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.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will host the Student United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley’s ExtravaCANza, a canned food sculpture display, from now until Friday, Feb. 8 in the Caperton Center Atrium. The canned goods used to build the sculptures will be donated to the WVU Parkersburg Riverhawk Food Pantry.

ExtravaCANza is an annual volunteer project that started in 2016 and is part of the United Way’s Hunger Solutions MOV initiative. The United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley works in partnership with local food pantries to support and promote their work in serving area residents in need of emergency food.

The design and build teams are members of the Student United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley board and involves more than seven high schools from across the region. The students designed and submitted sculpture drawings as well as ensured they had the right number of canned items for construction.

“We are thrilled our student group has a growing awareness of community that extends beyond their own immediate peer group,” said Stacy DeCicco, executive director of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley. “These kids have developed leadership skills and personal empathy that I believe will change their lives forever.”

In addition to building canned food sculptures, the organization will be collecting nonperishable items to be donated to local pantries. Baby formula, personal care items, feminine hygiene products and paper products like toilet paper and paper towels will also be collected to support various agencies within the United Way’s service network.

Donations may be dropped off at the WVU Parkersburg Caperton Center Atrium or United Way office located at 935 Market Street in downtown Parkersburg.

For more information, contact Stacy DeCicco at sdeccico@uwamov.com or 304.580.0570.

The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley and West Virginia University at Parkersburg will co-sponsor a WV ABLE training session on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the college’s theater (room 1305). This free, one-hour training session is open to the public and designed for individuals with disabilities, their families, caregivers and community stakeholders to learn about the benefit of WV ABLE’s tax-free savings accounts for disability-related expenses.

According to the ABLE National Resource Center, millions of individuals with disabilities and their families depend on a wide variety of public benefits for income, health care, food and housing assistance. To receive public benefits like Social Security and Medicaid, individuals must meet resource test requirements proving the value of their resources (cash savings, land, retirement, vehicles, etc.) makes them eligible for aid. Benefits are limited if the reported resource value exceeds $2,000.

ABLE accounts were created as a result of the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 and recognize the extra and significant costs of living with a disability. ABLE accounts allow eligible individuals to save and fund a variety of disability expenses without endangering their Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income benefits.

WV ABLE Director Kristi Pritt will conduct the training and provide an overview of the WV ABLE program, account benefits, and more. Representatives from collaborating agencies will also have information tables available before, during and following the session as additional resources for attendees.

For more information about this event, contact The Arc Executive Director Liz Ford at Liz.Ford@thearcmov.org or 304.485.2000 ext. 106, or Debbie Richards at Debbie.Richards@wvup.edu or 304.424.8201.

To learn more about the WV ABLE program, email wvable@wvsto.com or call 304.340.5050.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Education Division is pleased to announce its spring 2019 student teachers:

• Matthew Barton
• Sydney Casto
• Janae Cundiff
• Sabrina Deem
• Emily Goodwin
• Katelyn Hess
• Hannah Jordan
• Nicole Landis
• Cristin Miller
• Baylee O’Brian
• Taylor Plaugher
• Meghan Sinclair
• Isabella Stoops

 

 

 

“Educational efforts made in today’s classroom set the standard for students and teachers in the future,” said Dr. David Lancaster, WVU Parkersburg Education Division chair. “It’s important that education students begin work in the classroom early on so they build realistic and informed skillsets as they become teachers.”

In the elementary education program, students gain hands-on experience as early as their freshman year observing and practicing teaching skills in real school settings. This includes learning key decision-making skills, creating effective lesson plans, developing and accessing one-on-one and group instruction, integrating new technologies into the classroom and more.

“I’m excited to announce the new student teachers and believe they are ready to make a positive impact on the school system and touch the lives of many students to come,” shared Lancaster.

Classes at WVU Parkersburg start Monday, Jan. 14. Visit www.wvup.edu/education to learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s accredited programs.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will hold a program commemorating the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 12:15 p.m. in the college theater (room 1305), and will be streamed live at the Jackson County Center in room 206. The program is sponsored by WVU Parkersburg’s Social Justice Committee and is free and open to the public.

Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, oldest daughter of singer, actor and social justice activist Harry Belafonte will serve as guest speaker. Belafonte was one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest confidants, marching beside the reverend and serving as key coordinator for many civil rights events including the March on Washington. In 1985, he helped orchestrate the recording of the Grammy award-winning song, “We Are the World,” an effort to raise funds and awareness for humanitarian aid in Africa.

“We are honored to have Biesemeyer share her unique perspective about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” said Debbie Richards, WVU Parkersburg Social Justice Committee co-chair. “This program will reflect on Dr. King’s importance in the civil rights movement and how his legacy influences our conversations about race and inclusion today.”

Biesemeyer is a licensed professional counselor and former chair of the West Virginia Board of Examiners of Counseling. She currently serves as the designer and director of the Center for International Medicine and Cultural Concerns at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg as well as executive director of the Anir Foundation. Started in 1997 by Biesemeyer and her daughter, the Anir Foundation is a volunteer program that serves south African and Caribbean communities by focusing primarily on family assistance in regards to housing, education, HIV, AIDS and STD education and prevention, other health-related issues and cultural heritage preservation.

For more information, contact Debbie Richards at Debbie.Richards@wvup.edu or 304.424.8201.

Students, faculty and staff at West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s Jackson County Center hosted fundraising drives during the fall semester to support the American Red Cross, the Calvary United Methodist Church Food Pantry and the Relay for Life of Jackson County.

The college, in conjunction with the WVU Parkersburg Student Government Association, kicked off a canned food drive in October to benefit the Calvary United Methodist Church Food Pantry. To help collect canned goods, the Student Government Association organized a haunted house and encouraged participants to donate canned food in exchange for free admission. The two-night event brought in more than 200 cans of food and raised more than $100 for the Relay for Life of Jackson County. The food drive, which ran throughout November, collected more than 600 cans of food for the local food pantry.

In November, the WVU Parkersburg Jackson County Center hosted a blood drive on campus to support the American Red Cross. In total, 32 productive units of blood were collected, exceeding the drive’s donation goal and an all-time record for blood donations during a campus event. Through the generosity of donors, these blood donations have the potential to impact more than 90 patients and their families.

“We are so proud of our students, faculty and staff at WVU Parkersburg’s Jackson County Center for their compassion and dedication to giving back to their community,” said April Philbrook, senior admissions counselor, WVU Parkersburg Jackson County Center. “These activities would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our campus community.”

West Virginia University at Parkersburg held its fall nursing pinning ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. in the College Activities Center. The ceremony honors students who have completed graduation requirements for the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree at WVU Parkersburg.

The ceremony included greetings from Kathy Frum, Nursing and Health Sciences chairperson; Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president; Chad Crumbaker, Academic and Student Services vice president and nursing program graduate Caleigh Crosier. Barbara Tuell, MSN, RN and Educational Services specialist at Memorial Health Systems, served as the guest speaker.

Spring 2018 nursing graduates include:

• Alethea Bateman
• Brooke Crawford
• Caleigh Crosier
• Amber Elliott
• Nattakarn Friese
• Gina Hesson
• Cynthia Jenkins
• Saundra Jenkins
• Rebecca Marlow
• William Mayhorn
• Casey Miner
• Dalton Phillips
• Vicki Pickens
• Anna Schutt
• Sarah Sullivan
• Sydney Templeton
• Thong Tran
• Yurgita Vaidya
• Jordan Watson
• Rebecca Westfall
• Chelsea Whiting
• Emily Wigal
• Alisen Wilson

Faculty members presented each graduate with a pin, followed by a candle lighting ceremony and the reciting of the “Florence Nightingale Pledge;” a practice that began in the 1860s when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George.

“The ceremony is rich with symbolism,” said Frum. “Graduates are pinned by the nursing faculty with a special WVU Parkersburg school pin as an initiation and welcome into the nursing profession.”

Visit www.wvup.edu for more information on WVU Parkersburg programs.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg held its fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m. The college awarded approximately 288 certificate, associate and bachelor’s degrees to 254 students this semester, with 100 students crossing the stage in front of friends and family during the ceremony.

In his first commencement as WVU Parkersburg president, Dr. Chris Gilmer spoke about the college’s vision to be the region’s premier college recognized for quality education, commitment to student empowerment, workforce collaboration and community involvement. As further proof of that vision, he shared that WVU Parkersburg, along with its students, staff, faculty, and alumni, contributed more than $221.5 million in total economic impact to the communities it serves during the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

In his message to graduates, Gilmer encouraged them to pay it forward with their education.

“Graduates, you’ve worked hard, and I am very proud of your accomplishments. Keep in mind as you leave us that you cannot always pay it backward, but you can always pay it forward,” said Gilmer. “It will be your duty as newly minted college graduates to use your education and the well-deserved benefits it brings you for some purpose greater than yourself, for some mission, whatever that may be and wherever it may take you, that is greater than us all.”

Shirlethia Franklin, Esquire, an attorney Of Counsel in the Washington D.C. office of Jones Day, one of the world’s most prestigious law firms, followed Gilmer’s speech with the commencement address.

Franklin, who served as White House liaison and counselor to the U.S. Attorney General in the administration of President Barack Obama shared her personal story as a first-generation college graduate with small-town roots in rural Mississippi. She credited Gilmer’s guidance at Tougaloo College with helping her achieve her dreams. “It is no exaggeration to say that I would not be here today without Dr. Gilmer – his guidance as a professor and advisor helped support me on a path that I could never have dreamed for myself,” said Franklin.

Passing on her guidance to the graduates, Franklin stated, “In the coming days, weeks, months, and years, you, too, will make decisions about what kind of future you will build, what kind of life you will live, and how you will do what this university’s motto asks of you: to embrace “The Highest Good.”

An honorary degree was presented to Franklin as well as to Curtis Miller, former WVU Parkersburg Board of Governor’s member for his distinguished service to the university and as a leader in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“Pride is overflowing in this room today, as well it should be, pride on the part of the graduates in the significance of your accomplishments, but likely even greater pride on the part of those who love you and who sacrificed much for you to know a moment such as this,” said Gilmer. “Keep these words written in your memory forever:  None of us reaches this moment alone. None of us reaches this moment without a legion of people supporting us, some known, many unknown who began their sacrifices generations before we were even born.”

Spring classes are now enrolling for those interested in becoming a graduate too. Call (304) 424-8310 or visit our campus for more information.