loved taking the classes. So that’s what I did,” she said. An inescapable class in college is Speech. “That is one class I didn’t want to take - I dropped it four times,” she said. After deciding it was taking the class or not graduating, Janice enrolled and persevered. “Once I realized I wouldn’t die from taking the class, it became one of the instrumental classes I took. It changed my confidence, my ability to speak to people. That class was pivotal.”

Janice’s life quickly became a juggling act. She was taking care of her family, her sick father, volunteering at church, supporting her daughters’ extracurricular activities and attending classes. “I was stressed and when I visited the doctor, he diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — I was ready to drop out,” Janice said. At the same time, Janice was set up for a cooperative education appointment, which she cancelled and rescheduled three times. When Al Edwards finally called her in to make her final decision, she explained her situation. “My college career hung on what he said. If he had said anything else, I wouldn’t be here today. After I told him what was going on, he said, ‘I understand.’ He knew someone who had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and he understood what I was going through. It was so relieving,” she said. Janice did decide to do cooperative education and was placed in a job that lead to her current job as the director of the Student Success Center. As she finished her final semesters in college, she was faced with another obstacle. Her father passed shortly before she graduated. “I wanted to drop out again. He had been my biggest cheerleader and wanted me to accomplish my dreams,” she said. Despite her immense grief, she again found the resolve to continue. Janice did finish college with an Associate’s degree in Office Administration and a Regents Bachelor of Arts. “I can’t even put into words how I feel about that. I had worked so hard to achieve that, my family had worked so hard and sacrificed so much,” she said. Now, Janice spends her time being a cheerleader for others at the Student Success Center — what she describes as her dream job. “I like to think that I’m changing the world one person at a time,” she said, “I really understand what each person is sacrificing when they walk through those doors. I want them to know they can keep going.”

Enjoying her job in the Student Success Center, Janice helps students work on accounting. Janice feels that she has achieved her dream job working at the center.

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I Found Insightby Austin Weiford

Card playing and a desire to become a musician almost halted Dave Thompson’s collegiate career. Thompson began classes at Parkersburg Community College (PCC) in 1973 after graduating from Parkersburg High School. At the time, he was interested in being a forensic criminologist and registered for the A.A.S. in law enforcement. “It seems, however, that the pleasure of playing Spades in the student lounge and my job as a performing musician distracted me to the point that I withdrew after only one semester,” Thompson said. He returned again to PCC in 1978 when his involvement in musical performance (playing in a rock band) steered him to enroll in music and drama classes. One semester was again the length of his stay, gaining him some theatrical, musical theory and applied piano technic skills and knowledge. “Sometimes progress is made by reaching dead ends,” Thompson said. “In the case of both law enforcement and music, I realized that I was not cut out for a career in either field, so I moved elsewhere in my pursuit of happiness and any and all education that might contribute to it.” His continuing work as a musician led him into experimentation with music synthesizers. Early synthesizers were very fundamental devices that required a working knowledge of wave theory and electronic circuits (oscillators, filters, amplifiers, etc.). “I learned most of this from my ARP Odyssey owner’s manual, but I craved to learn more. I was fascinated at the ability to control physical phenomenon to create art,” he said. In the spring of 1982, Thompson once again headed to the Rt. 47 campus to learn more about his current interests and signed up for the AAS in electronic engineering technology. Thompson graduated in May of ’84 with that degree, although at the time, he never planned on pursuing a career related to electronic technology. Instead, he wanted only to be able to support his musical endeavors by repairing and maintaining synths, keyboards,

amplifiers and the band’s PA system and audio signal processors. To supplement his income, he took a job at a local music store, Wendell’s Inc., shortly after graduation. There, he sold pianos, organs and newly-emerging products in digital keyboards. He also worked as an electronic technician, taught piano and synthesizer, and later became the manager of the electronic keyboard department and vice president of the company. About 10 years later, the owner decided to close, and he partnered with another employee to start up their own music store, dB Music, of which he was president, instructor and repair technician. “Through various twists and turns, changes in careers and of interests, and sometimes just having to accept what life offers, I found myself working as an electrician at an area manufacturing facility. I was fortunate enough to have successfully played in bands for most of my youth, and even managed to get on the radio, but paying the bills with a family became increasingly difficult,” he said. So equipped with a degree and competencies he never expected to use outside of his life as a musician, he was now working shift work at a factory. He

spent the next twelve years there as an electrical foreman, an electrical specialist and finally as an area electrical reliability manager where he oversaw various electrical projects and crews and designed industrial control systems. Then came yet another change of interest (and the realization that perhaps more than an AAS degree might be needed in the future). Thompson returned to now WVU Parkersburg and entered the RBA program, then offered through WVU. He specialized in Psychology and after graduating in 1999, went on to earn a Master’s in Psychology at Marshall University, all the while continuing full-time work at the manufacturing plant. Not long after that, there was a cutback in workforce and his job title was eliminated, which forced him into a different position (one which he did not particularly care for), so he decided to leave industry to explore careers in psychology. “Another odd turn in life showed up as a letter explaining my eligibility to receive TAA benefits for displaced workers to continue my education. The benefits would not pay for my PhD, so I returned again to WVU Parkersburg to

Thompson instructing one of his numerous electronics classes.

One Man’s Journey Through Psychology, Electricity, Rock ‘n’ Roll

See Insight on page 38

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I Found PassionTeacher Breaks Down Stereotypes with Determination

by Ryan Norman She was told girls couldn’t become doctors. She was told her family would not be able to afford to send her to medical school. That didn’t stop Dr. Theresa Cowan from pursuing her goal. She currently serves as Director of the RN-BSN Nursing program at WVU Parkersburg. While many children change their minds about their future careers, Cowan never did. She always dreamed of a career in health care. A science teacher in high school said she couldn’t become a doctor because she was a girl. The same teacher said her family didn’t have enough money to put her through medical school. Theresa never accepted his opinion. After high school, Cowan enrolled at Parkersburg Community College (now WVU Parkersburg) as a seventeen-year-old freshman and graduated with her nursing degree by nineteen. She immediately started work as a nurse and tributes PCC for how prepared she was for the educational field. “I had a lot of good guidance,” Cowan said. “ I felt a step ahead and better prepared than most of the others close to my age.” Cowan decided to continue her education while working full time and taking college classes through West Virginia University on both the Parkersburg and Charleston campuses. She made the drive back and forth from Parkersburg to Charleston to complete her bachelor’s degree. Shortly after graduating, Cowan was contacted by a close friend about an opportunity to teach Psychiatric Nursing at Salem College in Salem, W.Va. She gladly accepted the opportunity and was ready to walk into the classroom. Although Cowan had no intentions at that time of going to graduate school, with some convincing from a few co-workers at Salem, she decided to attend WVU to complete her master’s degree. This opened her eyes to not only her goal as a doctor, but nursing education as well. While working at Salem College and after completing her master’s degree, Cowan received a phone call from WVU about a position as the Director of the Nursing Bachelorette Program at Glenville State College. Cowan accepted the job and remained at Glenville for 17 years in the roles of Director of Nursing, Chairman

of Math and Science, and NCAA Sports Compliance Coordinator. At this point, with a stable career, Cowan could see how close her goal was and looked into a doctoral program at A.T. Still University. The institution is recognized around the world as a renowned, multidisciplinary healthcare educator and home of the world’s first osteopathic medical school. Established in 1892, the university has a rich history of providing leadership for comprehensive healthcare education and research and is consistently ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.” Cowan’s degree program was designed to focus on physicians who wanted to be deans or directors. The Doctorate of Health Sciences is a post-professional degree designed for master’s- or doctorate-prepared health professionals. The program aims to develop and enhance the professional skills needed to provide competent leadership in today’s challenging healthcare. Now, Dr. Cowan is able to bring the experience in her curriculum back to WVU Parkersburg. Cowan’s desire to work in the medical field emanated from the satisfaction that she would get from knowing that she made a difference in someone’s life. She knew that when one is a doctor or nurse, he or she has the opportunity to help others at

their weakest moments. A healthcare professional maintains a sense of hope for the patient and his or her family. Knowing that she can either fulfill that role or teach others how to become that individual is of more value to her than any amount of money. She has an opportunity to implement that philosophy in her classrooms. Cowan believes that three important qualities someone in the healthcare field must emulate are to have empathy, to be a good listener, and to be compassionate. As an educator, she instructs healthcare professionals to listen to patients’ problems to fully understand them. She also encourages students to develop a good connection with patients and have open dialogue, skills she believes are essential in order to be effective. Cowan values healthcare professionals. Tragic circumstances forced her to experience the vulnerable side of nursing. Her husband was diagnosed with cancer. “That gave me the patient point of view,” Cowan said. On January 5, 2012, Tom Cowan, her husband of 35 years, lost a nine-year battle against brain cancer. She truly understands that death leaves a

Dr. Cowan teaches her students in a classroom at WVU Parkersburg. Cowan provides guidance like she recieved when she started at PCC.

I had a lot of good guidance.

I felt a step ahead and better

prepared than most of the

others close to my age.

See Passion on page 39 ”

I had a lot of good guidance.

I felt a step ahead and better

prepared than most of the

others close to my age.

