From Down the Hall

Wow - what a weekend! Homecoming 2022 is officially in the books, and full of moments we'll always remember! For those who aren't aware, this was the WVU Alumni Association's first Homecoming since becoming partners with the greater University. Our goal with the transition was to improve programming and events offered to our alumni around the country and here in Morgantown, and I'd say we met that goal last week. Our Alumni Association presence was seen across campus as Homecoming banners hung in downtown and Evansdale, and there were dozens of virtual and in-person events for Homecoming 2022. I'd like to thank all of our alumni, campus partners and the WVU Alumni Association team for making the week a huge success!

Fall is here in Morgantown, and it's a great time to be in West Virginia! The leaves are starting to change, and the camera roll on my phone is filled with images of campus sunsets. It also means that events are happening here on campus and around the country! I'd like to give a special thank you to our Austin Chapter for hosting a fantastic tailgate for Mountaineers from all over who came to cheer on WVU as we took on the Longhorns. The energy from the fans before and during the game was unmatched. If you're in the Austin area and want to get involved in the chapter, visit their Facebook page here.

Just before the Austin game, members of the Alumni Association team and I visited our nation's capital as President Gee spoke on the life-changing research, innovation and perseverance happening on our campus. I echo his remarks about West Virginia University being the launchpad to help change the trajectory of West Virginia and how education is the key that opens countless doors for our towns, cities and country. The work that's being done here in Morgantown reaches farther than many of us know, and the impact that our 200,000+ alumni have on others is immeasurable. I'd like to thank President Gee for his transformational leadership during his tenure, and I speak for many other Mountaineers in saying that we're fortunate to have you.

Just as quickly as it came, summer is now on its way out, and we're moving into fall, my favorite season. With it comes numerous events, celebrations, and, of course, college football. For those of you that attended the WVU vs. Pitt pregame, I want to thank you for stopping by and celebrating our WVU Mountaineers. The event was a great way to kick off the 2022 football season! We had thousands of Mountaineers together at PNC Park in anticipation of the first Backyard Brawl in eleven years, and we were delighted to see so many proud alumni and friends of our alma mater. I'd like to give a special thanks to the Pride of West Virginia, cheerleaders, our Mountaineer mascot Mary Roush and the greater University community for helping make the pregame a memorable experience for all who attended.

As our first home game of the 2022 season approaches, I'm also excited for our signature HAIL WV tailgate at The Erickson Alumni Center. If you haven't heard about HAIL WV, many call it the best-kept game-day secret in Morgantown. This premier event is held three hours prior to every home football game in our beautiful Kennedy Club Room. Season pass holders enjoy a number of benefits, including game day beverages, food, a dedicated parking spot for each game, special gifts and much more. If you'd like to learn more about HAIL WV or purchase your pass, visit here (Hail West Virginia). Even if you aren’t a member of HAIL WV, I’d encourage you to stop by The Erickson on game days. Our staff would love the opportunity to meet you and talk a little WVU football.

As summer begins to wind down, Morgantown starts to come alive again! A lot is happening this month that I've been looking forward to for a while now - one being the start of the 2022-23 academic school year. While it's been nice not having to wait for a table at Mario's and drive around Morgantown with little traffic, I think all of us on campus agree that we've been looking forward to students returning. With the return of students, football season beginning in less than a month and events on and off campus picking back up, I'm excited to provide you an update on everything that's happening!

As you may know, the start of the 2022-23 academic school year is an especially big deal for the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. This month marks the opening of Reynolds Hall, the stunning new home for the college along the Monongahela River. Describing the building won't do it justice, so I encourage you to look at some of the images here. You may notice that Reynolds Hall stands where the old Field House, or Stansbury Hall, previously stood. While it's never easy saying goodbye to a building where many of us had classes and created memories during our time at WVU, Reynolds Hall pays homage to Stansbury and the ground it stands on with pieces of history spread throughout the building. If you go on a tour, be sure to take a look.

I hope you had a fantastic fourth of July weekend with friends and family as we continue to enjoy the summer season. The last several weeks have been an exciting time for our growing team at the WVU Alumni Association. We’ve added two talented individuals to our staff and have re-aligned responsibilities so that your Alumni Association can better serve our university and its largest constituency, our alumni. With that said, it is my privilege to introduce you to the leadership team that will implement our engagement strategies, providing opportunities for greater connection with fellow Mountaineers and West Virginia University.

Meridith Balas, whom some of you may know, has been named executive director of alumni engagement after previously serving as our director of alumni engagement. She is now responsible for implementing the organization's strategic vision and priorities while focusing on organizational effectiveness and culture. Dr. Balas’ service has been invaluable to the Association, and I'm grateful she will continue in this new capacity.

While campus has been a bit quieter since Commencement last month, our chapters and interest groups around the country have been busy planning signature events, engaging alumni, and showing their communities what it means to be a Mountaineer. Our volunteers were forced to adapt when in-person programs were put on hold two years ago, but now we’re hitting the ground running and can’t wait to celebrate WVU in cities nationwide! Since I can’t highlight every event that’s being hosted this summer,  be sure to visit our website to find gatherings in your hometown, or wherever you’ll be vacationing!

Our Potomac Valley Chapter is kicking off the summer with a meet and greet at Dig Deep Brewing Company in Cumberland, MD. I invite you to stop by, learn about your local chapter and some exciting things happening on campus, and connect with staff from the Alumni Association and local Mountaineers.

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