From Down the Hall

With the exception of August and the beginning of an academic year, the month of May is easily my favorite time in Morgantown. It is a time of both appreciation and celebration, as our graduating students close the last chapter of their current academic journey and begin a new one as WVU alumni.

At Commencement next week, we will welcome thousands of graduating students in the Class of 2022 into our alumni community. It is a time for many to reflect on years of dedicated work and special memories. Memories that forever bond them with their alma mater. For parents, family members, and supporters, many of whom are also WVU graduates, it's an opportunity to share in the pride of this momentous occasion. On a personal note, I'm excited to be joining many of you at the weekend's ceremonies, as my family gathers to celebrate my son's graduation.

As we excitedly welcome the spring season in Morgantown, I'm thrilled to share a few upcoming events that will remind Mountaineers of the gold and blue spirit. We will soon celebrate graduating students and welcome alumni back to Morgantown as they connect with each other and their alma mater. I hope you'll consider attending or spreading the word about some of the especially exciting spring and summer events:

In just a few weeks, the WVU Black Alumni Association will celebrate their Spring Alumni Weekend on April 22-24. The three-day reunion will include themed social and networking events, a tailgate, the Gold-Blue Spring Football Game and a brunch. If you're able to visit Morgantown to be a part of these events, I can't wait to welcome you home to The Erickson Alumni Center and to hear some of the stories from your time at WVU. Alumni and friends interested in attending can purchase tickets and learn more about the event at WVU Black Alumni Weekend.

(The significance of From Down the Hall harkens back to my early days at the WVU Alumni Association when the Erickson Alumni Center was in what we now call the West Virginia University Museum Education Center. As you entered the facility, there was a long hallway. At the end was the office of Executive Director Steve Douglas. Each quarter, a message in our printed newsletter was specially authored from down the hall. It is with a full heart that I reintroduce you to From Down the Hall. I hope you enjoy! ~ Kevin)

I was raised in a family of Mountaineers. As a matter of fact, I honestly cannot remember a time that WVU was not a part of my life. Fond childhood memories include asking for just about every type of WVU birthday cake imaginable and waking up way too early on fall Saturdays to make the two-and-a-half hour trip north for a day of comradery and fellowship with 60,000 Mountaineers. To this day, I still have one of my most prized childhood treasures: the first WVU hat I ever purchased, adorned with collector’s pins from WVU bowl games.

As we welcome students back to a snowy campus this week, it’s easy to feel the excitement and anticipation of a new semester. Our team at The Erickson Alumni Center is fortunate to experience that excitement firsthand as we interact with Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund (LPEF) scholarship recipients. Those interactions allow for the opportunity to talk with them about their goals and aspirations. Based on those conversations, it is more apparent now than ever, that scholarship contributions are making a difference in the lives of our beloved University and its student body.

For some of our students, scholarship funds help to cover the cost of their books and tuition during their time at WVU. For others, it may contribute to things like childcare, technology, and other living expenses necessary for student success. Often, the impact of a scholarship allows for more time to focus on the academic and extra-curricular pursuits of their college experience, encouraging learning and growth inside and outside of the classroom

When 2021 began, we all hoped it would be much better than the year prior—if you're like me, taking a step back to reflect on the last twelve months is a gratifying experience. There's plenty for us to be thankful for as Mountaineers, no matter where in the world you may be.

This year, we had fans cheering on the football team in Milan Puskar Stadium again. The Alumni Association welcomed graduates and friends from around the country back home to the Erickson Alumni Center for our annual Marmaduke Dent Benefit. Students returned to campus for classes in person and our alumni groups connected with new people. All of the things that we may have taken for granted in years past seemed a bit sweeter this year. I hope that you feel the same as you sit back and reflect on your 2021.

As the leaves in Morgantown begin to fall and we enter a season of gratitude, it’s easy to enjoy the beauty of our campus while reflecting on the incredible progress taking place here at West Virginia University.  While this season always seems to remind us of what we are most grateful for, I can genuinely share that I feel lucky year-round to be a part of the Mountaineer family, seeing first-hand the transformations occurring on-campus and beyond that are sure to have a lifelong impact on our students and alumni.

Soon, WVU will launch the very first Purpose Institute on any college campus, allowing alumni to explore and discover their passions and purpose. I can’t wait to see the impact this will have on Mountaineers of all ages as they reconnect with their individual purpose through newly awakened possibilities.

One of my favorite weekends in Morgantown has come to a close! What a weekend it was - thousands of alumni came back to Morgantown and celebrated everything we love about WVU. There was no shortage of things to do - from seeing all of the changes happening around campus, to the Homecoming Parade and football game against Texas Tech, it was a weekend filled with excitement. Our alumni are what make this University so special and it was great to see so many of you in Morgantown wearing your gold and blue.

If you attended the game on Saturday, then you got to see the WVU Alumni Association honor eight fantastic alumni who won the 2021 Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards. Each of the awards is unique, and all recipients embody what it means to be a Mountaineer. I encourage you to read about each winner and their connection to WVU here. I was fortunate enough to spend time with our recipients over the weekend and of course, I had to ask them about their favorite memories during their time at WVU. Their responses were all different but shared one common thread: there's no place on earth like WVU.

Nothing brings more excitement to campus than the return of our students at the beginning of each semester. Each WVU student has their own story for why they chose to make this their home among the hills for their college years. Often, we hear that students chose WVU because it’s where their parents and grandparents went to school. Some students find their way here because of the great work of our team in Undergraduate Admissions. By building relationships with prospective students and their families, they are able to demonstrate that the sky's the limit for our students by creating a path for their field of study, extracurricular in volvement, research, and life on campus. Others find their way to WVU because of the vital scholarships offered through the WVU Alumni Association and our chapters around the country. These scholarships help bring the idea of attending WVU to reality.

The Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund (LPEF) of the WVU Alumni Association has provided financial assistance to more than 4,000 students over the past 70 years. This year alone, total LPEF awards will approach $600,000. Because of this and other scholarships, students are able to fulfill their dreams through the transformative power of a WVU education. These scholarships would not be possible without the help of alumni around the country who support our mission through their generosity, volunteerism and by becoming members.

(I’m sure you're wondering about the significance of From Down the Hall. It harkens back to my early days at the WVU Alumni Association when the Erickson Alumni Center was in what is now the West Virginia University Museum Education Center. As you entered the facility, there was a long hallway. At the end was the office of Executive Director Steve Douglas. Each quarter, a message was included in our printed newsletter that was authored from down the hall. It is with a full heart that I reintroduce you to From Down the Hall. I hope you enjoy it! ~ Kevin)

Like most organizations, the last year and a half has allowed us to re-examine how to position the WVU Alumni Association for future success. We have learned a lot during these challenging and sometimes unnerving times. In my humble opinion, no lesson was greater for me than understanding the value of being a part of a strong community.

(I’m sure you’re wondering about the significance of From Down the Hall. It harkens back to my early days at the WVU Alumni Association, when the Erickson Alumni Center was in what’s now the West Virginia University Museum Education Center. As you entered the facility, there was a long hallway and at the very end was the office of the Executive Director, Steve Douglas. Each quarter, our printed newsletter included a message that was authored “from down the hall”. It is with a full heart that I reintroduce you to From Down the Hall. I hope you enjoy! ~ Kevin)

There are few things better than gathering with fellow Mountaineers to share stories and celebrate our pride for West Virginia University.  After an impossibly long year of limited in-person activities, I am beyond excited that many of our chapters and interest groups are safely gathering in cities across the country and beyond to celebrate WVU once again!