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I Found SuccessAssessor Credits College for Flexibility

by Jeremy Harrison Local art is present on all of the walls which surround a large desk covered with neatly stacked papers. This is the office of Rich Shaffer, county assessor for Wood County. Shaffer credits WVU Parkersburg for helping him achieve his position as the county assessor. Shaffer originally started his academic career at West Virginia Wesleyan before he decided it was not a good fit for him and, in turn, chose a job in the construction trade. “I chose to leave before they told me to leave,” Shaffer said of his first college experience. He noted that college was not what he needed to do at the time. He started attending WVU Parkersburg in the mid- seventies, when it was still Parkersburg Community College, and continued to take occasional classes throughout the years when he had the time. He received his Regents Bachelor of the Arts degree in December 2007. “It only took me 35 years,” Shaffer said jokingly. His former professional experiences have added up for him over the years and also have contributed to his success at WVU Parkersburg. He worked in management at manufacturing plants, as well as spearheaded the creation of a plant in Pennsylvania, which he noted was one of his greatest achievements. He also sold real estate, as well as appraised it, which is what he does now. He even ran a bed and breakfast in Parkersburg on the corner of Eighth and Anne Streets. In 1991, Shaffer started at the assessor’s office and has worked in every single department. All of these different career experiences ended up rewarding Shaffer with 32 hours of life experience credit added to his degree through the RBA program. A lot of work was put into the life experience credit hours he received. He originally applied for 30 hours and received 32, not an everyday occurrence at WVU Parkersburg. Shaffer noted that it “probably would have been easier taking the classes.” WVU Parkersburg was helpful to Shaffer in more ways than just the life experience hours he received. He also mentioned that the help of Paul Milhoan, head of the RBA department at the time, was instrumental in helping him receive his degree. Milhoan had also been a

dislocated worker and could relate with Shaffer on that level and also had an RBA degree. “Paul Milhoan was a great mentor,” Shaffer said. WVU Parkersburg has one of the nation’s lowest tuition rates, which in turn makes it more accessible than most other schools. “WVUP is a great value for the money that you spend for your education,” Shaffer said of the low tuition costs of the school. “In fact, when I was doing the bed and breakfast and not making a lot of money, I was able to apply for Pell grants, so the tuition was paid through the Pell grants, because bed and breakfast - you don’t get rich doing that.” While at WVU Parkersburg, Shaffer was able to benefit from the full gamut of opportunities and tools that the institution offers. He noted that the RBA program gave him the flexibility to choose the classes that would be relevant to his professional career. Shaffer also participated in online classes and noted that one of his favorite classes was U.S. Constitution taught by David Kurtz. Another class Shaffer took that he

thoroughly enjoyed and still stands out in his mind was a fraud class. Shaffer was also part of the co-op program that WVU Parkersburg offers, where students work at their respective job and earn credit hours. WVU Parkersburg caters to a large spectrum of students including the non-traditional student. Shaffer claimed, “WVUP fills a niche and the non-traditional student is very accepted out there.” WVU Parkersburg is a hybrid school; it is one of the only community colleges in the nation that offers four-year degrees, and it is obvious from Shaffer’s story that this was a factor that contributed to his decision to attend. With the help of faculty working closely with Shaffer and mentoring him, the flexible and wide range of classes available, and also the availability of life experience credit hours, Shaffer was able to successfully obtain his goals. HIs advice for future or current students is: “Buckle down, apply yourself, don’t spend 35 years getting a degree.” He then added that his experience at WVU Parkersburg was very good, “It’s been invaluable to me.”

Shaffer looks over some property tax paperwork. He has been in the assessor’s office for 21 years.

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WVUP is a great value for the money that you spend for your education.

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I Found a FoundationCollege Lays Groundwork for Buckley

by Richard Moore Sheryl Buckley has always had a clear

path for her life. She has always known where she

wanted to be and how she was going to get there.

For her, WVU Parkersburg provided her with the tools to reach her goals. She found the foundation on which to build the rest of her life.

The skills she mastered while attending what was then Parkersburg Community College (PCC) in the mid-1970s was the springboard to a career that allowed her to serve on the staffs of two United States congressmen. It also gave her the flexibility later in her life to devote more time to her family.

“For my particular circumstance, I don’t really think my life would have been the same had I gone somewhere else. I feel very fortunate to have had the career path that I’ve had and to have had the experiences I’ve had in my working life,” Buckley said. “None of that would have been possible without PCC.”

Through the years, Buckley’s life has come full circle.

A self-decribed “Navy brat,” Buckley was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, but

spent most of the formative years of her childhood in Parkersburg, less than three minutes from campus.

“When my dad retired from the Navy, we returned to Parkersburg, which is where he is originally from,” she said.

She first attended Washington Junior High School before going on to graduate from Parkersburg High School. For as long as she can remember, Buckley always had her sights set on a career in the secretarial field. For her, the decision to attend PCC was an easy one.

“It was actually my choice to go there because I knew what I wanted to do as far as what my career path would be and the kind of training I wanted,” she said. “I wanted to do the secretarial training – knowing that it opens the door to just about any kind of business or industry.”

Buckley said she never considered attending any other school. The location, coupled with the outstanding curriculum, made PCC the only choice.

“It only made sense that I stay home and get my degree, which I knew would be an excellent degree, and not owe that extra expense (of going away to college),” she said.

Buck l ey en t e r ed PCC in 1975

and graduated two years later with an associate’s degree in Executive Secretarial Science. While at the college, Buckley found the foundation on which she would build both her professional and personal life.

Although the school that would eventually become WVU Parkersburg was still in its infancy, it still provided the perfect place for Buckley to nourish her love of learning, while also allowing her to become involved in various student activities.

In an election that she still remembers to this day, Buckley ran for and won the position of student body president. She and her vice-presidential running mate were both from Parkersburg High School and they ran against two other students with PHS roots.

“It was interesting to say the least. But we had fun with it and remained great friends afterward,” she said.

Buckley recalled that the campus consisted of one main building. The gym and library were still in the planning stages.

“I still thought there were quite a few students. In fact, a lot of my (high school) classmates attended there – some to get their associate’s degree and some to start off and get their initial two years in before they transferred somewhere else.”

WVU Parkersburg offers a multitude of bachelor-degree programs today, but no four-year diplomas were available when Buckley was a student.

In her eyes, the opportunities available to current students make the school a unique destination.

“It’s a place to start and it’s a place to finish. It just depends on what you are looking for,” she said. “I think it is something the school can take advantage of because it can meet the needs of pretty much any student, regardless of their circumstances.”

According to Buckley, the education and training she received at PCC was “second to none.” She said she owes a lot to her instructors, especially Mary Lou Hart.

“She taught a lot of the secretarial courses and was real encouraging. She

Sheryl Buckley enjoys a moment with former Congressmen Alan (l) and Robert Mollohan. The secretarial skills she learned at the college led to a long career working for both men. See Foundation on page 39

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by Abbie Sweeney Jenny Knopp, like any other child, had to attend school. Knopp despised going to class every day and found it boring. When she finally graduated from Ravenswood High School, Knopp’s goal was to make education fun for kids. “I wanted to make school fun for students like me; that way they would actually want to come to class,” Knopp said. Going away for college was not what Knopp had in mind. Her older brother moved to the state of Washington, which made Knopp want to stay close to the family. After turning 18 she moved into an apartment by herself, but that did not mean she wanted to be far from home. She knew that she could receive a degree from WVU Parkersburg and be able to stay close to her family. The only issue Knopp had with going to WVU Parkersburg was that she could not receive her desired degree in special education. When Knopp realized this, she talked to former faculty member Larry Keaton who advised Knopp to receive her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from WVU Parkersburg and then transfer to a different college to receive her graduate degree in special education. Knopp enjoyed her time at WVU Parkersburg and even had the experience of being in college at the same time her mother was in the nursing program. They would see each other in between classes sometimes and would lunch together when possible. “It was nice to spend time with my mom,” Knopp said. In order to pay for Knopp’s five years of college, she used money she had saved from working. She received a $500 scholarship from FFA and a Pell Grant her first year, but the rest was out-of -pocket. Knopp would go to class during the day and work at night. “I preferred day classes over night (classes) because I would be tired after work and the last thing I wanted to do was go to class,” Knopp said. After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education K-8 from WVU Parkersburg in May of 1997,

Knopp continued her college career at Marshall University in the fall of the same year where she could pursue her Master’s Degree in Special Education and receive her Principal Certification. Knopp received her first teaching job substituting in Wirt County. She stayed there until she found a job teaching special education. Steve Simonton, principal at Van Devender at the time, steered Knopp into her next job working in special education at Van Devender. After two years, Knopp moved to Blennerhassett to teach elementary special education and then moved again to Jefferson Elementary for three years teaching third grade. While working at Jefferson and Blennerhassett, Knopp was also working for the Alternate Center for Education

I Found Quality

Program (ACE) which she had to quit when she received her current job as Vice Principal at Mineral Wells Elementary. She has been working for six years there. Outside of work Knopp and her husband Chris have three girls and two boys, the oldest being 15 and the youngest being a one year old. She is still close to her family living only a half a mile away from her parents in Jackson County. At WVU Parkersburg, she found a quality education that prepared her well for the challenges of teaching. Knopp is a proud graduate of the institution. “WVU Parkersburg gave me the opportunity to get a top-notch education while being able to stay close to family and not go into extreme debt,” Knopp said.

Jenny Knopp works with Mineral Wells Elementary Secretary Leesa Dill. Knopp has served as Vice Principal of Mineral Wells for the past six years.

Big Dreams Lead to Success for Student

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I Found a Second HomeHappiness Found in Hometown

by Peter Orn It’s an age old story. A young person grows up in a small town, and dreams of getting out and making something out of themselves. Sometimes, though, a person doesn’t want to leave home. Sometimes a person is happy, gains an education and settles down in her hometown. Sometimes a person understands that the option to stay is just as good, if not better, than the option to go out of town to college. Carrie Patterson is that kind of person. Carrie Patterson works at WVU Parkersburg as the Agency Fleet/Travel Coordinator. Her duties include regulating the rules and policies of the state fleet and travel regulations and making sure that the department is following said rules and policies. She is also in charge of reserving state and rental vehicles, paying for conference registrations, making hotel and flight arrangements for members of the campus community, and auditing travel reimbursement paperwork. In addition to all these tasks, Carrie also serves as the assistant to the director of Facilities and Grounds/Safety Coordinator. Before she earned her paycheck at the college, she happily received her education here. “I really enjoyed my classes,” Patterson said. “I have been able to apply many of the concepts that I learned from my courses to my current job. It’s really neat how it all slides into place and you finally have that ‘ah ha’ moment.” Patterson was born and raised in the Parkersburg/Vienna, W.Va. area, so when it came time to decide where she wanted to further her education, she had to think of all avenues. Due to many reasons, including fear of going away to college and financial immaturity, she decided to stay in the area and go to the community college in town. When asked if she would change her decision, Patterson admitted there were other avenues of life she would have liked to have explored (including becoming a veterinarian and being the “Batman of the MOV,” rescuing mistreated animals during nighttime) but WVU Parkersburg was the best decision for her. Patterson decided to obtain a business

