Concord University Magazine Spring 2020

Magazine Spring 2020

OVERCOMING COVID-19 PRESIDENT'S BALL FIRST VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT

From The President Our campus community has served this region through a number of obstacles that have impacted our area and threatened the wellbeing of our institution. The COVID-19 crisis that began this spring is the next obstacle before us.

Amid a worldwide pandemic, Concord Mountain Lions do not turn from adversity. We rise to meet challenges head on, and we will continue to adapt so that we can move forward.

The Campus Beautiful is not the same as when you were here last, and it may not be for some time. But what will never change is this administration’s commitment to Concord University and our students. We will emerge on the other side of this moment in time stronger with your continued support.

As alumni and friends of Concord, I ask you to donate to our Foundation. Many of our students have been impacted by this pandemic, and they will need support to continue their education. Our campus needs will also change, and those projects will need funding. Regardless of what area of university life you are drawn to, choose something you are passionate about and give what you can.

As travel restrictions are lifted, come visit. We are eager to see you. Follow our social media accounts and stay in touch. Concord University is and always will be a family, and you are an important part of that legacy.

Dr. Kendra Boggess President

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JULY 23 CU After Hours, Charleston, WV 5-7pm at Ristorante Abruzzi AUGUST 13 CU After Hours, Fayetteville, WV at Adventures on the Gorge 5-7 pm AUGUST 17 Fall Term Begins

OCTOBER 2 Appalachian Eye Care/Concord University Athletics Golf Tournament Pipestem State Park 8:30 am Tee Time CU After Hours The President’s Home 5-7pm

SEPTEMBER 17 CU After Hours, Sophisticated Hound Brewing Company, Princeton, WV

OCTOBER 3 Athletics Hall of Fame Breakfast University Point, Pais Fellowship Hall 9am

SEPTEMBER 24 CU Day of Giving

Keg & Eggs Breakfast, University Point lawn, 10am – kickoff

OCTOBER 1 Homecoming Parade through the Campus/Vermillion Street 6pm

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Tent Contact Mike Johnson at 336-769-6892

Homecoming Football Game: CU vs Fairmont State Falcons ( Kickoff Time TBA by NCAA) NOVEMBER 12 CU After Hours, Winston Salem at Foothills Brewing DECEMBER 1 Holiday Open House DECEMBER 12 Fall Commencement

SAVE THE DATE Phi Sigma Epsilon / Phi Sigma Phi 60th Reunion Weekend Scheduled for Homecoming 2021 Contact John Lecco at jlec@carolina.rr.com

NOTE: The safety of those who support our events is our main priority. Therefore, all events above are subject to the federal, state, and county guidelines in effect on the date of the event and in the State in which the event will occur. Please see www.concord.edu for the most up-to-date schedule of events.

CONTENTS

FEATURES

President Dr. Kendra Boggess Vice President for Advancement Alicia Besenyei Chair, Concord University Foundation, Inc. David Kirby '79 MAGAZINE STAFF:

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52 AL GUENTHNER '66 56

Director of Communications Amy Pitzer Staff Writer Sarah M. Pritchett Creative Services Manager Christopher A. Boyd '02 Contributing Writer Lindsey Byars '03 Contributing Editors Sarah L. Turner '98 Blake Farmer '17 SUBMISSIONS: Please contact Amy Pitzer at 304-384-5211 or pitzer@concord.edu

MOVED RECENTLY? NEED TO UPDATE YOUR INFO? Fill out the Alumni Contact Information Update form under the Alumni tab!

ON THE COVER: The campus is depicted by myriad screen shots of students, faculty and staff carrying out the last of the 2020 Spring semester via video chats.

THEODORE I. MALININ '55

JOHN WIMMER '87

FEATURES

EVERY ISSUE

17

Pathways Scholarship

04

University News

18

COVID-19, The Campus Response

40

Alumni Happenings

25

CU's First Virtual Commencement

42

Alumni Spotlight

27

A Seat For You

60

Sports Highlights

28

The Pesident's Ball

64

Class Notes

37

Day of Giving

76

In Memory of

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Scholarship Spotlight

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On the Road with ROAR

Keeping Up With Concord Social media has allowed people to keep in touch with individuals, groups and activities all across the globe and Concord is using some of these tools to keep its alumni connected to the University and each other. You can keep up with Concord through any (or all!) of the following outlets:

Facebook: Concord University Alumni Association, Inc. and Concord University

Snapchat: ConcordU1872

Instagram: ConcordUAlumni

Twitter: @CampusBeautiful and @ConcordUAlumni

LinkedIn: Official Concord University page and the Official Concord University Alumni group

The Concord University Magazine is published by the Concord University Advancement Office.

A portion of the cost is underwritten by the Concord University Foundation, Inc.

We hope you will take advantage of each of these sites as a quick and easy way to keep up with Concord!

Email: advancement@concord.edu Mail:

Office of Advancement PO Box 1000 Athens, WV 24712-1000

Phone: 304.384.6311 Fax: 304.384.6017

UniversityNews Concord University Radio Station Receives Grant for New Equipment A new piece of equipment for Concord University’s radio station – WVCU – will enhance the educational experience for broadcasting students and allow the facility opportunity for growth. The station’s aging radio console is being replaced thanks to funding received from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.

“The new radio console will provide students the opportunity to work on a professional piece of equipment found in many of today’s modern radio stations. It will essentially make WVCU a completely digital broadcast facility providing room for future growth,” stated William Bailey, Manager of Radio and TV Services.

“The radio console, sometimes referred to as the mixing board or sound board, is the component where all audio signals meet: The DJ mics, playback computer, CD player(s),

telephone interface etc.” Bailey explained. “The DJ runs the console, while on-air, using it to mix these audio signals.”

Brock Whitt, an adjunct instructor for the Department of Communication Arts and Media, said the grant totals $2,549. “We are incredibly excited!” he said about the funding and the opportunities awaiting students.

Whitt, Bailey and Media Specialist Alvin White collectively decided to pursue funding to replace the radio board with Whitt applying for the grant.

Students who are involved with WVCU gain experience that prepares them for a variety of career paths in radio. “Many careers can be found in radio both on-air and off-air,” Bailey said. “Besides on-air personalities, other jobs include programming, production, engineering, sales, administration and human resources.”

CU Students Land Multiple Legislative Internships Concord University was well represented at the West Virginia Legislature during the 2020 session with nine students serving as interns for lawmakers.

Only 10 undergraduates are selected for the Judith A. Herndon Fellowship each year, and CU students were selected for three. Edith Martinez of Cundinamarca, Columbia, Noah Clark of Pearisburg, Va., and Allie Sears of Princeton, W.Va. were picked to work in various committees with staff and the chairs of those committees.

Edith was selected to work in Senate Judiciary with Chairman Charles S. Trump (R – Morgan), Noah in House Judiciary with Chairman John Shott (R-Mercer), and Allie in the Senate Minority Office along with helping a number of senators in the minority party.

Assignments for the interns included performing research and a variety of other staff functions, all aimed at a deeper understanding of the political process and the many phases of legislation becoming law.

The Frasure-Singleton Internship gives students a oneweek look at the legislative process. Each year, 51 students are selected from two and four year institutions of higher learning.

Six were selected to represent Concord for the recent session:

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Annika Leichtle of Roemerstein, Germany, Baylee McKinney of Camp Creek, W.Va., Samuel Lusk of Princeton, W.Va., Gavin Brandenburg of Huntington, W.Va., Lanie Craig of Ashton, W.Va., and Taylor Carter of Lewisburg, W.Va. Annika was assigned to Delegate Dianna Graves (R-Kanawha); Baylee with Senator Ron Stollings (D-Boone); Samuel with Delegate John Shott (R-Mercer); Gavin with Delegate Margaret Staggers (D-Fayette); Lanie with Delegate Joshua Higginbotham (R-Putnam); and Taylor with Delegate Bill Anderson (R-Wood).

“The impressive number of Concord students selected for these prestigious internship programs is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both our students and our faculty,” says President Kendra Boggess.

