The inaugural members of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business were installed at West Virginia University at Parkersburg during a ceremony held on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in the college theater.

During the ceremony, the society inducted 23 founding student members and 13 honorary members. Inductees took the official oath of membership and were presented with a certificate, the honor society’s key and an honor cord. Dr. Bernice Purcell, Delta Mu Delta regional representative and associate dean of Holy Family University, officiated the ceremony and officially installed the new chapter at the college.

Additionally, officers Austin Grimmett, Breanna Paxton and Jillian Ballengee were installed as president, vice president/treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society established to recognize and reward superior scholastic achievement of students in business administration, as well as faculty members and business leaders who have experienced measurable success in their profession.

Membership to Delta Mu Delta is by invitation only and extended to undergraduate students who meet specific eligibility criteria. To be eligible for membership, students must be in the top 20 percent of their class and completed at least one-half of their course work for a baccalaureate degree with an average cumulative grade of at least .25 above a “B”.

“Congratulations to the first class of inductees of the Omicron Pi chapter of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society in recognition of their outstanding academic and professional achievements in the field of business,” said Dr. Billy Stone, assistant professor in the Business, Accounting and Public Service Division at WVU Parkersburg and faculty advisor for the Omicron Pi of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. “I look forward to the future of Delta Mu Delta on our campus.”

The Omicron Pi chapter of Delta Mu Delta members inducted include:

Undergraduate inductees: Faith Atkinson; Jillian Ballengee; Justin Bosley; Timothy Bower; Amber Davis; Lauryn Fields; Terrence Francisco; Austin Grimmett; Mary Hammons; Joshua Johnson; Natasha Mason; Breanna Paxton; Victoria Poellot-Tauber; Mahkayla Queen; Tiffany Roberts; Daniel Seebaugh; Sherilyn Stahlman; Mariah Stansberry; Audrey Ungar; Kylee Walker; Paul Weekley; Shianne Winters; and Sandipa Wolfe.

Honorary inductees: Debra Baker; Pam Braden; Dr. Chad Crumbaker; Holly Dexter; Dr. Chris Gilmer; Dr. Matthew Graves; Jeff Holland; Dr. Larry Muller; Dr. Sy Sarkarat; Dr. Vijay Shah; Dr. Billy Stone; Carol Thomas; and Lisa Wilkinson.

For more information about WVU Parkersburg’s Omicron Pi chapter of Delta Mu Delta, contact faculty advisor Dr. Billy Stone at 304-424-8281 or billy.stone@wvup.edu.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg was awarded a $379,000 grant to purchase high-tech robotic arm equipment for students to learn state-of-the-art real-world automated manufacturing processes. The purchase of the equipment was made possible through a Rapid Response Advance Grant from the West Virginia Community and Technical College System (WVCTCS) to address the state’s workforce needs.

With the granted funds, the college installed five robotic arms, which will be integrated into the advanced manufacturing technology degree program curriculum for the fall 2019 semester. Last week, two faculty members traveled to Rochester Hills, Mich. as part of the grant for equipment training.

The robotic arms are compact, six-axis robots with the approximate size and reach of a human arm. Each is manufactured by FANUC and equipped with its iRVision programming that allows for reliable 2D and 3D detection for visual line tracking and bin/panel picking. Students will learn how to program the robots to do various tasks typical for manufacturing operations like sorting, stacking and packaging.

In addition to instruction under the advanced manufacturing degree program, the college’s Workforce and Economic Development Division will provide FANUC’s manufacturing certification through short-term courses for quicker training and faster workforce entry.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that the WVCTCS has provided us through this grant,” said Dr. Jared Gump, division chair of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs at WVU Parkersburg. “It allows our students the opportunity to learn real-world advanced automation integration with modern technology from a national leader in industrial robotic technology.”

Visit wvup.edu/amt to learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s advanced manufacturing technology degree program or call (304) 424-8310 to speak with an admissions representative.

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Social Justice Committee will host National Public Radio (NPR) television critic Eric Deggans on Monday, Feb. 25 from 12:15-1 p.m. in the college theater (room 1305). The presentation, “Building Bridges Instead of Walls: Decoding Media’s Confusing Coverage of Race and Culture,” is free and open to the public and will be streamed live to the Jackson County Center in room 207.

During his presentation, Deggans will explain why he believes media outlets have fallen short in covering race and culture issues, provide tips on how to recognize when the media practices the politics of division and how to decode the media’s messages and their motives. He will also offer a guide for how to talk about race and culture across racial, class and cultural lines.

“We are pleased to have a social commentator of Mr. Deggans’ stature to stimulate dialogue on our campus around this important topic,” said Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president. “WVU Parkersburg is a place of safety where all points of view are welcome and mutually respectful debate is encouraged.”

Deggans is a media critic with more than 20 years of experience and author of Race Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Currently, he covers television and media issues for NPR, broadcasting to millions of listeners each week on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here and Now, and many other network shows. Deggans also serves as a contributor and media analyst for MSNBC and NBC News.

In 2013, Deggans was awarded the Florida Press Club’s first-ever Diversity award, honoring his coverage of issues involving race and media. That year, he also received the Legacy award from the National Association of Black Journalists’ Arts and Entertainment Task Force, given to seasoned arts and entertainment journalist who are at the top of their careers.

A book signing will follow the presentation for attendees who bring a copy of Race Baiter. For more information, contact Debbie Richards at Debbie.Richards@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8201.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Social Justice Committee will host a “Faith is Fairness” panel discussion sponsored by Fairness West Virginia on Monday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. in the college theater (room 1305). The event is free and open to the public.

“WVU Parkersburg is committed to being a safe place for open discussion. One of the purposes of universities is to create spaces in which people with differing points of view can share them with mutual respect and courtesy, not expecting that everyone will agree, but expecting that everyone has the potential to be enriched by exploring perspectives that both support and differ from their own,” shares Dr. Chris Gilmer, president of WVU Parkersburg.”Our goal in all of our social justice programs is to be balanced and fair to all while promoting a spirit of inclusion.”

The panel discussion is the namesake of Fairness West Virginia’s “Faith is Fairness” project which asks faith leaders and followers to answer how their beliefs defend the LGBTQ community. Reverends Steve Peck and Shauna Hyde of Parkersburg and Clare Sulgit of St. Marys, will serve as panelists on the topic. The discussion will be moderated by Billy Wolfe, Fairness West Virginia communications specialist.

“So often, religion is abused to justify LGBTQ discrimination,” said Wolfe. “And yet, the Golden Rule – the idea that we should treat others the way we, ourselves, wish to be treated – is a central commandment in nearly every world religion.”

Dozens of faith leaders throughout West Virginia have joined the project to call on local and state government to protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination. “They do so not in spite of their faith, but because of their faith,” added Wolfe.

“We hope members of all religious faiths and Christian denominations will join us for this important conversation,” said Debbie Richards, WVU Parkersburg Social Justice Committee co-chair.

For more information, contact Billy Wolfe at billy@fairnesswv.org or Debbie Richards at Debbie.Richards@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8201.

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors will meet Wednesday, Feb. 13. The meeting will take place at 3:15 p.m. in room 1300A on main campus.

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West Virginia University at Parkersburg student Sarah Weeks was crowned Miss West Virginia Collegiate America 2019 during the Miss West Virginia Jr. High, High School and Collegiate America pageant competition. The pageant took place on Saturday, Jan. 27 in Bridgeport, W.Va.

Weeks will represent the state at the Miss Collegiate America pageant in Little Rock, AR from June 24-29. The Collegiate America pageant system exists to provide personal and professional opportunities to girls currently enrolled in a university, trade school, beauty school or continuing education program by providing $70,000 in scholarships in addition to trips, wardrobe, travel service and additional prizes.

“At the national competition, I will present my personal platform, ‘BeYOUtiful’ which aims to help individuals define their own beauty standards,” said Weeks. “In today’s society, full of negative social media and comparison, I want to help others find their confidence and feel empowered.”

Currently, Weeks is pursuing a degree in communication and media studies with an emphasis in strategic communications. She moved to West Virginia from Colorado at the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic school year with the hopes of gaining new social, academic and career opportunities. It is her goal to be a broadcast journalist and ESPN personality.

In addition to being a student in the communication and media studies program, Weeks is the secretary of the WVU Parkersburg Media and Communication club as well as the assistant editor for The Chronicle, the college’s online, student-run newspaper.

“I am so thankful to WVU Parkersburg and the community for the unconditional support I have received,” said Weeks. “I am excited to represent the wild and wonderful West Virginia, a state that has truly changed my life and touched my heart.”

Visit @MissWestVirginiaHighSchoolAmericaPageant on Facebook to follow Sarah Weeks’ journey to Miss Collegiate America.

Dr. Chris Gilmer, president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg, was recently selected as a representative of the Community Colleges of Appalachia (CCA) to attend the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Workforce Development Institute 2019 in San Diego, Calif.

Dr. Gilmer joined nearly 100 college presidents and hundreds of workforce development leaders from around the nation in a dialogue about apprenticeships, internships, conversion of non-credit training programs into credit-bearing programs, grant opportunities, credentialing of employees, equity and inclusion and other timely topics in the field of workforce development. He was also selected as a new president scholarship recipient to the Institute by CCA.

Veteran presidents from around the nation and other workforce leaders highlighted exemplary workforce development programs that can be replicated and adapted by institutions such as WVU Parkersburg. Sessions also featured an opportunity to hear from federal funders including the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Michelson 20MM Foundation, instructional technology partners like IBM, and experts in rural higher education such as Dr. Anne McNutt, CCA executive director, and Dr. Randy Smith, president of the Rural Community College Alliance. Dr. Walter Bumphus, AACC’s president, convened the gathering.

“Workforce development is such an important part of what we do at WVU Parkersburg,” said Dr. Gilmer. “With the goal of getting workforce credentials into the hands of more and more West Virginians, and with an increased demand by local employers for highly qualified employees, this is becoming an even sharper focus for WVU Parkersburg. The institute was a great opportunity to meet national leaders in this field and to renew friendships with AACC leaders with whom we will be increasing our participation this year.”

He added, “It was an honor to represent CCA, and I am deeply thankful they selected me as a registration and travel scholarship recipient so that I could bring the valuable insights of this conference home to our communities without having to stretch the college’s resources to do so. We have a great workforce development team, and they are working hard every day to increase educational attainment and to promote job skills in the Mid-Ohio Valley.”

West Virginia University at Parkersburg made a recent donation to Wirt County High School’s Career and Technical Education welding program.

The donation consisted of five welding stations, including four multi-process welders, four bench wire feeders and a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welder. Wirt County High School principal Elizabeth Smith accepted the donation on behalf of the school’s Career and Technical Education program which provides agricultural science, business education, family and consumer science, and technical education classes to students.

Before the donation, Wirt County High School shared four welding stations between 16 students. With the five additional units from WVU Parkersburg, the high school has the ability to open more seats in its technical education class and familiarize students with the trade.

Joe Hunt, WVU Parkersburg assistant professor in welding, also introduced Wirt County High School to a more cost-effective welding supply company, providing significant price reductions on future welding technology purchases.

“WVU Parkersburg’s donation allows more of our students the opportunity to complete the program and work towards their certification,” said MaryJane Pope Albin, Wirt County Schools superintendent. “Our students’ future employment possibilities have increased because of this generous act and it is greatly appreciated.”

WVU Parkersburg offers a certificate and associate of applied science in welding as well as a 10-week course in aluminum welding. Visit www.wvup.edu/welding to learn more or call (304) 424-8310 to speak with an admissions representative.

Four West Virginia University at Parkersburg students represented the college at the West Virginia American Choral Directors Association (WV-ACDA) 2019 All-State Collegiate Honor Choir. The performance took place on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Baptist Temple in Charleston, W.Va.

WVU Parkersburg students Morgan Carez, Tony Province, Dana Stiffler and Philip Wilson were among those selected from colleges and universities across the state to sing at the concert. The choral performance was conducted by Dr. Jeffery Johnson, professor of music at the University of Kentucky.

“This was the 23^rd annual convening of the WV-ACDA Collegiate Honor Choir,” said Dr. H.G. Young, WVU Parkersburg professor of music and choral director. “I am proud that WVU Parkersburg has exceptional student representatives to participate in the performance every year.”

The WV-ACDA also hosted choral performances by middle and high school honor choirs the same day.

Founded in 1959, the American Choral Directors Association is a nonprofit music-education organization whose expressed purposes outline the association’s dedication to the advancement of choral music. The mission of ACDA is to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition and advocacy.

For more information about WVU Parkersburg’s chorale, contact Dr. H.G. Young at HG.Young@wvup.edu or 304.424.8248.