degree. She enrolled in classes for a BASBA in Marketing and Management. She chose this avenue because it’s a degree that one can apply to everything. She also enjoyed learning about people and how to be a leader. During her time at WVU Parkersburg, Patterson spent most of her time at the campus. Some days she was literally there all day, coming in at 7:30 a.m. and leaving at 10 p.m. “I found a second home,” Patterson recalled. In fact, Patterson enjoyed being at the college and loved to help when she could. She would volunteer her time during New Student Orientation and also helped the anti-tobacco club. She eventually took part in the work-study program at the college and was very thankful to be a part of that. “I was sharing a vehicle with my mother,” Patterson e x p l a i n e d , “ a n d I also lived 30 minutes away from campus, so completing my day during normal business hours was convenient.” Patterson revealed her jealousy of students enrolled now, due to the number of extra-curr icular act ivi t ies a v a i l a b l e n o w a s opposed to when she was going to class. “ I c a n d e f i n i t e l y s a y t h a t W V U Parkersburg taught me perseverance,” Patterson admits. College life in Parkersburg made P a t t e r s o n l e a r n t o pr ior i t ize tasks and work through tough assignments, not just to get them done, but to create a quality finished product. These honed skills helped her not just in college, but also in her life today. After four years of hard work, Patterson w a s p r e p a r e d f o r her most memorable

moment of her college career in May of 2006: graduation. She admits that before the event she wasn’t looking forward to it. Then, when she donned her cap and gown and walked across the stage, “I became very emotional as I witnessed the proud looks on our families’ faces. I’ll never forget that moment.” The degree was finished, but Patterson made an easy transition into the next stage of her life. She was, after all, already working on campus. She is very happy with her new job in the fleet office at WVU Parkersburg. As a recent graduate, Patterson’s advice to new and future students who attend WVU Parkersburg: “Ask as many questions as you can. You can never ask too many questions.”

Carrie Patterson serves as the Agency Fleet/Travel Coordinator. Carrie always puts forth the highest effort, no matter the size of the task at hand.

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I learn something

new everyday.

”

“

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I Found ChallengeNurse Chooses Lifestyle of Learning

by John Hambrick Through education and experience Mary Kibble-Leu has been in control of her career. The copious field of nursing has consistently provided her with her two most important needs: challenge and the ability to grow. In May of 2013, Kibble-Leu will mark her 35th year at Camden Clark Memorial Hospital. It started when she received her associate’s degree from Parkersburg Community College (PCC). For someone who needs to be challenged, it’s important to stay busy; Kibble-Leu wasted no time in furthering her education after PCC. She is very grateful of the full-ride scholarships that presented her BSN and master’s degrees free of debt. CCMH has been he r p l ace o f employment ever since. In 2009 she was awarded one of the Nursing Excellence Awards through the West Virginia Center for Nursing. A sharp learning curve and open mind keep her on her toes. “I learn something new everyday,” she said. Opportunities have been the product of this growing process. “There’s no real typical day,” Kibble-Leu says with a smile, giving the notion that her job is not entirely stress free. Her current job as director of professional practice and education makes her responsible for the staff at both CCMH and St. Joseph’s campuses. Those responsibilities include patient education, staff nursing, outcomes management and case management. PCC was Kibble-Leu’s initial “stepping stone” toward her career. Between school and working at the Belpre Public Library, she had little time for extracurricular activities. Kibble-Leu kept focused while completing her studies at PCC. The most important lesson she learned right away was “how to actually study.” She admitted while reflecting on that first year of college, “I didn’t know what I thought I knew. I needed to learn how to really study.” She soon discovered and excelled in her lessons. She graduated with an associate’s degree in nursing. She began her professional career at Camden Clark Memorial Hospital

working the floor as a registered nurse. Throughout the course of her career, Kibble-Leu has been challenged with many job transitions. She consistently takes steps up the ladder at CCMH. The bar for excellence is set high by her own doing. She is the type of person that would say the sky is the limit. When CCMH introduced its first Urodynamic Testing Lab, Kibble-Leu was the one to organize and operate it. T h r o u g h t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e 9 0 s , s h e w a s t h e I n s t r u c t o r o f Educational Services, among other responsibilities. She also was in charge of the development, coordination and presentation of continuing educational programs, in-services and seminars. Her work has often involved the bringing together of more than one department. Being able to communicate effectively has proven her to be a great team player. In the late 90s she began her first manager role. Under the same title as a Nurse Case Manager, she was monitoring clinical processes to effect change.

Although oncology was a primary focus, as she gained experience, she began collaborating with all disciplines. Kibble-Leu’s merit continues to grow each day for herself, her coworkers, and her field as a whole by contributing to professional organizations and spending time analyzing process management. Education continues through her everyday life. She must participate in continuing education activities for license renewal every year. Aside from her job at CCMH, she is a teacher’s assistant for Ohio University’s RN-BSN online program. As an academic coach in 2010, she helped guide Bobcat students through their courses. Kibble-Leu is very keen in the nursing realm. She uses herself as an example of the opportunities available in the field. She encourages anyone to enter nursing. Her advice for future nursing students is that “You never stop learning. Don’t think that because you’ve graduated, you’re finished, because you’ve only just

Mary Kibble-Leu will soon mark her 35th year at Camden Clark Medical Center, where she currently educates a variety of health professionals. Her career began at Parkersburg Community College in the nursing program.

See Challenge on page 40

I Found DirectionFueled by Drive, Determination, Burdette Finds His Way

by Susan Moore Keith Burdette knew early on that he wanted to be in politics. With the spotlight shining mainly on Burdette’s political career, many may not realize that his foundation began in the Mid-Ohio Valley and at WVU Parkersburg. All through his early years, Burdette was involved in politics. He was active in student government while in middle school and through his years at Parkersburg South. He served as student body president his senior year. Upon graduation from Parkersburg South, Burdette was looking far beyond Parkersburg, W. Va., city limits. But due to circumstances out of his control, he was forced to enroll at what was then Parkersburg Community College (PCC). “It was not what I thought I should be doing; I was supposed to go off to college,” said Burdette. Going to the local community c o l l e g e was not what Burdette wanted to do, but it was the card he was dealt. Not being the best student the area has ever seen, Burdette credits the faculty at PCC for their patience and understanding as he worked his way through college. “I gave them more than a few opportunities to flunk me, but they pulled me through,” Burdette recalled. One professor in particular made a lasting and life-changing impression on Burdette. That professor was Ronnie Atkinson.

Burdette went to Charleston and the state Legislature on an internship. Upon returning back to class, he mentioned to Professor Atkinson that he could do that in his sleep, no problem. The next words out of Atkinson’s mouth changed the direction of Burdette’s journey. “Go to Charleston and pay the 30 bucks and run if you think you can do it,” Atkinson told him. With politics always being an interest, Burdette took that dare and ran in the next general election. Only losing by one percent of the vote to all Democratic incumbents did not deter this young politician; it only fueled his determination to win the next race, which he did. This milestone in Burdette’s political career; it made him the youngest member in history elected to the West Virginia State Legislature at the young of age 22. By 1982, he was elected to the state senate for the first of three terms. Burdette was very active while in the senate, serving on many committees including, senate finance and judiciary committees during his first term and became the vice chairman and then the chairman of the education committee. After his third term and serving as senate president at the young age of 34, Burdette refocused his energy on Parkersburg. He started a very successful government relations firm and

became very active in the West Virginia Development Authority. After the 2000 election, Burdette was requested to serve in Charleston and work on then Governor-elect Bob Wise’s staff. Burdette, with his knowledge and experience, has played a large role in how our state has grown over the years. He was instrumental in obtaining the funding for the PROMISE scholarship program, as well as bringing many new businesses to the area. Hino Motors, NTAC, Coldwater Creek and Mountain State Blue Cross and Blue Shield are just a few of the businesses he is credited with helping bring into the state and, more specifically, the Parkersburg area, as well as the jobs that come along with them. This drive and determination is what current West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin saw in Burdette when in late 2010 he named him as his cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce and also executive director of the West Virginia Development Office. In his appointed role as Secretary for the Department of Commerce, Burdette often interacts with development authority offices from around the state. Executive director of the Pleasants County Development Authority Jim McGoldrick feels that Burdette brings something to the role that no other person has in the past. “Because Keith has worked at the county level as a county director, he understands what counties face when trying to recruit new jobs for their communities,” McGoldrick said. McGoldrick feels that Burdette understands what West Virginia is all about and that our story is just beginning. “Keith puts a positive emphasis on economic development that we have not had in the past,” McGoldrick said. “West Virginia has a great story to be told and Keith is just the person to be our storyteller. West Virginia has a lot to offer.”a

In the photo (left), NTAC General Manager Akira Mori explains the company’s current operations to Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette (left) and Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.

See Direction on page 40

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”“Fate stepped in

and gave me an opportunity

of a lifetime.

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I Found ConvenienceLocal Musician Achieves Teaching Degree

by Sami Daggett Steve McDougle’s life is busy; it always has been. Now a teacher at Marietta Middle School, McDougle i s a l so very ac t ive in the loca l music scene. He credits his ability to have it all to WVU Parkersburg. During his time on campus, the college helped him realize through the staff and special programs that one can do more than one thing at a time. McDougle f i rs t came to WVU P a r k e r s b u r g ( t h e n P a r k e r s b u r g Community College) in the Fall of 1975. The campus locality was the main reason for his choice. His only plan was to take general education classes, which he did. During this time McDougle also worked at Wendell’s Music, where he taught students how to play instruments. Within the next few years, he married and welcomed a child. By 1986 he was back in school, after an extended hiatus, this time at the Glenville office of PCC. Although he still lived in the Parkersburg area, Glenville’s evening classes proved more convenient for his music career. PCC had a reputation of what any community college might have. Those in the area believed students could come, take easy courses, and pass. McDougle knew this was not the case. “Professors had high expectations. And that was a good thing.” He also appreciated the fact that the faculty and staff were flexible, and they understood their students had other responsibilities, but that didn’t mean they took it easy on them. His second semester English class was taught by Maggie Berdine. Although at the time of his studies, he admits he struggled with Berdine’s class; however, the work he put in paid off when achieving his Master’s degree. He later personally thanked his professor for her difficult class, which she appreciated. “Comments from former students such as Mr. McDougle’s are what keep me energized about teaching.” Extracurricular activities were not especially important to him, but he did still participate in the music program at PCC, where he met Dr. H.G. Young. Young was also teaching math at the time

and tutored McDougle when needed. Looking back now, he still appreciates the relationship he had with Dr. Young, and Young doesn’t let him forget it. He has, on more than one occasion, called McDougle to ask him to play for his musical projects. “He is an outstanding musician and has continued to perform and teach music throughout his life,” said Young. “Over the years Steve has returned to WVU Parkersburg to perform in the orchestra for several of our musical theatre productions. I always appreciate his fine musicianship and willingness to volunteer his time for these projects. ” McDougle and Young, who still teaches at WVU Parkersburg, have remained friends throughout the years, and there is mutual respect between the two. “As a public school teacher, private music instructor, and music performer, Steve McDougle has made significant contributions to our community for many years.” Apart from his career mentors he met at the college, McDougle also met several people who would grow to be some of his closest friends: his band mates. Mark Bruce, who is now an assistant professor in the Social Sciences and Languages Division, first visited the WVU Parkersburg campus to play with the band Roadwork in the early 80s. Steve was a member of the band and played lead guitar and woodwinds. Mark and Steve would also later team up for another successful band.