Dr. Sally Howard, Professor of Political Science, says all POSC majors are required to do an internship, and while Concord sends students to the capitol every year, to have so many accepted into the Herndon and Frasure-Singleton Programs this year is an honor.

“The programs are always a wonderful experience for the students and we are very proud that Concord (was) so well represented in Charleston this spring,” Dr. Howard says.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Chryssikos Family Gifts Paintings of Greek Muses to Theatre Department A special source of inspiration for actors and their audiences now graces the entrance of the main theatre in Concord University’s Fine Arts Center.

Paintings of the Greek Muses of Comedy (Thaleia) and Tragedy (Melpomene) hang near the doors leading into the theatre. These delightful pieces of art are a gift to Concord’s Theatre Department from the family of Paul and Alexandra Chryssikos.

“These two paintings are given to Concord University’s Drama Department in memory of our beloved parents, the late Paul Chryssikos, student and professor, Concord College (1956-1976) and Alexandra Chryssikos (class of 1953),” Virginia Chryssikos stated on behalf of the family.

She said the gift is made “with gratitude and in appreciation of our wonderful parents and the College that meant so much to them.”

The paintings were commissioned and completed in 1993 by artist, Father Anthony (Wayne) Salzman, a lay person at the time, and student of art and iconography in Greece, where Paul and Alexandra met him while visiting their daughter.

“The Theatre Department is honored to receive the gift of these paintings,” stated Theatre Director and Instructor Karen Vuranch.

“Instead of the traditional Comedy/ Tragedy masks, the paintings depict the actual Greek Muses,” she said. “It is a wonderful way to delve deeper into the history of theatre and open the minds of audience members who will attend productions in our theatre.”

Concord Theatre Director and Instructor Karen Vuranch, left, and Virginia Chryssikos display the paintings that have been donated to the University by the family of Paul and Alexandra Chryssikos.

The paintings were originally presented as a gift to the Summit Players in 1993. They hung in Summit Theater at the Bluefield Arts Center until a little over two years ago when the Summit Players were no longer performing there.

The family deemed it quite fitting that this art work has found a final home at Concord where Paul so enjoyed his teaching years and collegial relationships. Paul was indeed a lover of the arts, as demonstrated in remarks he made when presenting these paintings to the Summit Players. Excerpts of that presentation include: “Art is an indispensable need of man-

kind; it gives the distinct character and rhythm to civilization; it is the mirror of the total life of a nation, of a people.

Art and life go hand in hand, but life is temporal, it passes, while art is indestructible, it is eternal.

Art is the sustaining essence of history; without art, history would starve.

Art provides mankind with intangible comforts that transcend the trivial and the ephemera; it lifts man’s spirit to spheres of inspiration and brings him closer to his Great Creator.”

PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES We appreciate the photographs you share with us for possible inclusion in Concord’s magazine. To help us provide quality reproduction of photographs, we are offering the following guidelines for your information.

Photographs need to be at least 300 dpi. Image file size needs to be at least 1mb per photo. Photos should be in jpeg format and taken with a camera and not a cellphone.

If you have questions about guidelines, please contact the Office of Advancement at cboyd@concord.edu or 304-384-5258. Thank you!

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Concord Students Excel in Worldwide Business Management Strategy Competition Every semester students from Concord University participate in a competitive on-line business simulation called Capstone, provided by Capsim. Capstone simulates the management decision processes in a true-to-life, competitive environment. Concord requires participation in the simulation as part of the business program capstone experience for students nearing graduation.

Each Concord student assumes the role of CEO of a simulated company. They are expected to assess the situation of a simulated business vis-à-vis other competitor firms managed by other students and then develop a sophisticated competitive strategy to position up to eight distinct products in five market segments and deliver desired results to shareholders as reflected by a balanced scorecard. Strategies must address decisions related to product specifications, pricing, marketing spend, sales forecasts, R&D budgeting and scheduling, production scheduling, management of direct costs and contribution margins, purchase or sale of production capacity and automation, inventory management, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable management, Human Resource investments in staffing, recruiting and training, 10 distinct Total Quality Management investments, and funding of business cash flow needs through equity and debt issuance. Students execute their strategies in competition with the strategies of other students in a

Business Ideas Pitched at Competition Concord University hosted its second pitch competition on campus last semester. The event was held at University Point. There were several entries which created an evening of much anticipated excitement and fun. The contestants were given 90 seconds to “pitch” their business ideas, along with two minutes of follow up questions from the judges.

First place and $500 was awarded to Kyla Marshall for her idea Pet Promotions. Kyla is a sophomore majoring in biology and in recreation and tourism management.

She is from Mineral Wells, W.Va. Second place and $250 was awarded to Madison Lilly for her idea Dream Planning. Madison is a sophomore majoring in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in entrepreneurship. She is from Beaver, W.Va. Third place and $100 was awarded to Nickolas Shrewsbury for his idea Discovery Church. Nick is a junior majoring in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in entrepreneurship.

He is from Princeton, W.Va. For additional information regarding the Entrepreneurial Studies program at Concord, please contact Dr. Addair at aaddair@concord.edu

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Students placing in the top ten percent of all competitors worldwide for at least one round of the competition are, above from left, Morgan Carmichael and Cody Sizemore.

Students achieving top ten percent overall for the entire competition are, below from left to right, Nathan Steiding, Mohamed Mohamed, Makayla Wikle and Ryan Kosut. Not pictured is Shawn Meadows.

simulated market over a simulated eight-year period.

The Capstone business simulation is utilized by leading business schools in the United States and around the world. Capsim tracks the performance of participants using a balanced scorecard, and reports on participants with balanced scorecard results that are in the top ten percent of all simulated companies that have participated in the simulation in the last six months.

For the Fall 2019 semester the Strategic Management class at Concord University placed students in the top ten percent of all competitors worldwide for at least one round of the competition. Those students are: Cody Sizemore (Lewisburg, WV), and Morgan Carmichael ( Jacksonville, FL). In addition, Concord also had five students who achieved top ten percent overall for the entire competition. Those students were Nathan Steiding (Beckley, WV), Ryan Kosut (Beckley, WV), Makayla Wikle (Peterstown, WV), Shawn Meadows (Beckley, WV) and Mohamed Mohamed (Alexandria, Egypt).

“Over half of the class placed in the top 10 worldwide, this was such a competitive group. They seemed to do well right from the start. I am so proud of their accomplishments and can only imagine what their futures will hold. I am certain we will see great things from every one of them,” stated Dr. Angela Addair, Assistant Professor of Management. “We celebrated on the last day of class with an awards ceremony to recognize their outstanding achievements.”

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Department of Business Volunteers at Amy’s House of Hope, Preparing Holiday Meals In December a group representing Concord’s Department of Business prepared and served a meal at Amy’s House of Hope, reaching out to dozens of individuals in need in the process.

Located in Princeton, W.Va., Amy’s House of Hope is part of the non-profit Warm A Heart, Give A Bed. Hot meals are served there three times a week for low-income individuals and people experiencing homelessness. The organization also provides sleeping bags, non-perishable foods and hygiene products.

Lucinda Gonderman, academic program associate, said Concord’s Department of Business participates in a service project each year and decided to assist Amy’s House of Hope for 2019. The volunteers prepared a variety of dishes for a traditional holiday meal, enough to feed 100 people.

“We served around 97 meals that night altogether,” Gonderman said. “We fed 40 people in-house and created more takeout trays for others.” Additional meals were delivered

by Fred Kinder, board chairman of Warm A Heart, Give A Bed, to area people experiencing homelessness, she explained.

Volunteers gather during their evening of community service.

“Faculty, staff, and students of the department choose to support a local charity during this holiday season to embrace Concord’s commitment to service,” Dr. Susan Robinett, department chair, said. “While it was only one evening, those who helped serve were touched by the stories of the people who depend on Amy’s House of Hope. We plan to make this an annual tradition.”

“Lucinda did a great job organizing the event,” Robinett said. “We appreciate all the volunteers who helped

that evening.”

“We have many people in the United States in need and homeless, not just during the holidays, but all year long,” Gonderman said. “It starts with one person, one community, so if we start giving back, department by department, we may be able to give some hope to those that have none.”

