Congratulations, Graduates!
You did it. After years of hard work and dedication, you’ve earned your degree from West Virginia University. On behalf of the WVU Alumni Association, I applaud you for reaching this significant milestone.
I sincerely wish that I were writing to you under more traditional circumstances. During what was supposed to be a time of celebration and new beginnings, we are instead facing a global crisis; WVU has been tasked with making tough decisions like never before. Though you may feel as if your college days ended prematurely, the resiliency of the Class of 2020 will never be forgotten.
You will soon learn that your West Virginia University experience does not end with graduation; a part of your alma mater will always be with you. When you see a flying WV on a car in the parking lot or when you pass someone wearing a WVU hat in the airport, you will feel an overwhelming sense of pride for being a part of something bigger. You are a Mountaineer for life.
As you embark on the next phase of your life during this time of trial and uncertainty,
know that you are not alone. You are now a part of a growing community of more than 200,000 Mountaineers across the globe, and I assure you that wherever country roads may lead you next, your alumni family will be there. Thousands of Mountaineers have come before you and thousands more will follow. You will always have your Mountaineer family that has grown over the course of your time here and you will always have the people at the Alumni Association to support you on the journey ahead.
To help you stay connected, we are providing you with a complimentary year of membership to the WVU Alumni Association as a graduation gift. I encourage you to join your local alumni chapter, engage with fellow Mountaineers on WVU Connect (wvuconnect.com), and take advantage of our valuable services and communications that will continue your connection with West Virginia University. You can learn more about your year of free membership to the WVU Alumni Association and how we serve you by visiting alumni.wvu.edu.
I am proud of you and your fellow graduates, and I am eager to help you remain connected with our alma mater.
Stay safe and stay in touch,
Sean Frisbee, ’89
President and CEO, WVU Alumni Association
Vice President of Alumni Relations, West Virginia University