In 2010, Steve, Mark Bruce, Marty McFee and Chase Brady (who has also taught at WVU Parkersburg) formed the band Still Crazy. Steve describes his newest venture, which includes several people from his past, as “Roadwork reincarnated.” The band, which plays rock, pop, country, folk and original material, offers something for everyone. After graduating from the Glenville office with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, McDougle graduated with his Masters in Education, specializing in Science and Math, from Marshall University in 1989. Almost immediately after graduating, he started a job with the Wood County Board of Education. By 1991, he was working at Vienna Elementary. That following summer, he was hired at Marietta Middle School, where he has been ever since. At the time, McDougle enrolled at PCC for the convenience. “It was the only choice I had. I had a wife and child, so moving away for college wasn’t an option.” Now, he knows it was also the right choice. “I don’t have any regrets at all.” He describes his time at the college as “very worth while” and “a good investment.” He does, however, wish there were more four-year degree opportunities at WVU Parkersburg, both then and now. Even so, to those considering WVU Parkersburg as an option, McDougle says that students “absolutely should go.”

Still Crazy performs at the Belleville Homecoming in 2011. Left to right: Marty McFee, Denver McFee, McDougle, and Mary Mary

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I Found My Futureby Rachel Terzo

WVU Parkersburg has been a launch pad for many successful alumni over the years. Here, students gather the tools and knowledge necessary for success in not just a job, but a career. In fact, WVU Parkersburg has also been the final career destination for a variety of alumnus or graduates as well. Nursing alumnus Cheryl Brumfield continued to invest her time at the college and also pursued her dream career here. Brumfield is currently a nursing advisor and ins t ructor a t WVU Parkersburg. She earned her LPN at Parkersburg Community College, and continued on to obtain her BSN and MSN from West Virginia University. Like many students, Brumfield started her college career immediately after high school. She knew that she wanted a quality education at an affordable cost , and WVU Parkersburg was able to provide just that. “I came from a family of six, so I wanted to stay c lo se to home . I also wanted to save my parents as much money as possible,” she said. WVU Parkersburg’s affordability and flexibility gave her the ability to obtain a quality education close to home. Some students come to the campus

not knowing a. Others come here with former classmates from high school, co-workers or long time friends. Brumfield expresses that regardless of who a student knows or doesn’t know upon arrival, memories are created during and after time spent here at WVU Parkersburg. Brumfield agreed that life-long fr iendships are formed at WVU Parkersburg. She continues to stay in touch with one of her fel low c l a s s m a t e s , t h o u g h s h e lives in North Carolina. “I was sitting in the hallway before class one morning, and I was approached about doing a television commercial for the

college. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time because they picked students randomly, but it was definitely a great experience,” she said. The college kept her quite busy. Nursing is a grueling and competitive field without a job in the equation, but Brumfield managed to juggle work and school. Parkersburg Community

College provided her with part-time work-study opportunities. “I worked part-time doing work study at the college, plus held a full schedule. It was intense at times, and I stayed very busy.

Of course, it was definitely worth it in the end.” WVU Parkersburg has advanced by leaps and bounds since the days of Parkersburg Community College, and Brumfield has seen these changes first hand over the years. “So much has changed here, from the layout of the college itself to the technology available to students. I have watched the nursing department evolve

f r o m o n e s m a l l room with limited equipment, to an entire wing with rooms dedicated to human simulations for students to get a more hands-on exper ience . The

strange thing about nursing is that the male/female ratio has not changed much, if at all. We still don’t have many male students, but that’s how the industry is in most places.” She said there are around four or five male nursing students, and that has been the standard amount for the past 30 years. Brumfield keeps a full schedule inside and outside of the campus. She is a part-time registered nurse at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, but most of her time is still spent at WVU Parkersburg. “Some people ask me if I miss nursing. How can I miss nursing when I am still practicing it? What they don’t realize is I haven’t left the field just because I am not in a full-time, hands-on nursing position. I love teaching nursing just as much as practicing it.” WVU Parkersburg helped Brumfield find a sense of contribution, and a sense of home. “I knew that I always wanted to teach nursing, so coming to WVUP to teach was like coming home for me. When I’ve helped a student learn and succeed in his/her nursing career, I feel good knowing that they are using the knowledge I’ve given them and making a difference in so many lives,” she said. Cheryl Brumfield is a proud WVU Parkersburg alumnus and faculty member who worked hard and found her path lead right back to the place that it started – only now she is the one in the professor’s chair.Brumfield assists a nursing student, Amy Owens, in the Nursing Lab. Brumfield loves both teach-

ing and practicing nursing.

Alumnus’ Career Comes Back To WVU Parkersburg

“I knew that I always wanted to teach nursing, so coming to

WVUP to teach was like

coming home for me.”

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“It was the closest thing to a real college experience that

I could have had...”

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I Found DriveWVU Parkersburg Alumnus Proves Success Starts at Home

by Olivia HefnerTraditionally, during graduation, the

student body president gives a speech. In the spring of 1993, this was not the case. This year another student would give a speech and he would change the way people expected graduation speeches to go, just like he had changed many things before he walked across the stage.

Marvin Boyce came to WVU Parkersburg in 1993, but it was not his first choice. Being the Williamstown High School valedictorian, Boyce had received a full ride to Perdue. He accepted.

During his time at Perdue, he faced many issues. “I was OCD before OCD was cool. I would go to class, I would type my notes and go to my dorm. It wasn’t what I wanted,” he said.

After Boyce returened home, his stellar high school academic record secured him a job at Union Carbide, but he quickly realized that was not where he wanted to be.

In the spring of 1990, Boyce enrolled as a full-time student at WVU Parkersburg in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program.

“When I enrolled, I had a purpose. I wanted to get a degree and make money. I overloaded in the summer and took as many classes as possible during the school year,” Boyce said.

When most people are overloading on classes, they don’t have much time for extracurricular activities, but Boyce was changing what people expected yet again.

During his time at WVU Parkersburg, Boyce became the president of the Alumni Association.

“The president left, I was the vice president, so by default I took it over. I just ran with it,” he said.

During Boyce’s time as president, the association met every month for a project. Boyce recalls his favorite time of the year for the association was when they would serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army. Another time he enjoyed involved working with the day care center on campus.

“We would get together and have a good time. One time we got tickets to a WVU

game. Each month had a theme. It was a good group of people to be with.”

After restructuring and reinvigorating the Alumni Association, Boyce took on other activities.

“I was president of Phi Beta Lambda, I played intramural basketball and I was active in student government,” he said.

Boyce eventually ran for student government, but lost due to rigged vote counting.

“Since the election was botched, the president of the college nominated me to the University Trustee Council. I travelled throughout the state, gave speeches and

represented the college. I procrastinated a lot, but I think that helped me,” he said.

One speech in particular, Boyce put off planning until the day of the event. He was representing WVU Parkersburg at the Board of Trustees meeting in Charleston.

“On the way there I was trying to figure out what to say and I came up with ‘PLC.’ It stood for the three objectives I wanted to talk about: the poor parking conditions, the small library, and the outdated computers.”

Boyce’s speech started with PLC as well, when he asked the audience to “Please Listen Closely about PLC.”

“After the speech, during dinner, Chancellor Manning came up to me and said, ‘PLC: please, let’s chew.’ I couldn’t help but laugh, but at least I knew he had been listening,” Boyce said.

The time spent doing extracurricular

activities didn’t detract from Boyce’s academics, though.

“I was a work study, too. I came in when the professors did and left with the night staff. I even had an office in the banana wing that I shared with Debbie Baker,” he said.

Baker wasn’t just part of Boyce’s office life though; she taught “one of the hardest classes” he took at the college.

“Thirty people started in Production Operation Management. At the end of the semester, only six of us were left. A lot of people tried to self-teach. I never saw the point. If the professor has the knowledge, it’s easier to get if from them than wasting time trying to learn it myself. I stayed after class a lot,” Boyce said.

The extra time Boyce spent with his professors really benefited him. They became his friends — friendships he maintains.

“I still have friends from WVUP to this day — students and professors. It was the closest thing to a real college experience that I could have had without actually going to a dorm college,” he said.

Now, Boyce doesn’t have much time to spend in Parkersburg as he is the Vice President of Huntington National Bank in the investment division in Wheeling, W.Va. When he is in town, he makes time to meet with his former professors.

He still thinks of his time at WVU Parkersburg fondly, recalling his graduation speech. “I had seen a Goodyear commercial with Lou Holtz in it. He was giving a motivational speech and ripping up a newspaper during it, but at the end the newspaper was still in tact. I wanted to do that, so I did,” Boyce said.

Boyce went to Goodyear, but they only had a tape of it, so he watched it over and over. He still couldn’t figure it out, so he called Notre Dame and asked for Lou Holtz — who actually took the call.

“He said, ‘A good magician never reveals his secrets,’ and then gave me a book to look in. I figured it out and did that at graduation. Everyone loved it, but no one recorded it. Now, because of me, all graduation speeches are recorded.”

to strive vigorously toward a goal or

objective; to work, play, or try

wholeheartedly and with determination.

DRIVE:

She also keeps in contact with several of the instructors she had in the education program. “I feel like WVU Parkersburg and the Education Department made it very easy to help me prepare for a career when I graduated. Even though I looked abroad for a teaching job, the Education Department members were very helpful and supportive in my search.” She is actually still in contact with her instructors and finds that they are still available for advice. “I am very blessed to have been part of such a great community of supportive instructors and students,” Williams said. “I enjoyed working with Jessica when she served as an officer in Kappa Delta Pi,” said Missy Spivy, an elementary education instructor at WVU Parkersburg. “It is a joy to catch up with her now and hear all of her exciting stories about her life in Panama. The education department is extremely proud of her.” Williams found her current position at Crossroads Christian Academy in Fort Clayton through an Internet job posting. She simply wanted to see a different part of the world. She wanted to immerse herself in a divergent culture and experience a new language. Williams calls her experience both amazing and challenging. She is not only beginning a new job, but learning a new set of societal rules and norms. She finds that one of her favorite lessons from an

by Torie Jackson She sits among several five year olds who are ever so anxious to walk up and get their diplomas. They have on mini caps and gowns. They are fidgeting in their seats. Some are even humming as they prepare for the song they are about to sing to the guests gathered in Panama City, Panama, to watch them graduate from kindergarten. For Jessica Williams, it is a proud day. “Kindergarten graduation is very important in Panama so parents, teachers and administration make it a really big deal,” she said. “I remember looking around at my students and feeling so blessed to have taught them, and then send them off to first grade.” Not long ago, Williams herself donned a cap and gown as she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a specialization in Pre-K/Kindergarten in December 2011 from WVU Parkersburg. While she is certain that she is now doing what she is called to do, it took her many years to discover her gift — it even took her two tries at college. The first time, she quit in frustration after two years. She just wasn’t sure of what she wanted to study. Seven years later, she knew it was time to complete her education. She chose WVU Parkersburg because of its affordability and its “amazing education program.” When she first returned to the campus, she was timid. As she began to develop friendships with her classmates, she started experimenting with various programs and extra-curricular activities. She notes being part of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) as one of her greatest experiences. “Some of my favorite memories were during KDP fundraisers, trips, and helping around the campus,” she said. Williams specifically remembers selling tickets every semester for the KDP basket raffle in the hallway outside of the library. She called those times “a great opportunity to meet new students and professors.” She also found that having most of her classes with the same students strengthened bonds and built what she believes will be lasting relationships. “It was a blessing to build friendships with my classmates,” Williams said. “I still keep in touch with many of them and they have become some of my closest friends.”

I Found AdventureEducation Graduate Puts Roots in Foreign Soil

instructor at WVU Parkersburg is often utilized. “My favorite lesson from the classroom was to be quick to hear and slow to speak,” she said. “I learned that every person has an opinion and a view worth hearing and contemplating.” Now that she makes the lesson plans and sets the topics for the day, she shares something similar: “I always teach my students to look at the world around them and to love others.” Williams begins her teaching days in Panama between 6:45 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. She teaches kindergarten until 3:00 p.m. and then she oversees after-school clubs and activities until 5:00 p.m. During the day she teaches reading, math, Bible, science and social studies. Students in her school also have other teachers for Spanish, art and physical education, as well as library time. In after-school programming, students participate in clubs for basketball, dance, chess, swimming or other activities. And she loves every minute of it. Sure, differences abound. For one, she doesn’t have textbooks for all the subjects she teaches. She has to find worksheets and make copies for the students. But they do have a math workbook and a writing notebook. She’s also learned a little patience, especially in the mornings.

Jessica gathers her kindergarten class for a photo. Jessica took her job as a kindergarten teacher in Panama to immerse herself in a foreign culture.

See Adventure on page 40

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I Found IngenuityIT Coordinator Forges Path to Success

by Russ Yoak Doug Anthony used the information he obtained in his degree to forge his path to success. Originally, Anthony started his college career at WVU in Computer Science but was quickly drawn to a focus on network and server administration and switched to the Parkersburg campus. “I heard great things about WVUP’s CIT program and decided to make the change,” he said. Anthony came to WVU Parkersburg in 2002 and began studying in the Computer Information Technology program (CIT) with instructors Charles Almond and Shannon Thomas. “ I a lways loved work ing wi th computers — figuring out what makes them tick. The CIT program fit perfectly into what I envisioned myself doing as a career,” he said. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Technology in 2007. Anthony did well in his core classes and had an overall great class experience through his electives and general courses. “Of all the non-tech related classes

that I took, I would say SPCH 111 influenced me the most. Dr. Rutherford taught me valuable skills that helped me get through college and changed my outlook on various aspects of life,” he said. Anthony was a student worker in the Information Technology department. As a student worker, he was in charge of managing the lab. “I was a senior lab tech, so I managed other lab techs’ schedules. I was responsible for making sure the correct software was installed on the computers and everything else was up-to-date,” he said. Anthony was also involved in the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM.) They organized activities, but the highlight for him was a presentation that he and former professor Bob VanCamp gave at a WVU technology conference. Their presentation was on PHP, a programming language. After graduating, Anthony had a short break between school and finding work but found himself drawn back to WVU Parkersburg for an entry-level position in

the Information Technology Department. “The only other place I considered working was Public Debt. I really enjoyed working in an academic environment as a student worker and pretty much had my heart set on working full-time here,” he said. Once he joined the department, Anthony went right to work on one of his most memorable experiences. He helped establish the new student e-mail system. After the college left Morgantown’s MIX account e-mail format, Anthony established the school’s Microsoft Exchange system — bringing it online in record time. “It took a lot of sleepless nights, working as many hours a day as possible. Sometimes I worked 14 hours a day,” he said. Every person on campus is assigned one of these accounts, all of which I.T. staff manage. Between the weekly chaos of managing the school’s migration from Microsoft Outlook Exchange to Google’s G-mail, the I.T. department likes to unwind at the end of the week with colleagues. “When possible the department goes out for lunch in two shifts to celebrate the end of the work week,” he said. Anthony believes that everyone should go above and beyond in all of their endeavors. He stays up-to-date on the newest technologies to excel in his field. “I read various blogs and spend a lot of time on Sysadmin and other technology-related sections of Reddit,” he said. A newfound sense of patience and creative thinking are characteristics Anthony sharpened while studying at WVU Parkersburg. He also learned much about creativity and ingenuity. “You don’t encounter the same problems everyday, and it keeps you on your toes,” he said. Doug plans to keep working at WVU Parkersburg and achieving goals for the college. “There are still some features of virtualization that we haven’t been able to take care of yet,” he said. Anthony is proof that this institution provides quality education, where students can thrive and succeed in the real world with the skills and knowledge they acquire in the classroom.

Doug Anthony, coordinator of IT Operations at WVU Parkersburg, keeps campus technology running smoothly. Anthony brought the campus e-mail system online in record time.

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the school’s bulletin boards and helps maintain the memorial garden. “She goes above and beyond. She does the little things that really make a difference and makes the experience so much better for the students,” Barnhart said. Hysell said she learned the value of “paying attention to the details” at WVU Parkersburg. “I was prepared very well. I still use many skills that I learned at WVU Parkersburg. I still love creating bulletin boards and helping my students write short stories and poetry,” she said. “I feel my students’ horizons are broadened because of the multitude of skills and activities that I can pass on or teach them.” Whi l e i t s p rox imi ty t o home influenced Hysell’s decision to attend WVU Parkersburg, it was not the only factor. She considered other colleges but could not pass up the advantages that WVU Parkersburg offered. “The professors were genuinely interested in me as an individual, and

the class size was small enough that it made me feel like a greater line of communication was open,” she said. Hysell followed up her bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree from Salem-Teikyo University, but she has continued to keep close tabs on WVU Parkersburg. “I believe that WVU Parkersburg has a great reputation because of the quality of education and rigorous requirements that are in place,” she said. “I have only seen the school reaching for greater programs and certifications that will only benefit their students more in the future.” Hysell said it has been encouraging to watch the campus grow since the time when she was a student. “The impact the school has on the area is invaluable,” she said. “We are so fortunate that it is there and it is so close,” she said. “But it’s not easy. If people think they are going to go there and slide their way through, they are mistaken. It’s very rigorous and it’s as good an education as you can get.”

Hysell’s current principal can attest to the quality of education provided by the university. Several Pleasants County Middle School teachers have graduated or been involved in courses at WVU Parkersburg. “It is one of the very best. They are very well prepared when they come here. Carol is the perfect example of that,” Barnhart said. The key to Hysell’s success in the classroom is her ability to connect with her students. It’s a special trait that only a handful of teachers possess, according to Barnhart. “It all goes back to the fact that the students really like her and want to do well for her,” Barnhart said. “She just has that knack for getting them excited about learning.” For Hysell, she is simply mirroring w h a t s h e w a s t a u g h t a t W V U Parkersburg. “I had a desire to learn and there were teachers there that wanted to feed that desire,” she said. “It was truly the perfect match.”

Ember

earn an additional AAS Degree while I began doctoral studies.” “Throughout the years following high school graduation, I encountered numerous members of faculty from multiple divisions. I had studied law en fo rcemen t , mus i c , e l ec t ron i c s , psychology and now engineer ing technology, as well as all the various general education professors I had come to know. By this time, I had become an acquaintance, promising student and/or friend with quite a few WVU Parkersburg faculty members and staff. I had been picking up a few extra bucks tutoring, while there and when it was announced that my old electronics instructor was retiring, I applied to fill the vacancy.” Thompson was awarded the position and began teaching all 10 electronics

courses in the fall of 2005. A couple of years following, he was appointed Division Chair of the Technology Division and continues to serve as both Chair (now of the Science and Technology Division) and as an instructor of electronic courses. “During my time here, I have worked with faculty and administration to align our technical programs to workforce needs. We have incorporated industry-recognized assessment and certification examination as capstone requirements, assuring the student, the employer and the university that our degree programs deliver the skills and competencies needed for success on the job. Additionally, we have worked to structure our programs in a career ladder fashion, providing skill sets that build from a certificate program, through an AAS degree and on

into a Bachelor of Applied Technology. This way of acquiring an education allows opportunities to step off the ladder for employment and/or continue upward for advanced degrees and work opportunities.” “It’s interesting to find myself here as a faculty member after so many times previously as a student. In reflection I recall how I was always greatly impressed by the quality of instruction provided me, here. The faculty was always knowledgeable and willing to answer questions. They listened, debated and expounded in order to stimulate and nourish my educational needs. It’s indeed a pleasure and an honor to be given this chance to pay back the college for the insight, direction and knowledge they afforded me.”