For additional information about Amy’s House of Hope and Warm A Heart, Give A Bed, please call 304487-3489 or email info@warmaheartgiveabedwv.org

Students Among Finalists in Business Competition A team of Concord University students is among five finalists in the West Virginia Innovation and Business Model Competition (WVIBMC). The competition’s semi-finals were part of Innovation Weekend held March 6 and 7 on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. As finalists, CU teammates Madison Lilly and Hannah Lawrence were to advance to the statewide finals originally planned for April 2 in Charleston, W.Va. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the finals were cancelled and each of the five finalist teams was awarded $500.

College and university students from around the state were eligible to participate in the WVIBMC and the workshop that included a boot camp on design thinking.

Lawrence is a freshman majoring in Business Administration at Concord. She is from Nitro, W.Va. A sophomore from Beaver, W.Va., Lilly is majoring in Business CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

Administration with a management emphasis and an entrepreneurship minor. Also representing Concord at the event were Christabel Ofodile and Taylor Lewis. From Abuja, Nigeria, Ofodile is a junior majoring in Business Administration with a management emphasis and an entrepreneurship minor. Lewis, from Amory, Miss., is a senior majoring in Computer Information Systems and minoring in business administration and entrepreneurship.

“I was honestly so thrilled to see each of them participate,” stated Angela Addair, Director of Entrepreneurial Studies. “They worked on their ideas, interviewed potential customers, reshaped their dreams all in a matter of a couple of days.

“I could see how passionate each of them were. I have no doubt they will continue with their business ideas long after this semester. I’m so proud of each of them. They inspire me daily,” she said.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Concord University and Princeton Rescue Squad Sign Memorandum of Understanding

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oncord University and the Princeton Rescue Squad signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nov. 8, 2019 whereby certain training provided by the rescue squad may be applied toward a Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree at Concord.

The MOU calls for an academic pathway in which Paramedic Program graduates of the Princeton Rescue Squad may acquire academic credits for coursework through Concord University.

The morning signing ceremony took place in the President’s Office located in the Administration Building on Concord’s Athens campus.

“Concord University is honored to partner with the Princeton Rescue Squad as part of our continued effort to make college more accessible and affordable,” President Kendra Boggess said. “The university, like the rescue squad, is here to serve our community.”

She said that individuals who take advantage of what the partnership offers will have “an opportunity to stay right here in their community…and build a future.”

“We are very happy to partner with Concord University,” stated Mr. Stacey Hicks, CEO of Princeton Rescue Squad.

“Concord University is our hometown university,” he said.

“We are proud they are in our community.”

He said the project that both Concord and the rescue squad have worked on has now “come to fruition.”

“This is another example of Concord reaching out to the community and strengthening ties that have existed for many

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Concord University President Kendra Boggess, above left, and Stacey Hicks, CEO of Princeton Rescue Squad, sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

Shown below at the signing are, from left, Dr. Peter Viscusi, Concord University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Kendra Boggess; Mr. Stacey Hicks; and Paula Johnson, Princeton Rescue Squad Director of Education.

years,” stated Dr. Peter Viscusi, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Princeton Rescue Squad Director of Education Paula Johnson called the endeavor a “great partnership” which will lead participants to a career along “a different path…a good solid career.”

For additional information on how credits from the rescue squad’s Paramedic Program may be applied toward an RBA degree at Concord University contact Teresa Frey at teresafrey@concord.edu or 304-384-5226.

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

UNIVERSITY NEWS

McNair Program Conducts Summer Internship The Concord University McNair Scholars Program, a federally funded program designed to assist promising college students gain admittance to and complete a graduate program, completed another successful summer internship in 2019. In order to qualify for the program, applicants must either be a member of an under-represented population or both a first-generation college student and income eligible.

Participants for 2019 arrived on Concord’s campus on May 28 where they were provided room and board for the duration of the program. Concord’s McNair Scholars Program, directed by Dr. Rodney Klein, Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, provided numerous workshops related to conducting research, the various components of a graduate school application, and the graduate school application process.

In addition, the participants travelled to visit several regional graduate programs, including Ohio University, East Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee, Marshall University, Radford University, Virginia Tech, and The Ohio State University. The summer program culminated with the group traveling to Atlanta, GA to attend and present at the 25th Annual SAEOPP McNair/SSS Scholars Research Conference June 27-30, 2019.

Students who attended the conference and gave either a poster or oral presentation of their research project proposals are: Faith Kidd (Pre-Professional Chemistry) – Bioactivity Guided Fractionation of Polygunum cuspidatum (Oral), Crab Orchard, WV; Hayley Haynes (Psychology) – The Halo Effect: Making Judgments Without Awareness (Poster), Lenore, WV; Eden Riggs (Psychology) – The Relationship Between Depression, Stress, and Substance Use in College Students (Poster), Rainelle, WV; Baylee McKinney (Psychology) – Group

Students attending the conference are, front row, left to right: Faith Kidd, Crab Orchard, WV, and Hayley Haynes, Lenore, WV. Back row, left to right: Eden Riggs Rainelle, WV; Baylee McKinney, Camp Creek, WV; Matthew Vance, Paynesville, WV; Charles Rose, Princeton, WV; Sydney Harris, Charlotte, NC; Tinina McCourt, Diana, WV; and Kayla Cox, Princeton, WV.

Sizes and its Impact on Decision-Making and Problem Solving (Oral), Camp Creek, WV; Matthew Vance (Psychology) – The Effects of Physiological Stress on Memory (Oral), Paynesville, WV; Charles Rose (Psychology) – Effects of Nicotine on Recognition Memory in the Novel Object Recognition Task (Poster), Princeton, WV; Sydney Harris (Sociology) – Impact of DNA Evidence within Criminal Cases (Poster), Charlotte, NC; Tinina McCourt (Sociology) – Online Dating in the LGBT Community: An Analysis (Oral), Diana, WV; and Kayla Cox (Psychology) – Nicotine Conditioned Place Preference in Female Adolescent Rats (Poster), Princeton, WV.

CU Day at the Legislature

The proclamation is read in the Governor’s Reception Room

Chief of Staff Mike Hall and President Kendra Boggess

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

Concord representatives gather during the event

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Alpha Psi: Student Written and Directed One-Act Plays Alpha Psi Presents: Two One-Act Plays offered students an opportunity to gain valuable theatre experience. Written and directed by Concord students, the plays were performed in the H.C. Paul Theatre on Friday, Feb. 28. The plays presented that evening were selected from submissions for a class assignment in English Instructor Mark Botts’ play writing class last year.

What Lies Beyond the Keys was written and directed by Laya Gilpin. Gilpin is a Mercer County native and a member of the Spring Class of 2020. She double majored in Broadcasting and Theatre. Laya completed her capstone project by working as a producer for WVVA-TV in Bluefield. She has served as President of the Concord University chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, Beta Xi. The second play, All in Time, was written by Laura Lin. Lin is a non-traditional student who returned to her university studies to complete a Creative Writing degree. She worked at the Marsh Library.

Jimmy Wilburn, a Theatre major from Van, WV, directed the production.

Wilburn is active in the CU Theatre Department and serves as Historian for Alpha Psi Omega.

Theatre Director and Instructor Karen Vuranch explains how participating

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Laya Gilpin, left, and Jimmy Wilburn

in a project like this offers students career preparation.

“I think directing a play is the most valuable experience a student can have in preparing for a career in theatre,” she said. “Most students are experienced actors and have been in a number of productions. But, as a director, they learn to see the big picture of the play as well as develop leadership skills.

“Directing a play, bringing out the nuances the author intended, coaching actors are all valuable skills that will

make them better actors themselves.

This also prepares students for jobs other than acting, such as managing an arts organization or promotion and publicity. Directing a play pulls together all the aspects of theatre that they have learned into a culminating project,” she said.

Alpha Psi Omega is a national theatre honorary society. Its purpose is to encourage dramatic production at every step in a person’s academic career.

The Concord Chapter, Beta Xi, creates a variety of theatrical opportunities for the members. The production on Feb. 28 was part of a series entitled Alpha Psi Presents that allowed students to experience all aspects of theatre production. In addition, students participate in fundraising projects such as delivering Shakespeare Grams on Valentine’s Day and other special events.

To be a member of the national organization, a student must participate in at least three theatre activities in the CU Theatre Department, either as an actor, in technical or backstage work or other aspects of production.

In the Beta Xi chapter, these members are referred to as having “Star Status.”

Those who have not yet qualified for national membership are still permitted to participate and are referred to as an “Understudy.”

Yin Awarded Instrumentation Grant

Shelnutt Receives WVHC Fellowship

Dr. Hong Yin, assistant professor of chemistry, has been awarded an Instrumentation Grant from West Virginia Science and Research (WVSR). Yin is among faculty from seven West Virginia colleges and universities to receive funding totaling approximately $150,000 for scientific equipment and curriculum improvements from WVSR, a division of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

Yin’s award of $40,000 is for purchase of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer that has the capability to characterize full molecular structure.

According to WVSR, “These grants offer assistance to primarily undergraduate institutions to ensure students have the necessary modern resources for furthering their studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).”

Dr. Blevin Shelnutt, assistant professor of English, is one of nine recipients of a fellowship from the West Virginia Humanities Council. Her subject is “Marketplace Aesthetics: Making American Literature in Nineteenth-Century New York City.”

The $3,000 grants are awarded annually to college faculty and independent scholars for research and writing projects in the humanities. The awards were announced in April by the Council.

The West Virginia Humanities Council, an independent nonpartisan nonprofit institution, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. With the support of the NEH, the State of West Virginia, and contributions from the private sector, the Council’s mission is to support a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Accolades Shine Spotlight on Academics, Affordability and Online Excellence Concord University continues to add national recognitions to a growing list of accolades. Recently, these honors salute Concord in the areas of academics, affordability, online offerings, and performance on social mobility. Both undergraduate and graduate programs have been spotlighted.

“All of these types of recognition, when taken together, really highlight the dedication of our faculty and staff to bringing our students a high quality education at an affordable price,” stated William Allen, Vice President of Enrollment Management.

Three of the honors are included in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges rankings. Concord is listed among the Best Regional Universities South. Institutions included in the list are evaluated on a range of factors such as graduation and retention rates; student-faculty ratios; undergraduate academic reputation; and financial resources per student.

Additionally, Concord is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as #31 in Best Undergraduate Teaching Program (tie), Regional Universities South, and #64 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie), Regional Universities South.

U.S. News & World Report has further honored Concord by listing the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program in the 2020 edition of Best Online Master’s in Education Programs rankings. Of the 309 programs named in the report, Concord is tied for a ranking of 161. CU is one of only three West Virginia institutions appearing in the rankings.

Institutions were ranked by U.S. News & World Report based on engagement (30 percent), services and technologies (23 percent), expert opinion (20 percent), faculty credentials and training (15 percent) and student excellence (12 percent).

Concord is also listed in the “Best in the Southeast” section of the Princeton Review’s 2020 Best Colleges: Region by Region. One of 142 colleges included from the Southeast region, Concord is among 656 schools across the United States and internationally named in the website resource. When compiling the list, academics and campus experiences of students are used to determine which institutions make the cut.

Concord’s Master of Arts in Health Promotion has been honored by BestColleges. The degree program ranks fifth among the Best Online Master’s in Health Education Programs of 2019 as determined by the online resource. Concord is the only West Virginia institution among the best five.

According to the BestColleges website, the methodology to determine the rankings is “grounded in statistical data and a few consistently applied guiding principles, including academic CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

quality, affordability, and online competency.”

The Master of Arts in Health Promotion program has also been recognized among the best online programs in the nation

by Intelligent.com Concord is ranked #6 by the online resource on its list of the Top 20 Online Master’s in Health Education Programs for 2020. Additionally, CU has been named the “Best Public University” among the honorees and is the only West Virginia college or university to be recognized.

The programs selected for this honor have each been evaluated on five factors including program strength, online readiness, return on investment, cost and student engagement.

“Our top picks are highly-regarded, economical, and equipped with the tools needed to teach their given degree online,” states Intelligent.com The Master of Social Work program at Concord has been recognized as one of the top online programs in the nation by Learn.org. CU is ranked #20 among the 25 schools landing on the 2020 Best Master’s in Social Work Online Programs list. Concord is the only West Virginia college or university named to the list.

In compiling the ranking Learn. org said, “We considered hundreds of universities across the country and selected Concord University based on academic and career resources, the quality of education, faculty and more.”

Concord has been honored as one of the 35 Best Online Master’s in Social Work for 2020 by Online Schools Report.

CU is ranked #20 among the 35 institutions listed by the publication and is the only West Virginia school to appear.

Factors considered when compiling the ranking are Student Satisfaction (15 percent); Admission Rate (10 percent); Online Presence (10 percent); Popularity at School (20 percent); Department Size (15 percent); and Median Debt by Program (30 percent).

Study.com has ranked Concord #2 in Best Online Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Degree Programs in the online publication’s 2019 rankings. According to Study.com, the schools selected for this ranking, “emphasize accessibility, affordability, and quality of education.” To learn more about why Concord received this honor visit: https://study.com/resources/best-online-social-work-degrees Study.com has also saluted Concord in the area of education. Concord has been ranked #1 by Study.com in its 2019 rankings for the best online education and teaching degree programs in the United States. Among the factors included in the ranking are faculty, quality of the education, and availability of academic and career resources. To find out more visit: https:// study.com/resources/best-online-teaching-degrees »

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Appalachian Eye Care Donates Special Protective Eyewear to Concord Esports Thanks to a generous donation to Concord Esports, the players’ competitive edge can now be even stronger. Appalachian Eye Care has donated protective eyewear to the players that is designed to reduce eye strain and increase reaction time based on sight. For esports participants, eye strain is the number one reported injury.

As part of this partnership, the local optometric practice will also provide continued assistance in helping players keep their eyes healthy through consultations and information. Appalachian Eye Care has offices in Princeton, W.Va. and Pearisburg, Va. Optometrist and Concord alumnus Dr. Brad Lane is a practice owner with the eye care facility.

Since beginning competition in

the fall of 2019, Concord Esports has made a mark as a powerhouse in collegiate play. The Concord Maroon roster (Call of Duty) claimed victory in their first three national tournaments in the College Call of Duty League.

Concord University holds the distinction of being the first public college or university in West Virginia to offer varsity esports to its students. Call of Duty is one of three teams Concord has registered with the National Association of Collegiate Esports. League of Legends and Overwatch are also part of CU’s esports competitive lineup.

For additional information on Concord University’s esports program, visit http://concord.edu/esports

Collegiate Recovery Program Being Developed At Concord The Collegiate Recovery Community and Program being developed at Concord University will provide support for students in recovery from addiction who are seeking a degree in higher education.

Concord University’s Collegiate Recovery Community (CUCRC) will offer services, support, connection and fun for students in recovery from alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, domestic violence, gambling, etc. Family support will be offered for those who have a loved one in addiction or in recovery.

Concord is one of seven schools that make up the Southern West Virginia Col-

legiate Peer Recovery Network. The network has been established through funds awarded to the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Behavioral Health from the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant. Federal SOR funding originating from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supports the SOR grants.

Kim Holmes will serve as Concord’s Collegiate Recovery Coach. Holmes is a Collegiate Peer Recovery Specialist at Southern Highlands Community Mental

Accolades Continued...

Concord University’s Graphic Design program has been recognized among the best in the state by Animation Career Review.

Concord is ranked #3 in the Top Graphic Design School Programs in West Virginia – 2019 College Rankings. Criteria used to determine the rankings are academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program, and value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness.

Concord has also been named among the 5 Top Online Schools in West Virginia by Online Schools Center. Among the factors used to make this determination are “rigorous coursework that students can accomplish without having to attend on-campus courses” and “a virtual learning platform that offers students easy access to their coursework and discussions.”

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Health Center, one of the behavioral health centers working with the Southern West Virginia Collegiate Peer Recovery Network.

“Here at Concord University, we want to create a judgment free zone for people in recovery, people curious about recovery and allies of those in recovery,” she said.

Holmes has been in long-term recovery since Aug. 18, 1990. During her career, she has taught at the Industrial Home for Youth in Salem, W.Va. and managed the WV Child Abuse and Adult Abuse Hotline.

Looking at affordability, LendEDU ranks Concord #2 for Lowest Student Loan Debt in West Virginia in its Student Loan Debt by School by State Report 2019. Debt of graduates in the Class of 2018 was used to determine the rankings.

On a national level, Concord has been recognized as one of the country’s best schools for affordability by Washington Monthly. Concord is ranked #65 among the 267 institutions on the publication’s 2019 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Southeast.

According to the Washington Monthly website this is an “exclusive list of schools ranked according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.”

Concord’s ranking is the highest among the public West Virginia colleges and universities named in the report.

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Care Packages Sent To Deployed Mountain Lions A recent graduate of Concord University and two current students on deployment with the US military received an encouraging surprise from home earlier this year. Concord’s Office of Veteran Services and the CU Student Veterans Association collected items from the Concord campus community to fill care packages for each of these three individuals.

Dr. George Williams, Concord’s Veterans Advocate, appreciates the “amazing response across campus” for the project. “We have a very generous campus,” he said.

Donations included an assortment of nonperishable food items such as beef jerky, sunflower seeds, nuts, cereal, breakfast bars, drink mixes, dried fruit, trail mix, mints and chewing gum.

Monetary donations were also accepted to help cover the cost of shipping and to purchase additional items if necessary, not only for these

Shown from left to right with donations for the care packages are Jerry Coffman, member of the CU Student Veterans Association; Michael Shrader, student Veterans Advocate and member of the CU Student Veterans Association; and Dr. George Williams, Concord’s Veterans Advocate.

three Mountain Lions, but also for others deployed in the future.

As a veteran of the US Navy, having served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Williams understands from firsthand experience what care packages can mean to the recipient.

“I know how much these packages mean when you are so far away from

family, friends, and home, and I know these students will very much appreciate receiving a package from CU,” he said.

“I remember getting care packages while I was deployed,” he said. “It’s amazing how it can change things.”

Recounting a particular instance during his time in the Persian Gulf, Williams said he and his fellow sailors had been at sea for more than 100 days, and the mood on the ship was “tense.”

But when a care package arrived on board, he said it “changed the whole mood of the department.”

“It was very nice to get,” he said.

Generous with their special deliveries, Williams explained he and his shipmates would “share with our buddies” so that more than the recipient benefitted from the contents of the packages from home.

Williams said the CU veterans groups are planning to continue the care package project as additional Concordians are deployed.

Concord Recognized for Student Voter Engagement At the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards Ceremony held to recognize colleges and universities committed to increasing college student voting rates, Concord University received a silver seal for achieving a student rate between 30 percent and 39 percent. A full list of seal awardees can be viewed here.

“Concord is proud to receive this national recognition for our efforts. Our faculty, particularly Dr. Jim White, Dr. Sally Howard, and Dr. Rodney Klein; staff, especially Kathy Ball, director of our Bonner Scholars Program; and students, particularly our Bonner Scholars and members of our CU Young Democrats, College Republicans, and Pi Sigma Alpha, are committed to working together to reduce apathy, increase engagement, and graduate civic-minded students prepared to solve the country, and the world’s, most pressing challenges,” states Sarah Beasley, Vice President of Student Affairs.

Student participation in elections has increased from the 2014 midterm election to the recent 2018 midterm election.

According to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, an initiative of Tufts University’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education, voter turnout at the more than 1,000 institutions participating in the study increased CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

by 21 points from 19 percent to 40 percent. Concord’s data reveals that the University increased by over 14 points from 22.6 percent to 36.9 percent.

“We are excited to honor Concord University with an ALL IN Challenge silver seal in recognition of their intentional efforts to increase democratic engagement and full voter participation,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “More institutions like Concord are changing culture on campus by institutionalizing nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts that are resulting in the incredible student voter turnout rates that we’ve seen across the country.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation. The Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, and make democratic participation a core value on their campus.

More than 560 campuses, enrolling more than 6.2 million students, have joined the Challenge since its launch in summer 2016.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Presentation Recognizes Black History Month

Sociologist and leading scholar Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder appeared remotely at Concord University on Feb. 20. She focused her remarks on race relations, women’s empowerment, and higher education in her presentation “Still Learning from the ‘Outsider-Within:’ Black Women in the 21st Century Academy”.

Concord’s Multicultural Affairs Office and the Department of Social Work and Sociology partnered to present Wilder’s lecture which was part of the University’s Black History Month Observance. Her presentation also coincided with the United Nations’ World Day of Social Justice. Dr. Katie Nutter-Pridgen, Assistant Professor of Sociology, emceed the afternoon videoconference held in University Point’s Pais Fellowship Hall.

“She is very passionate about connecting sociology to the everyday issues occurring within our society especially issues that impact women, girls, and communities of color,” Nutter-Pridgen said in her introduction of the guest speaker.

“This lecture is a significant way for us to recognize Black History Month.”

Wilder currently works as a Senior Research Scientist for the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). As a member of the Social Science team, she works directly with the K-12 Alliance to create research-driven resources that will equip and empower its members with tools to increase women and girls’ participation in computing and technology.

She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Florida. In addition to her studies in Sociology, Wilder also completed a Ph.D. concentration in Women’s Studies and Gender Research. She earned a master’s degree in Sociology from Cleveland State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College.

Prior to joining NCWIT, Wilder worked for 10 years at the University of North Florida as a tenured Associate Professor of Sociology and the Founding Director of the Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations. As an advocate for social justice, she is the recipient of many research, teaching, and leadership awards, and her work has been published

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Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder addresses a group in University Point's Pais Fellowship Hall.

in an array of academic journals and publications.

Dr. Wilder held a small-group discussion and networking session with students prior to the videoconference. She also took audience questions following her main presentation.

Dr. Wilder’s talk has been archived on Concord’s YouTube channel.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Tournament Action, Virtual Meetings Highlight Chess Club Activities Unable to meet in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Concord University Beckley Chess Club responded by holding virtual gatherings.

Sponsor Keith Lilly reached out to members and other chess enthusiasts with weekly opportunities to study legendary matches between the best in the game. He points out that analysis had already been a regular part of meetings,

but with the pandemic, this feature was reformatted.

“We have been using Zoom to analyze prominent chess games,” Lilly said. “Our first session studied a 1924 game between two titans in chess history, Capablanca and Lasker.”

The group has also “looked at a game between Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Wang Hao from the 2020 Candidates Tour-

nament in Russia” as well as “a classic struggle between Wilhelm Steinitz and Mikhail Chigorin in 1892.” Bobby Fisher and the “Game of the Century” also appeared on the schedule along with the wonders of Tal the Magician from Riga.

Lilly said the Concord University Beckley Chess Club has been joined by other West Virginia chess clubs for the Thursday evening virtual gatherings.

3rd Annual Concord Southern Open

Concord University participants are Concord Beckley student Zackery Keaton, faculty sponsor Keith Lilly, and Concord Athens student Robert Newland.

New CU Beckley chess boards for tournament play.

Co-Winner Mike Baker

Co-Winner Markle Butcher

The Concord University Beckley Chess Club hosted the 3rd Annual Concord Southern Open at the Erma Byrd Center on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. This was a United States Chess Federation rated tournament and a Grand Prix tournament for the West Virginia Chess Association.

Fourteen players from around the Mountain State participated in four rounds with Mike Baker and Markle Butcher being co-winners. The time control was game in 60 minutes with a five second delay. Two Concord students, Zackery Keaton and Robert Newland, played in the tournament. West Virginia Junior Chess champion, John Boylin, IV, was among the junior players who participated.

Grant-funded XRF Instrument Upgrade Completed Concord University’s Physical Sciences department completed a major upgrade to its XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) instrument for teaching and research. The upgrade was funded by grants totaling $55,000 from the American Electric Power Foundation and West Virginia Science and Research, a division of the Higher Education Policy Commission.

The XRF is an analytical microscope that allows students and researchers to identify and map the distribution of chemical elements in natural and man-made solid materials. “For example, you could determine if a soil sample was contaminated by heavy metals, if there CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

was lead in paint chips, or to analyze the chemistry of anything from electronics and circuit boards to minerals, food, and pharmaceuticals,” stated Dr. Joseph Allen, Chair of the Department of Physical Sciences and author of the grant proposals.

In addition to faculty and student research, the instrument is used in several courses in chemistry and geology at Concord. The XRF is part of a larger microanalytical laboratory which includes an electron microprobe and associated sample preparation facilities. The upgrade simplifies operation of the instrument and allows the user to obtain higher-resolution data.

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Beckley Student Coordinates White Cane Event White Cane Awareness Day was held on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at Word Park in downtown Beckley. CU Beckley student Cole Sweeney advocated for this event with Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold to raise awareness for the blind and visually impaired and their safety in the area.

Cole, who is visually impaired, set up an obstacle course for participants so that they could experience firsthand the difficulties of being blind or visually impaired. He also held a panel discussion after a showing of the documentary “Blindsight” at the Raleigh Playhouse and Theatre. Local media covered Cole’s activities, and he has been asked by the Mayor to expand the observance for 2020 to continue to raise awareness.

White Cane Safety Day (White Cane Awareness Day) is a national observance in the United States celebrated each Oct 15. The white cane is a vital tool for blind and visually impaired individuals and a symbol of their independence and achievement.

Cole Sweeney, right, and his grandmother, Matilda Webb, at Beckley's White Cane Awareness Day.

The Baha’is of Princeton Donate Bench to University Point

The bench is positioned near the entrance of the chapel at University Point. Pictured are Diane S. Grych and Edward S. Grych

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The grounds of University Point on Concord University’s Athens campus received a new addition recently. An engraved granite bench recognizing the Bicentenary (200th Anniversary) of the Birth of the Bab has been placed near the entrance of the Wilkes Family Chapel.

The bench is a gift for University Point from The Baha’is of Princeton, WV. According to information provided by the Baha’is of Princeton, “The Bab is one of the two Central Figures, or Twin Manifestations of the Baha’i Faith, which teaches that God is one, mankind is one, and all of the major religions come from one divine source.”

“From Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2019, members of the Baha’i Faith all over the world celebrated the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab,” the information continues.

The Concord University Board of Governors approved a Resolution on

Oct. 15, 2019 to accept the gift. On March 16, 2020, the specially designed and engraved bench was installed outside the Wilkes Family Chapel by Bluefield Monument Company, under the oversight and guidance of Edward S. Grych, Treasurer, and Diane S. Grych, Chair and Group Correspondent of the Baha’is of Princeton. Dr. Diane Grych is a retired Concord University Assistant Professor of Education.

“I love Concord,” Dr. Grych said.

In addition to teaching at Concord, Dr. Grych said their daughters were cared for at the Concord University Child Development Center during their preschool years, and their youngest daughter, Virginia, was married and had her reception at University Point in July, 2013.

Dr. Grych said she sees the bench as “a gift to the University that would be lasting” and that signifies “the unity of religion” with its placement at the chapel.

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

UNIVERSITY NEWS

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ID-19 THE CAMPUS RESPONSE

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s the world, our nation, and our state responded to the spread of the Coronavirus, administration at Concord University faced hard decisions about how to keep the campus community safe while continuing to serve the region.

From the earliest days of government directives on social distancing, it was clear that classes could not continue meeting on campus, and even the President’s Cabinet would have to lean on virtual technology if they were going to continue to meet. The calendar was full of faculty and staff interviews that needed to take place in order to fill vacancies for the fall, meetings with accreditation boards were quickly approaching, and campus events that contribute to student scholarships were on hold.

A total shut down was not an option, so President Kendra Boggess began by examining how each facet of the campus could function in the new and constantly changing

environment. To allow more time for planning how the University would respond, Concord administration agreed to extend spring break by one week. During this time, President Boggess scheduled meetings with each department to hear faculty concerns about converting all classes to a distance format. While there were some technology questions, all of which were addressed by Concord’s Vice President of IT, Cayce Will, faculty were quickly on board and ready to work together to ensure students could finish the semester on time.

After assuring that the faculty was behind the conversion of classes, Dr. Boggess made the announcement public—the spring semester would continue and conclude online. A page was designated on the website to publish any changes as they occurred to ensure everyone in the campus community was up-to-date with the latest information, beginning first with the extension of spring break, and then the decision to continue classes online. »

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COVID-19

The IT department jumped into action once the decision to convert all classes to an online format was made, setting up training sessions for platforms including Blackboard and Zoom.

Many members of the faculty joined them in these sessions, teaching others how to use these tools in their classes to get students the information they needed to finish the semester. While this was a stressful time, the lines between departments and disciplines blurred as everyone worked together for the collective good of the institution and the students.

Prior to the need for class conversion, Dr. Tracy Luff, professor of sociology, said she had attended a training at a conference on Higher Education Pedagogy called “Three Tools to Enhance Your Courses.” This information would prove to be an asset for her distance teaching. One of the tools she learned about in this training session is called The Band.

“This app allows members to share information and keep in touch without cluttering email inboxes,” she says.

The app works like social media, allowing users to post, comment on, and “like” what their classmates share. It has a group calendar, chatrooms, online polls, the ability to upload files and pictures, and livestream video.

Not only was Dr. Luff able to use this for her sociology majors and students in Concord’s Honors Program, but the instant feedback made class registration easier as well as she advised students for the fall semester.

“This has been very helpful during advising as I was able to upload progression sheets, link to the Courses Offered page and put registration dates on the group calendar,” Dr. Luff says.

“Students were easily able to post questions and get answers.”

While this piece of technology proved an asset for sharing information with students and between faculty members, Dr. Luff says the app “has been a great tool for maintaining a sense of social integration while we [were] away from each other.”

Users shared their struggles adapting to their new work environment that many had to now share with young family members and intrusive animals. They even took a poll to choose the best song to sing while washing their hands for the appropriate CDC recommended time.

Karen Vuranch, professor of theater, found artistic inspiration through the Zoom platform, particularly with her Acting I class.

“My students have really done well with adapting to a virtual classroom,” Vuranch says. “I sent them scenes from a play called Opened Mail. Each scene is a separate story told through letters. Then, during class, the student performed the scenes. It worked wonderfully!”

Vuranch used the speaker view in Zoom, which makes whoever is speaking the largest picture on the screen, and through this she was able to direct and provide feedback. Not only is this proving to be a useful classroom tool, Vuranch says performing digitally is a skill they can take with them as they audition for roles after graduation.

“These days, most acting auditions on a national scale are done by something called ‘self-taping.’ Using a smart phone, an actor tapes themselves reading the role and sends it in digitally,” Vuranch says. “So my students really need to learn this skill.”

Dr. Darla Wise, professor of Biology, converted “The Unknown Project” for her Microbiology class so students

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wouldn’t miss out on what she says is considered “the favorite project in Microbiology.” Traditionally, students would identify a culture growing in the lab, then order tests and wait for results until they can figure out what they’re working with. This year, students were able to do the test by looking at pictures as opposed to physical results. Dr. Wise made them wait like they would in the classroom, sending them pictures of what their test results would look like the day after they messaged her with the type of test they wanted to conduct.

“It took two-and-a-half hours to set up the lab and work around their schedules to let them do the experience,” Dr. Wise says. “Not giving them the results right way but making them wait gave a little excitement to the project.”

The entire process took about a week, and while the size of the class coupled with the individual time needs of the students was a challenge, Dr. Wise was pleased with the results.

“Large classes online that are not designed to be online are difficult, but overall, I think it went really well in spite of that,” Dr. Wise says.

Allison King, a senior who will attend WVU Dental School in the fall, says that while the experiment was online, they still had to do research for outcomes like they would have traditionally, so she learned a lot through the experience.

“I miss class. I’m not a huge technology person. I would prefer the classroom experience, but overall [this semester has] been really good,” King says.

When government restrictions made it clear that students would not be returning to campus this semester, students living on campus were asked to make an appointment with their residence directors to pick up their things. Some students had returned to campus after the extended spring break because they had no other choice. Many of them were international students, so as borders began to close and the U.S. government placed restrictions on travel, they scrambled to book flights home if they could.

Knowing our students and many faculty members had traveled during spring break, careful measures were taken to keep social distancing restrictions for those left on campus and to deep clean any areas still being used. CU’s custodial staff used special cleaning procedures and specific cleaning agents to ensure that those still living or working on campus were doing so in a safe environment.

In March, one student did self-report to the housing department that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. The response by staff was swift: quarantining for some staff who had direct contact with the student, extensive cleaning of areas where the student had been on campus, and an alert to the campus community. Dr. David Campbell, director of the campus Student Health Clinic, contacted state and local health departments and fielded questions from the media. The Student Health Clinic worked overtime, monitoring the health of the small group of students who could not return home for various reasons.

The care and safety of Concord’s students remained the driving force for decisions made during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For many faculty, staff, and students, adapting to classes online was not the most difficult part of this transition. This time of isolation brought additional dangers, including depression and anxiety, and stressful home environments. For some international SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

COVID-19

students, the struggle was not only with their inability to return home, but the knowledge that their home country was dealing with the spread of the coronavirus in the peak of the wave. These situations were not specific to our campus community, but struggles the world shared.

Dr. Sarah Beasley, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, organized a zoom lunch for students on April 1, and several attended to ask questions and touch base with support staff. One week after going to online only classes, the students who attended were adjusting to the new challenges they faced.

“It’s hard to get the material without the face to face interaction,” Taylor Bohan told the group. Many others agreed, sharing that they too were missing classroom discussion and talking with friends on campus. The students said professors were available and willing to discuss material one on one, which they appreciated, but they missed their classmates and the experience of being on campus.

“I lived on campus and I worked on campus. It’s a lot taken away,” Destiny Robertson, another student in attendance, said.

The group agreed that one of the hardest adjustments was staying motivated at home.

“It’s a challenge to motivate yourself in these circumstances,” Destiny added. But what helped her and some others was making a place in their home only for work. Then establishing a routine to balance the load of classwork.

One student described the experience as “being in the

Twilight Zone,” walking around his home trying to decide what it was he was supposed to be doing, and even being unsure of what day it was.

Two students in the meeting were in the middle of their student teaching placement, so they were experiencing what many educators across the nation were dealing with, creating content that their students could do at home when they may not have the technology resources they had at school.

“It’s hard to leave suddenly when I was expecting two more months with students,” Matthew Thomas said.

Matthew was teaching high school when the stay at home directive was given. Some of his students are hoping to attend Concord in the fall and had questions for him about campus and college life. Matthew said he was grateful for the campus tour videos Admissions counselors were posting online, because he could still help his students by sending them to the University website.

For younger students, Concord student teachers were working with their placement teachers to make YouTube videos. And while they describe the experience as “jarring,” this would be an experience they could take into the classroom after they graduate.

President Kendra Boggess attended the session to hear from students.

“I admire what you’re doing,” she said, many times apologizing for the adjustments they were having to make. “This breaks my heart for all of you.”

While this transition had been difficult for everyone, the »

Concord Donates Masks to Princeton Hospital A shortage of protective face masks and other equipment has plagued health care professionals battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Concord University helped alleviate the local shortage by donating more than two thousand masks to Princeton Community Hospital (PCH).

After learning that PCH had a dwindling supply of masks and would welcome any that could be directed their way, Dr. Jill Nolan, associate professor of Health Education, took action. She checked with various departments on campus and hit pay dirt with the Art Department and the physical plant.

James Biggs, chair of the Art Department, explains about his department’s donation. “The masks were in the art building to be used occasionally when a student would undertake a woodworking task that would require a lot of sanding,” he said.

“Our art classes are all remote

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

Concord University President Kendra Boggess delivers masks to Princeton Community Hospital CEO, Jeff Lilly.

now,” he continued. “Jill Nolan was asking about masks, and I didn’t think they should just sit there if the hospital was in need.”

President Kendra Boggess per-

sonally delivered the masks to PCH on behalf of Concord University.

Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Mark Pickett, RN, explained how this donation helps the hospital.

“Under normal operating times, the hospital struggles with personal protective equipment (PPE) due to existing allocations that we are under from suppliers. Now, with the COVID-19 threat, the increase in our PPE usage, and the ability for our regular supply chain to provide for our needs, shortages are occurring,” he said.

“Princeton Community Hospital Association is grateful for this donation, not only to help meet the needs of our organization, but also allowing us to assist with our healthcare coalition partnership of public health, emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire services and county emergency management,” he said. “If someone is in a greater need than us, this allows our partners to stay safe.”

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COVID-19

Kevin O’ Sullivan 5K Goes Virtual A popular scholarship fundraiser for Concord University students took a different path this year in response to COVID-19.

The Kevin O’ Sullivan Classic 5k, which in the past has seen participants racing through CU’s campus and the streets of Athens, went virtual for 2020. The race benefits the Five Aces Scholarship Fund at Concord University.

The sixth annual event was originally scheduled to begin and end on Concord’s campus the morning of Saturday, March 21.

However, due to public health recommendations for social distancing, the race was switched to a virtual format so that participants wouldn’t be running together in a group.

Participants were asked to complete the race at their own location by the end of the day on March 21, and to submit a race day selfie or photograph of them running, along with their time, to race coordinators. As a nod to the O’Sullivan family’s Irish heritage, participants were encouraged again this year to wear green and Irish attire during their run.

The race is named for the late Kevin O’Sullivan, a long-time Concord administrator. O’Sullivan and several of his colleagues established the Five Aces Scholarship Fund in the early 1980s to assist dedicated and hard-working Concord students who were experiencing financial difficulty to have the opportunity to continue their studies. The scholarship is administered by the Concord University Foundation.

Kevin O’Sullivan was known for a life of service, volunteerism and dedication to mentoring young adults. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he was an avid running enthusiast throughout his life. He served in the US Army and was a record setting athlete in track and field at Mississippi State University.

Kevin and his wife, Anne, eventually settled in West Virginia where he served as Concord’s Director of Student Affairs and later, the golf coach. The O’Sullivan family includes six children.

For additional information on the Five Aces Scholarship contact the Concord University Foundation at foundation@concord. edu or 304-384-6067.

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students who attended the virtual lunch were positive about Concord’s response to the global pandemic. They were grateful for the constant communication through email and the website because it let them know that Concord was still thinking of them and working to help them through this difficult time.

“Nobody signed up for this. We have to be empathetic but also stay strong for each other,” Destiny Robertson said.

Marie Newcomb Lewis, a mental health counselor on campus, and Kim Holmes, a recovery counselor who works with CU students, were both in attendance. Marie told the group she was working with ten clients, and her numbers were growing. During this stressful time, Concord made sure Marie could still reach students remotely so those who needed support would have access to the service, no matter where they lived.

Kim was planning virtual meetings on Wednesdays for students dealing with recovery and even those who were not. Her next meeting would be spent teaching stress relief techniques, something everyone could benefit from during a time of isolation and adjustment.

Many members of the Concord staff were equipped with the tools necessary to work from home as social distancing transitioned to a state “Stay at Home” directive. The IT department continued to work in full force, providing VPN access so employees could see their desktops from a remote location. Tech Support during this time was essential, and CU’s IT team did a fabulous job making sure someone was always available for staff and students trying to navigate the demands before them. They also provided links on the website to guide users through the transition.

Some offices still required a human presence. The mail was still being delivered, checks still needed deposited, and while the group was small, some students were still living on campus. A call line and email account had been established in the beginning to provide information to students and parents, but calls were still coming in, and someone had to be available to answer questions.

Andrew Sulgit, Director of Student Activities and the Student Center, and his assistant, Carolyn Worley, took turns manning the switch board, making themselves an important source of information on campus. Sulgit says this crisis response experience has shown him just how vital the behindthe-scenes personnel have been to keeping Concord running: “From housekeepers sanitizing every door handle and panic-bar in the Student Center, to Student Affairs personnel driving students to airports, bus stations, or just helping carry belongings to the car for the sad trip home. From maintenance folks who are still handling the work orders I turn in for Faculty/Staff housing, to Aramark employees making sure what students remain are fed. All of these do this at, let’s be honest, some level of risk. All this has truly heartened me to some of the operations on campus that go on regardless of the situation,” Sulgit says.

President Boggess recorded a special message to the faculty, staff, and students that was shared on social media and YouTube, thanking everyone for their hard work and dedication during this time of uncertainty and transition.

“Let me thank you, students. I’m amazed by your hard work, the flexibility and willingness to embrace this change, along with the dedication you’re showing to your education. Faculty, I’m equally as impressed by the incredible effort you’ve made in a very short time to meet the challenge of course content movement online in order to serve the students and the institution. This was a very tall order, and I appreciate all you’ve done to accomplish this,” Dr. Boggess said.

As staff continued to work both from home and on campus, Dr. Boggess said to them, “Concord University could not survive without you, so SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

COVID-19

A behind the scenes look at filming for our first ever virtual commencement.

thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do for the university.”

Every department and group adjusted to the demands of our new reality, meeting over Zoom, corresponding through email, and doing anything necessary to continue operations. But as end dates for the “Stay At Home” order continued to move further into the calendar, new obstacles surfaced, including the spring commencement scheduled for May 9.

As difficult as the decision was to make, Dr. Boggess told students in her recorded message that Concord could not hold a traditional graduation this spring. Deciding early would give the commencement committee time to come up with an alternative and would keep parents from making travel arrangements that couldn’t be canceled at the last minute.

All students would be given the option to participate in the December ceremony, which for some disappointed seniors, was a relief. But Dr. Boggess wanted to make sure Concord could celebrate the graduates in some way. It was important to her that our students know how proud the administration, faculty, and staff were of the Class of 2020.

Together with William Bailey, manager of the Concord radio and TV stations, the committee developed a virtual commencement.

Important parts of the ceremony would be pre-recorded, as well as messages from the faculty, the CU Alumni Association, and the SGA President. Seniors were asked to submit videos or pictures to replace their walk across the stage. Everything would be edited together to premiere live on YouTube and Facebook on graduation day.

The President’s Office set up Zoom meetings to give seniors the opportunity to ask questions directly to the commencement planning committee. Jodi Howell, a senior graduating with a B.S. in Social Work, told the committee, “It’s nice to know you all are working hard to do something special.”

There was no way to know where the end of this pandemic would be, or to anticipate how it would impact everyone moving forward. However, the summer and fall semesters would arrive and as an institution, there had to be a plan in place. Students worked with advisors online to register for classes. New students who could not come to campus for an official orientation tour were directed to the website where the Admissions Department posted virtual tours to help new students prepare for the start of their next phase of education.

Since entrance exams were also cancelled in response to the pandemic, university officials decided to wave the requirement for incoming students with a 2.5 college GPA. Financial Aid staff set CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

up Zoom meetings to help with their FAFSA, a form essential for state and federal financial aid. Looking forward, retention and recruitment were essential keys to moving through this difficult time, so all efforts were made to make sure the region knew that Concord University was available to make higher education accessible to them, even if that assistance took on a virtual format.

Concord University students graduate with the least amount of debt than any other college grads in W.Va. because of generous donations to the Foundation and the many scholarships it provides.

With these students in mind, the Advancement team worked to create fundraisers for scholarships that did not include specific venues. The Annual Beckley Dinner, which traditionally contributes to the annual fund, was cancelled along with all other CU sponsored gatherings. This was a time to think outside of the box.

In the spirit of virtual unity while maintaining a social distance, the group decided on “10K Your Way.” Participants would purchase a ticket like they would for any other race, but instead of gathering in one place, they could complete their 6.2 miles in their own neighborhood, in their own way. Walk, hike, run, or bike, if they posted their results in the group Facebook page and purchased a ticket, they would receive a shirt for their contribution. Supporting the Concord Foundation was not the only goal of this event.

Organizers hoped this would give participants encouragement to spend time outdoors, and to help them feel like part of a group during a time when so many people were struggling with isolation.

The Foundation also called on alumni and community members during this time to support the Gap Fund, a reserve earmarked for assisting students with immediate financial needs that could keep them from finishing their education. This, coupled with the campus food pantry, established immediate support for our current students struggling from coronavirus related financial concerns.

Both resources have been available to students for many years, but under the current crisis, the need would be greater than it had ever been before. The Gap Fund and the campus food pantry will only be able to help students if the community continues to respond to the outcry for support.

Responding to a global pandemic is fluid, changing with each day’s new challenges. University administration, faculty, staff, and students have worked together every step of the way, and they have done an outstanding job adjusting in order to keep Concord University on mission. As the end of the spring semester approached, President Boggess sent a video message to the campus community, letting them know that it was her plan to reopen campus in the fall.

“What I need for you to know right now is campus will be safe, campus will be clean, and we are more than ready for you to come back,” Boggess said.

President Boggess added that students, faculty, and staff should be commended for their flexibility and adaptability in making the adjustments needed in this time of unprecedented and extraordinary change.

“The stories that have been shared with me have made me incredibly proud of each of you and your ability to prevail during the COVID-19 pandemic we have and are facing,” she says. “Former Mountain Lions, no doubt, are watching what you have done and are as proud as I am of the efforts you have made to overcome these challenges. We will all get through these enormous challenges we are facing together.”

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COMMENCEMENT

Concord Holds 21st Fall Commencement F

amily and friends packed the Carter Center main gym the morning of Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019 for Concord University’s 21st Fall Commencement. Marching in to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance," faculty led the procession, followed by candidates for graduate degrees and undergraduate degrees. Creatively decorated caps dotted the procession of regalia clad scholars.

Among the 159 applicants for graduation, 42 graduate candidates and 117 undergraduate candidates meeting requirements for graduation participated. Thirty-three individuals graduated with honors and seven received field honors. Five veterans were among the candidates for graduation.

Along with West Virginia, states represented by the candidates for graduation include California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. The six countries represented include the United States, Australia, Ghana, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Kelson James Howerton from Princeton, W.Va. was valedictorian for the Fall 2019 class. Howerton received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude. His concentration was Public Relations.

“I’m very honored to speak here today representing this class and the Concord community. Above all else, Concord is just that – a community of bright minds and friendly faces,” he said in his valedictory address.

“Through this liberal arts degree, you’ve not only been prepared technically for your respective fields, but have been exposed to the wealth of knowledge, disciplines, and varying perspectives needed to be balanced members of society. We can act with reason, not with haste and insensitivity,” he continued.

“So I charge you class of 2019, to not waste this journey you have gone on here at Concord University,” he said. “Whether you’re going out into the workforce, pursuing your education further, or becoming educators yourselves, have an impact in your community and be a voice of truth. Do not sit silently.”

President Kendra Boggess offered words of encouragement and challenge to the students in her remarks.

“Always remain motivated and work in order to build the best future for yourself, your family and your communities,” she said. “Know that whatever comes, you will be ready to handle it through the education that you have received along with the help of your families and the communities in which you live.”

“It’s always wise to remember hard work and persistence are two of the most important keys to success. Those alone will take you far,” she continued.

“Finally and most importantly, remember to pay it forward,” Dr. Boggess said. “Take with you the gifts of service, kindness, patience, willingness to help others and encouragement that each of you have given and received while here at Concord and show that to others throughout your lifetime.”

“Take with you the heart of ‘The Campus Beautiful’ and share it with others,” she said. “We know that you will make every place that you go, better.”

Graduates each had a moment in the spotlight as their name and degree were called, and they walked across the stage to

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Graduates, faculty and guests fill the Carter Center gym.

shake hands with the President.

Individuals who spoke on behalf of their respective organizations to bring greetings to the graduates include Mr. David Barnette, Chair of the Board of Governors; Dr. William Williams, