Boone County Alumni
Alumni Spotlight
Profile
A lot of people have been involved with it since day one and there are a lot of kids we've helped - we've seen doctors, lawyers, engineers, marching band members, a homecoming queen. A lot of our kids have done really well. [The program] has been a lot more successful than we ever thought it would be.
It almost sounds too good to be true.
It's impressive enough to have the Boone County Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association running an expansive scholarship program specifically for Boone County residents. But what's really staggering is how the program is financed: with pork and golf.
Practically all of the money for more than 20 full scholarships comes from the Chapter's annual Pig Roast and Golf Outing event.
Amazingly, the scholarship program is thriving and stands as a shining example of an alumni chapter combining a fantastic and fun atmosphere with important purpose.
A.J. Hatfield, president of the Boone County Chapter and 1972 WVU graduate, is proud of his group's work in creating a great event to fund such a beneficial program.
The scholarship program has grown significantly in its 19 years of existence, he says.
"We started out giving a partial scholarship to one deserving student each year," Hatfield says. "And as we grew, we gave a full scholarship to one student, and then a full scholarship and a few partials."
This year, the Chapter gave 16 $500 - $1,000 scholarships to WVU's Morgantown campus to Boone County residents as well as five scholarships to WVU Tech. Additionally, the Chapter gives $1,000 to Boone County residents in a graduate program at WVU. To date, the Chapter has awarded more than 125 scholarships.
The chapter also has raised additional funds and has committed $50,000 to Mountaineer Athletics and other WVU programs.
Such staggering numbers prove how far the program has come since its founding nearly 20 years ago, especially considering the program started with about 12 board members, each contributing $50-100 to the foundation.
Madison attorney Charles Piccirillo, a 1977 WVU alumnus and 1980 graduate of the WVU College of Law, was one of the founding members of the chapter. Along with other Boone County Mountaineers like Norman White, Ron Stollings, Lee Schlaegel, Dan Blizzard, Bob Atkins, Joe Atkins, Chuck Byrnside, Burr Hatfield and Harry "Chip" Shaffer, Piccirillo and his chapter have played an integral role in increasing the number of Boone County residents who attend WVU. Since the start of the chapter, the number has gone from around 20 all the way into the hundreds.
"A lot of people have been involved with it since day one and there are a lot of kids we've helped – we've seen doctors, lawyers, engineers, marching band members, a homecoming queen," Piccirillo said. "A lot of our kids have done really well. [The program] has been a lot more successful than we ever thought it would be."
So, if the scholarships provide the purpose, the Chapter's annual Pig Roast and Golf Outing provide the fun. What began as a small fund-raiser and social event for Boone County alumni has blossomed into a large-scale event popular throughout the state. WVU alumni and Boone County businesses sponsor holes on the golf course to raise funds.
The event, usually held in late-July, attracts a variety of students, alumni and faculty. In recent years, WVU Football Coach Rich Rodriguez, Head Basketball Coach John Beilein and Athletic Director Ed Pastilong have all made the trek south to the event. The roast is especially attractive to Boone and Lincoln county residents attending WVU, all of whom receive a $50 textbook voucher simply for arriving at the pig roast.
In addition to pork and golf, the event typically features live music, raffles for football tickets, and a silent auction.
It all adds up to an incredibly convivial and entertaining event driven by one of the best scholarship programs and Alumni Association chapters in the state. A.J. Hatfield recognizes that, although Boone County has the highest per-capita income in the state, there might be a greater need for financial aid in Boone County than in other parts of the state. He says he is proud to be a member of such a productive chapter of the Alumni Association.
"People should join the Alumni Association because it gives you a way to keep in contact with Morgantown on another level than just football," he says. "It's important to realize that when you were there, football wasn't the main thing. It was attending class and seeking a degree, and you should help other people do that after you graduate.
"Above all," he adds with a wink. "It's important to make sure people go to the right school."
For more information about the Boone County Chapter, visit http://www.wvuboonealumni.com.