Insight

Continued from page 9

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was also a great supporter when I was running for student body president,” Buckley said.

The fact that the instructors took a great interest in the lives of their students did not come as a shock to Buckley.

“I knew that I would get the best training and I knew they would have top-of-the-line classes and teachers,” she said. “And then I got involved in student government and that made the experience even more rewarding.”

Buckley’s role as s tudent body president centered on student activities. It also allowed her to develop a number of valuable relationships, including one that still exists today. Professor Phil McClung was a young instructor when Buckley attended PCC. He became a mentor through Buckley’s work in student government.

Buckley said McClung was always available to offer her direction. They spent the summer between her first and second years on campus visiting different high schools as part of the college’s recruiting effort. They were joined on those trips by Student Provost Dan Tingler.

McClung said he considered it a privilege to work alongside the eager-to-learn student.

“Sheryl is one of those truly authentic persons you very rarely get to know,” McClung said. “I was able to work with her during her student government days when she was our first female student body president. She was also heavily involved in helping form our first sorority.”

Buckley sa id PCC “opened the door” to the rest of her life. Prior to graduation, she was approached by U.S. Representative Robert Mollohan’s office about filling an open secretarial position in the district office in Wood County.

“I’m sure that the exposure I got as student body president directly resulted in

the position I got with the congressman,” Buckley said. “That was not a position I sought. I just got a phone call and they asked if I would be interested in it and it just went from there.”

Robert Mollohan was a well-established politician and Buckley said she “hit the ground running” in her new position.

“I was pretty wide-eyed, but it was a great learning experience. It was a way to ease my way into it. The secretarial skills I learned (at PCC) really prepared me for it,” she said.

In her role for the district office, Buckley handled most of the office duties and also spent a lot of time dealing with constituents. She soon discovered that she enjoyed working with the public.

When Robert Mollohan retired and his son Alan Mollohan was elected to the same position, Buckley transitioned to his staff in the same capacity. After a couple of years, she became an area representative, which included additional dut ies . She t rave led ex tens ive ly throughout the various districts that encompassed the six-county area.

“I was on my own most of the time and had to set my own schedule of where I needed to be and as far as getting the information back to the congressman,” Buckley said. “It was really rewarding. It was not your normal hours most of the time. You had normal office hours, but then there were other things outside the office.”

She said she never stopped relying on the knowledge she gained at PCC.

“It was the launch pad for me. It was the key that opened the door for me,” she said. “I believe if I had gone to school somewhere else, I would not have gotten the same exposure that would have put me in that position.”

Family, however, has always come first for Buckley. She opened another chapter of her life during her time at PCC when she met her future husband.

The coupled welcomed their only child, a son, in 1987. When he was 2 ½ years old, she left her area representative position to accept a post within the campaign that allowed her to work from home.

In the early 1990s, her husband’s work with Monongahela Power relocated the family to Summersville, and Buckley officially left the Mollohan campaign a short time later.

She said both of the congressmen were “outstanding leaders and wonderful people for which to work.” However, she was happy to have the time to spend with her growing son.

In Summersville, her education and experience allowed her to work part-time jobs with flexible hours.

“Those were things that allowed me to work, but also raise my son, which was important to me,” she said. “I was grateful for all of the outstanding opportunities it afforded me, but it was just as important to me in my later years when I was raising my son to have those skills that put me in a position where I could work and still be at home with him.”

Her husband’s job brought the couple back to Parkersburg five years ago and they built a home on the same property on which she grew up. She even had a chance to give back to WVU Parkersburg when she served as a temporary secretary for the Education and Humanities Division while another employee recovered from surgery.

Buckley said she could not have written a better script for her life. She said she owes a lot of her success to the college. Because of that it will always hold a special place in her heart.

“It’s hard to believe that one place could touch every area of your life like that,” she said, “but it did. I truly believe it molded me into the person I am today. It was, is and will always be home to me.”

FoundationContinued from page 18

PassionContinued from page 14heartache no one can heal, yet love leaves a memory no one can steal. Tom received his BA degree in Education at Glenville State College and completed his MA degree from WVU. He was a retired principal and coach from Ritchie County High School, where he

taught and coached for 28 years. Some may teach because it is their job, not their passion. Cowan wants to teach, guide, and, most of all, make a difference as the Director of the RN-BSN Nursing Program at WVU Parkersburg. She has transitioned back to home, back to where

it all began. She hopes to bring all of her experiences and knowledge into the classroom to further enhance the college’s nursing curriculum. And she certainly will never tell any student, regardless of gender or financial status, that she can’t achieve her dreams.

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“Panamanians are never in a rush so being on time is something that they don’t think of a lot,” Williams explained. “I have many students who come to school tardy quite often.” She doesn’t let it frustrate her. Instead, she focuses on the good. She is fascinated by how quickly younger students can process and learn new information, especially for those who study English as a second language. She is amazed when her five-year-old students can speak, read and write in more than one language. She even

has one student who can speak and write in three languages. As her kindergarten graduation ceremony comes to a close and students gather with their parents for cake and punch, Williams is so thankful to have her education and be utilizing it in a foreign country. “Moving to Panama to teach kindergarten was one of the best decisions I have made in my life,” she said. “I am so blessed in what I do, where I live, and the ability to see a different part of the world. It is truly an amazing experience to live in a culture

unlike my own.” Williams encourages prospective students to never let past experiences or age prevent them from pursuing a college education. She found “blessings” and success as a non-traditional student at WVU Parkersburg. “Enjoy your time in college and be part of the community; get involved in any way that you can and give back,” she advises students. “Take your time and choose a career in which your gifting will flourish. Make a difference and reach out to others.”

Burdette says more change is on the horizon for West Virginia with several major announcements on the way bringing many jobs to the state. “With West Virginia being an energy producing state, its economy is doing much better than the national average,” said Burdette. Burdette took what he was given and made the best of it and, in the process, flourished as one of the state’s most valuable advocates. Burdette graduated from PCC with an associate’s degree in business and was later given a doctorate in 1989 from WVU Parkersburg when the college was still a

regional campus for WVU. In an effort to give back to the college that gave so much to him, Burdette served on WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors for several years. However, after his appointment, he was no longer able to serve. Dr. Marie Gnage feels that Burdette is an asset to the college and his presence is missed. “When Governor Tomblin selected Keith for Secretary of Commerce, we were happy for him but sad to see him leave our Board,” Dr. Gnage said. “While he is no longer on our Board, Keith is still an involved member of our college community. He

has returned to speak at events a number of times and in his new role, he serves on the Community and Technical College Council. We are pleased to see the great work he is doing as Secretary. We see the impact his actions there have on our state and our college.” With all the success Burdette has seen over the years, none of it would have been possible if fate had not intervened with a different plan for his future than what he had been expecting. “Fate sometimes steps in and redirects your plans, all you can do is make the best of it,” Burdette said. “Fate stepped in and gave me an opportunity of a lifetime.”

DirectionContinued from page 26

AdventureContinued from page 34

begun. You have to always keep an open mind to education and learning because our field changes so rapidly. You have to stay on top of things.” She urges that students look at their as-sociate’s degree as a beginning. It’s not a “terminal” degree, “They’re not finished.” She stressed the importance to be open in the learning process. She also learns much by traveling. Having lived most of her life in Belpre, Ohio, she never felt the need to leave when everything she needed was right here. Yet Kibble-Leu has taken several short trips, even distant ones such as a cross over the pond to Europe. She always knew, though, that she could return home.

At home in Belpre, Mary lives with her husband Nicolae. The two enjoy visits to the cinema, but also love longer strolls. They’ve seen eastern and western Europe, strolled the streets of Paris, the Caribbean and four islands in Hawaii. She enjoys Maui because it has every-thing. It’s “well rounded, just the best.” She added, “We’ve been all around the island, back and forth 1,000 times and we like that.” A high priority on Kibble-Leu’s itinerary is getting out to see the historical parts of the island. “When my husband and I go on a trip we’re not ones to just bake on the beach. We like to go out and see what’s going on in the community and see the historical

sites.” She goes beyond the tourism gig. She enjoys the historical aspects of the world, but she’s more likely to go to a restaurant she’s never been to or a bar with a dance floor, (in Maui it’s illegal to dance without a designated dance floor) or hike a moun-tain or hang out in a park than to do the same sightseeing over and over. Kibble-Leu possesses a deep-seated love of learning; she is a model for all stu-dents. She knew what she had to do at a young age and PCC provided her with her first step. She’s gracious for her education and her career and shares a remarkable passion for nursing.

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(Editor’s Note: The Business, Economics & Math-ematics Division houses the Journalism Department. This story focuses on that department.)

by Olivia Hefner Every week a group of students make their way to room 2205 on the second floor of the campus. They come from no spe-cific background, they exhibit no similar physical traits and they are of-ten seen nose deep in notes, or staring intently at a computer screen. The only thing that unites these students is their unwaver-ing dedication to the campus newspaper and a deep-seated love for journalism and the sense of family that sur-rounds it. The journal-ism program on campus produces students with sound communication abilities, but deeper than that, the program fosters a sense of friendship and culture only found within the program. As with any organization, the members of the program have a place they feel at home. For these students, home is with in-structor Torie Jackson in the journal-ism lab. “For us, this is the school. With your other classes, you just show up and leave, but that doesn’t hap-pen here. You really get to know the people,” public relation student Buck Moore said. Several students credit the sense of belonging to the instructor and the dependence of each other throughout the program. “Being in the group makes me feel better about myself. It’s nice having people to rely on like Torie, but at the same time, it’s nice having people look up to me,” Chronicle layout edi-tor Rachel Terzo said. With the room as their nucleus, this group of students seems to always center around it – it is their home at the college. These students have been in the program for a few years and have assumed leadership roles. They

fulfill the obvious roles within a journal-ism program: editors, assistants, writers and designers, but within this program, leadership seems to come from experience and willingness to help others. “I’m new, but there are definitely people who have been here for a while and are

always willing to help. These are the people who give acceptance into the friend-ship aspect of the program,” jour-nalism student Allison Hilber said, “They want quality work, and you best provide it, but it’s all done in a positive fun setting. ” Rachel agrees with Allison on this aspect of the program, “I felt

the program has really high standards, but once you get in, you realize they’re totally attainable. I knew I needed acceptance from my instructor and editor – I had to put myself out there and do the very best I could. After that, I made some great friends.” Friendship cannot be overlooked in this

Business, Economics & Mathematics

Former Chronicle Editor Olivia Hefner (l) gives current Chronicle Editor Jeremy Harrison advice on editing as he prepares for production day.

program. “We are rather a cliquey bunch,” Rachel said, “even those who aren’t as willing to get involved get slowly eased in by others. We depend on each other so much.” To be a good friend, support is a key component. “We’re always pulling for each other, when one person does well, we all do well. We’re lucky to have each other and to have an instructor like Torie who cares about all her students – from the ones coming in to the ones ready to graduate. Torie Jackson is the instructor of the program and devotes much of her time to creating the safe and inclusive atmosphere that this program cultivates. “My job is to make them feel comfort-able in the classroom. Then they begin to develop a sense of pride,” Torie said. The deep sense of pride in their friend-ships and their work is what brings this modern family together. As a group, they produce news broadcasts, Public Relations projects and the Chronicle. “The Chronicle is what you hang your hat on - it represents everybody,” Buck said. “It’s nice to be part of something that everyone cares about.” So although these students share no spe-cial background, their friendship, pride and commitment is what keeps them trac-ing their steps back to room 2205 every week.

Students work on a video editing project in a journalism class. Video editing is a key component to success in the journalism field.

Journalism Students Record Campus History

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by Susan Moore The Education and Humanities division is about more than just lectures and books. While the two units are on opposite ends of the spectrum, both blend together cohe-sively. The division is chaired by Dr. Cynthia Gissy. Under her guidance, many profes-sors and faculty bring a wide range of depth and character to their respective courses. While teacher education is at the forefront, many may not realize that the division is much more diverse, encompass-ing English, literature, music, theater and the arts. The Associate of Arts degree (AA) is one that offers flexibility and is considered the transfer degree. Students who pursue this degree have the option of transferring their credit towards a four-year degree at another college or university. According to Dr. Sandra Kolankiewicz, coordinator, English/Associate in Arts Program direc-tor, the degree provides students with a wide array of options. “Along with the general education courses, students have the option of five free electives to help prepare them for their major of choice,” Kolankiewicz said. Students who choose an AA degree can specialize in anything including art, math, English or a foreign language, music, the-ater, religion, social work, speech, sociol-ogy or psychology. Another option open to students is the general education certificate of Applied Science degree (CAS). This is the first ‘rung’ in the ‘ladder to success’ and like the AA degree, this is another way for

students to gain the courses needed to con-tinue their education and is the ideal choice for students who are undecided. On the teacher education side, students are able to gain an associate’s degree in Applied Science in early childhood devel-opment or a Bache-lor of Arts degree in e l e m e n -tary edu-cation. T h e e d -u c a t i o n degree is developed o n c o n -c e p t u a l f r a m e -w o r k . Dr. Gis -s y f e e l s this is the f o u n d a -tion upon which the division’s future teachers are built. “Conceptual framework is engrained into every course from admittance to the capstone course,” Gissy said. The unit’s philosophy states, “What teachers do today affects tomorrow. This is the underlying concept that supports the di-vision’s conceptual framework, Architects of the Future.” This mindset is what the education department is developed around. Architects of the Future describes the pro-fessionals who dedicate themselves to the teaching profession, to children and to their

o w n p r o f e s -sional growth. The Education and Humanities division is still v e r y y o u n g , o n l y b e i n g a c o m b i n e d group for three years and not many r i tua l s h a v e y e t t o take shape. For education ma-jors, one very important step in their journey to graduation is the signing ceremony.

Education & Humanities “Once a student is admitted into the pro-gram, they sign a contract showing their commitment and dedication to professional education,” Gissy said. Different from the teacher education unit, the humanities unit focuses on studies

in t ended to provide g e n e r a l k n o w l -edge and i n t e l l e c -tual skills, r a t h e r than oc-cupational o r p r o -fessional skills. Hu-m a n i t i e s s t u d e n t s a t W V U P a r k e r s -burg study a n d f o l -

low the Socratic Method. The philosophy behind the Socratic Method is that the pro-fessors do not provide information directly to students, but instead gives them a series of questions that lead to conversation and debate. “This is argument in the classic sense of the word,” Kolankiewicz said. “We are taught to engage students and ask ques-tions from multiple perspectives, which help us make informed decisions.” Education majors are taught to meet stan-dards, be conformed and organized while humanities majors are, as Kolankiewicz puts it, “like herding cats.” They are inde-pendent thinkers taught to argue all point’s sides and to say what is not being said. Kolankiewicz says the reason the Edu-cation and Humanities divisions blend so well is due to the mutual respect that each side brings to the division. “We each ap-preciate the training that comes from each discipline,” she said. That old concept and timeless expression “opposites attract” fits very well for how the Education and Humanities units co-exist within their division. Their ideals are morally inscribed, mobilizing the virtues that always go hand-in-hand with academic inquiry – including courage and confidence in one’s undertakings, charity and civil-ity, opportunity, honesty and humility, all of which sustain multiple communities of learning.Props from the WVU Parkersburg College Theatre

Two Studies Unite for Excellence

Students Shana Burdette and Brandi Hunter Working on an assignment.

choices. The Health Sciences Division has evolved with these changes. Nurses used to wear the white uniforms at all times, but today they choose scrubs. In the medical field, s c r u b s a r e the common dress at t i re and come in a variety of s tyles from a c a r t o o n character to a plain color. W h i l e work ing as a s t u d e n t d u r i n g c l i n i c a l s , n u r s i n g students are required to wear a white lab coat with a name tag when entering and leaving the building. During their work at clinicals, students wear navy blue pants and a white top with gold and blue stripes on the sleeves. One side of the shirt has the WVU Parkersburg logo with indication of the Health Sciences Division, and on the other side students

by Abbie Sweeney The face of nursing transformed from a mostly untrained profession to a highly-skilled and well-respected healthcare profession with very important responsibilities as a result of Florence Nightingale. At age 17, she believed she was called into service by God “to do something toward lifting the load of suffering from the helpless and miserable.” When the Crimean War broke out in 1854, she seemingly rarely slept as she even carried a lamp at night to check on soldiers. The “Lady of the Lamp” as Nightingale became known is still revered in the nursing field. Tradi t ional ly, s tudents a t WVU Parkersburg passed a candle during their pinning ceremony in honor of her. The nursing program began in 1967. Then Camden Clark Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital came to the conclusion that a local college needed to offer nursing education to meet growing demands. The profession of nursing has evolved from Nightingale’s days. Nursing has a very broad description in today’s generation, as it envelopes much more than just the common bedside nurse. Nurses can chose to work in such areas as ICU, IT, directly with cancer patients or choose from a wide variety of other

Health SciencesNursing Students Bond During Classes

have a name tag which also has indication of the college name and the fact that the student is a “student nurse.” The white caps are no longer used because of sterilization concerns. The

c a p s u s e d to be worn b y n u r s e s t o i d e n t i f y n u r s i n g schools. Now n u r s e s c a n p u r c h a s e p i n s a f t e r g r a d u a t i n g t o p u t o n their scrubs if they wish to recognize their college. H o w e v e r , most nurses choose no t to wear the p i n s f o r sterilization concerns, as well. “It all

comes down to the safety of the patients,” Health Sciences Division Chair Rose Beebe said. The traditional pinning ceremony started when Nightingale received the Red Cross of St. George. In return for Nightingale receiving the pin, she pinned other nurses as a symbol of their accomplishments. WVU Parkersburg’s pinning ceremony is held separate from the college graduation and is organized by the graduates. Nursing graduates choose someone to place the pin on them. Also during the pinning ceremony is the “passing of the flame.” One student’s flame is lit and then that student lights the student’s candle beside him or her. After all the candles are lit, the students recite the nurse’s pledge. Another state of recognition the nursing students are honored with is a graduation picture among their graduating class in the hallway of the second floor. is just the beginning of the achievements nurses will experience. “I think nursing is a very rewarding career,” Beebe said. “There is no greater reward than knowing you have made someone’s life better. In addition, there are so many job opportunities for nurses today.”

Nursing students practice resuscitating a dummy. All nursing students are sent into the field prepared and ready for real-life experiences.

Nursing students attend to the needs of a dummy. Hands-on practice is critical before moving to real patients.

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by Jack Hambrick The diversity in this division is immense: natural science students, geology and biology students are grouped with computer science majors. The name alone, “Science and Technology Division,” says diversity. Dr. Marshall Griffin says that it is “diverse in the sense that there are so many disciplines.” He adds that they all complement each other. Through sort ing out issues with curriculum and the overall schedule, the unit is able to work better as a whole. Dave Thomas is the head of the division, his office located in the Caperton Center. Expectations are high within this division because it’s not what Dr. Griffin calls a “spectator sport.” What he means by this is that students need to be very hands on, that this type of learning can not come from watching someone else do the work. He says it’s important to “work at it, and work with it.” As far as meeting other’s expectations, Dr. Griffin lays it out very simply: “The outcome of the course is expected, [so], we measure everyone against that.” The lecture/lab component of most of the classes in the division is a traditional structure. Lab proficiency is expected from the introductory students just as it is from the professors themselves. Usually once a month, the division shows a film on the third floor. In the past they’ve shown “Botany of Desire” and Darwin’s “Dangerous Idea.” They’ve seen great turn outs, and although there will not be one in December, they hope to get started back at the start of 2013. They’ve also shown movies during a luncheon, an extra curricular activity some teachers give extra credit for attending. These events are open to the entire school, not just the Science and Technology Division. When trying to find common ground among a division with a wide range of courses, Bill Brown had this to say: “The commonality is in the technical basis for these subjects. Students should take the approach of using observations and facts

to develop their thoughts. In other words, gather the facts before making a decision. In some other academic areas, there is a tendency to just ‘shoot from the hip’ and make statements (that) are not fact-based (the touch-feely approach). Technology-based subjects should encourage basing our technical thoughts on observations and scientific principles.” It’s very straight-forward for Brown: “Many of the courses are based on the facts and techniques of science. This in itself lends to a knowledge basis of the division.” Many ways of preserving the campus culture exist. As Brown shares, “Typically, the culture (in an academic division) involves parties sharing the overall intent of teaching and guiding students in a given field of study. In addition, using common technology knowledge and techniques in the pursuit of the career.” The different parties involved go all the way back to the supporting roles of the IT department. Griffin emphasizes the importance of having the necessary resources to support the mission of the unit. He says “not necessarily the cash but the people.” Having the proper lab equipment and software are crucial, and using state-of-the-art technology.

Science & TechnologyProfessors Engage Students in Active Learning

Working and helping each other is the main component of the division. Since professors strengths are so spread across the board, each one is gaining something from another. Professors often seek advice from other professors in this department. Dr. Griffin describes the division as a very collegial group, one that emphasizes and draws from its different strengths. Students should be prepared; this is a very tough division. “Come to class, pay attention and become engaged,” Dr. Griffin says, stressing “engagement is key.” For new students Dr. Griffin has practical insight: “Explain what they need to do to realize their goals, what courses they need to study, [and] if they want to transfer, put them in a program that meshes.” Above all, he would try to be honest. The Science and Technology Division continues to thrive on the third floor, but maybe not for long. Plans are to move the lab facilities to the building the welding machine shop once occupied. As science and technology continue to be a part of our everyday lives, this division will thrive through the ability to come together by emphasizing and utilizing individual strengths.

(L to r) President Dr. Marie Foster-Gnage, W.Va. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors President Jamie Six, and WVCTCS Chancellor James Skidmore cut the ribbon for the Applied Technology Center in August 2012.

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by Rachel Terzo Opportunity and tradition surround the foundation for the Social Sciences & Languages department at WVU Parkersburg. It is a division marked by successful, passionate faculty who produce hard-working, determined students. And with each successful program comes a passionate leader. Sixth-year division chair Denise McClung shares the passion with all of those involved in Social Sciences & Languages. “Students must be passionate and committed to their education. Students that are just starting out in general education courses should know that those classes are the foundation for their education. Diving right in and staying focused is of utmost importance in this program,” Mc Clung said. The Criminal Justice Lab and Forensic Speech Room are two areas where students find a sense of belonging. “So many of our activities are derived and held in these rooms, so this is where students spend a lot of their time,” McClung said. Belonging is a common feel ing developed in the culture of this academic division. Current WVU law student and WVU Parkersburg graduate Alicia Lauderman reflected on a memorable time during an off-campus event. “I was in an environmental psychology class taught by Phil and Denise McClung. Approximately 12 students were selected from the application pool to travel the state for a week, visiting areas of the state that were/are in the midst of environmental contention. I still think to this day that we were just as much part of the class as the geographic locations that we visited. Twelve of us, different personalities, camping in close quarters for one whole week! Just try to convince me that we weren’t an experiment!” Launderman expressed. “It was interesting, that’s for sure!” Many activities within the division help define it for the students. The Criminal Justice Youth Academy is a successful tradition within the Social Sciences & Languages department. The academy is a camp held for teens every summer in which they learn the tactics of CSI, state & local police and task forces. They also take part in scuba diving and other various forms of safety water training.

“The camp is a lot of fun for these kids, and it gives them a taste of what the criminal justice field is all about,” McClung said. WVU Parkersburg’s Forensic Speech and Debate team is another thriving program within Social Sciences & Languages. Students learn the importance and utilization of impromptu speaking, pol icy debate , in te rpre ta t ion and persuasion. West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Union for Speech and Debate took second and third place at the Collegiate Forensic Association Winter Tournament. The competition, held at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., took place Jan. 27 and 28. New traditions are also forming in the division. Advanced Forensic Photography is a newer class at WVU Parkersburg, going into a young age of two this year. Adjunct professor and Wood County Sherriff’s department Captain Mark King delves into what the class is all about. “My students learn techniques to capture crime scene or, crash scene images in a deliberate, organized manner. The students are taught what they might encounter while testifying to the authenticity of their photographs in court,” King said. He stresses the importance of details that may be overlooked by investigators, and how a quality photo ensures that these details are reviewed properly. With most classes, the photography students have sacred objects that allow them to fulfill their duties to the best of their ability. In this particular class, King believes the tripod may be one of them. “You might say the tripod is a sacred

object in my class. Without it, your capabilities with a camera are limited when taking photos indoors or, in other low light settings,” he said. Other known artifacts or rituals within the Social Sciences & Languages division are also well known among students and staff. The Clothesline Project is a confidential grief outlet program for abused women and children, which is traditionally held at WVU Parkersburg every year in the criminal justice lab. The students also put together projects for Mental Health Awareness Week, which typically consists of a guest speaker and an awareness walk with posters dedicated to different types of illnesses and what they are about. The entire division also does events for Martin Luther King Day, Hispanic Month and other various religion seminars. Social Sciences & Languages programs focus on civility, education and open-mindedness. These qualities give them a reputable image within the college and community. The division offer certificates and degrees in criminal justice, specialize in general education courses to help students jump-start a career path, legal studies, volleyball & tennis teams, Psi Beta, Phi Theta Kappa, psychology and philosophy majors, religion courses, speech communications, environmental psychology and many other yearly/quarterly events and programs. As the saying goes, “Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity.” The traditions and hard-work displayed in Social Sciences & Languages programs have and will continue to instill pride into those involved in the program.

Social Sciences & Languages

The WVU Parkersburg Clothesline Project, held in the Criminal Justice Lab, displays t-shirts decorated anonymously by abuse survivors.

Passion, Education Lead to Successful Graduates

Accessing Opportunity

• Create Scholarships• Be Ambassadors of Giving• Support Campus Improvements• Network• Create a Future Endowment• Support Academic Programs• Leave a Lasting Legacy on Campus through a Naming Opportunity

Alumni support creates the access for education, training and a better future for your community!

There are numerous ways for alumni to support WVU Parkersburg and the surrounding communities through a donation to the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation:

The WVU at Parkersburg Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization.

When making gifts, be sure to do so locally by contacting the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation, 300 Campus Drive,

Parkersburg, WV 26101 or call 304.424.8340.

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Jeremy Harrison is a Parkersburg native who is currently attending WVU Parkersburg. Jeremy is pursuing a degree in Journalism and Public

Relations. He is editor of The Chronicle, the college’s student newspaper and has plans of starting a career in the broadcasting field.

Olivia Hefner is a senior

at WVU Parkersburg

and will graduate with

her BASBA in Public

Relations in the spring of

2013. She is a former news editor of The

Chronicle and a former staff member. Olivia owns Liv Hefner Photography and plans to continue pursuing photography

after college.

Susan Moore is a 2012 graduate of WVU

Parkersburg, earning an

AAS degree in Journalism.

Susan is currently

employed at West Central

Publishing as a reporter for The St. Marys Oracle and The

Pennsboro News. Susan plans on pursuing her Regent Bachelor of Arts degree with

an emphasis in Journalism.

Richard Moore is a native of

St. Marys and is currently

nearing completion of a BASBA Degree with an emphasis

in Public Relations at WVU

Parkersburg. He previously obtained an Associate’s

Degree in Journalism from the university in 1991. He has been employed as a Sports Editor at The St. Marys Oracle since 1988.

Sami Daggettis a Public Relations major from WVU Parkersburg. She was the former layout editor of The Chronicle for three semesters. Sami has

worked at Lightpoint Publishing, Inc. for the last two years as a co-op student. She plans to graduate with a BASBA degree in Public Relations in 2013.

John Hambrickis the creator of Gold Sweatshirt, a music collective promoting independent artists. He was born in St. Louis, but is at home on the east coast.

He lives by the words: “You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to surf.” John is pursuing his RBA in Journalism with hopes to graduate in 2013.

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What We Found

Rachel Terzo is a journalism student at WVU Parkersburg. Rachel was a reporter for The Chronicle, and currently holds the position of layout editor. She maintains a 4.0 GPA, and

will graduate in May 2013 with an AAS degree in Journalism. She is also pursuing a Regents Bachelor of Arts with emphasis in Journalism.

Russell Yoak graduated from Ravenswood High School in 2007. He started at WVU Parkersburg that fall in general education. After taking several classes at the Jackson

County Center, he decided to pursue a RBA in Journalism. Russell plans to graduate with his four-year degree in the spring of 2013.

Pete Orn was born in St.

Cloud, Minn. He currently

attends WVU Parkersburg

and is working toward a

Bachelor’s Degree

in Public Relations

and will attain it at the end of the 2013 fall

semester. Pete works two jobs, one at Coldwater Creek and another at Edible

Arrangements.

Abbie Sweeney started her journalism

career in high school where she wrote for

the newspaper. She then

carried her knowledge onto

college where she majored

in Journalism. Sweeney will graduate with an AAS degree in Journalism in December 2012 and then

plans to graduate with a BASBA degree with an emphasis in public relations.

Ryan Norman graduated from

Parkersburg South High

School in 2007. He is pursuing

a degree in journalism,

with an interest in film

production. He is an avid fan of Hunter S.

Thompson who says: “The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the

only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”

Austin Weifordgrew up in Ritchie County, W.Va. He graduated in 2010 and enrolled at WVU Parkersburg, majoring in Information Technology for three semesters

before switching to journalism. Austin most enjoys creating and editing video projects, and plans to attend film school after graduation.

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Maggie BerdineA special note of appreciation to English Professor Maggie Berdine for providing an additional edit to students’ magazine stories. When she is not busy with classes, Berdine enjoys spending time with her husband. One of their favorite pastimes is travelling to Tobermory, Ontario, Canada.

Sami DaggettSami began her graphics career taking a journalism class for a “filler” course. Her talent in design is amazing. She served as Layout Editor for this alumni magazine issue and spent several semesters in a similar role for The Chronicle. This bright young lady is an exceptional student who plans to continue her career in graphic design.

Olivia HefnerOlivia possesses both a photographer’s eye and a writer’s soul. She is truly gifted in photography. She loves to write, as well, and is a stickler for proper AP style. She frequently works with fellow classmates to improve their writing skills. She served as the News Editor and Photographer for this magazine issue.

To Sami and Olivia, thank you from your instructorand peers for being such responsible leaders.

Thank You

The journalism program offers a variety of opportunities and special projectsfor students pursuing one of the following degrees:

an Associate of Arts in Journalisma BASBA in Public Relations

or an RBA with emphasis in Journalism.51