Nearly 400 graduating seniors attended our annual Senior Sendoff: A Zero-Year Reunion at The Erickson Alumni Center. Students enjoyed food, music, prizes, cap decorating and much more as part of this annual event hosted by the WVU Alumni Association and WVU Division of Student Affairs. During the sendoff, seniors could "pin" where they are heading after graduation on a world map, sign the graduation mat, and share their one word to describe their WVU experience.
Kyung Won "K.W." Lee is known for bringing a voice to poverty in Appalachia, Korean immigrants, and other important national and international stories. Joel Newman has worked throughout his career to ensure our world's food supply meets the needs of a growing global population while remaining safe for the consumers. Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard is a visionary who connected the world with the invention of the cable modem. The trio will be inducted as members of the WVU Alumni Association's Academy of Distinguished Alumni on Feb. 22. Read more about these extraordinary Mountaineers.
The connection that Mountaineers share is truly a unique one. As the saying goes, "Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer." To help you stay connected to the University and its graduates, we have joined Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) to create an alumni directory - a resource for our alumni to reconnect with fellow classmates, share information and recognize professional and personal accomplishments. PCI will be reaching out to you via e-mail, phone and standard mail to gather information to be printed in the directory. We hope you help us lift up and celebrate your accomplishments, as well as those of fellow Mountaineers, by participating in this project.
Steve Douglas is celebrating his 30th year with the WVU Alumni Association (25 in his current role as CEO/President). He is one of the longest serving alumni directors in the country. It's time to celebrate! We want you to take a few moments to thank and congratulate Steve for his service, maybe share a few fun stories, or share your photos of Steve throughout the years. Join the celebration at
While getting his bachelor's degree from WVU, William Dissen studied French and English. He also attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, where he graduated in 2003. His French studies helped submerse him in the French culture, food, and wine that have influenced his restaurant - The Market Place Restaurant, a new American farm to table restaurant. Chef Dissen's creative cuisine has garnered many awards, including being named Fortune Magazine's "Green Chef." Read Full Story.
Alumni and friends of West Virginia University proudly carry the Flying WV no matter where they go. WVU alum Brian Neilan shows his gold and blue spirit during a break from fighter pilot training at Laughlin AFB in del Rio, Texas. (Photo submitted by Karen Neilan)
It's hard to say "No" to the president of a country when he calls asking for help concerning the auctioning of a 70 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton, or at least that's what Houston attorney and WVU grad Robert Painter learned early last summer. Read his amazing story. - Photo courtesy of Painter Law Firm, Andrew King, photographer.
Nathan & Kacey Hoot showed off their Flying WV at Cataratas Cortes in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Nathan and Kacey are both 2007 grads of the WVU College of Business & Economics. Show us where your Flying WV has been - e-mail alumni@mail.wvu.edu.
Christopher Williams took a risk by moving to New York City in January 2012 and within three months, it paid off. He landed a job with CITYarts as project coordinator. The research and results of his dissertation, "Art Educators and Practicing Artists: Strengthening the Curriculum and Building a Creative Community," are critical to his work. In this role, Williams is in charge of all aspects of project planning. He finds materials, coordinates schedules, submits permits, records and documents the projects, plans special events surrounding the projects, finds artists and helps develop a curriculum for the artist workshops. Read Full Story.
West Virginia University is on probation until July 7, 2013, for violations involving failure to monitor the activities of certain non-coaching football personnel by two former head football coaches and by the institution. The NCAA accepted without modification the University's self imposed sanctions, which include a public reprimand and censure; probation; elimination, reduction and restrictions for non-coaching personnel; limited recruiting related restrictions during Fall 2010 and Spring 2011; reduction of the amount of countable athletically related activities for football student-athletes during Spring 2010; and reductions in the total number of scholarships awarded for football during the 2010-2011 academic year by two and the 2011-2012 academic year by one.
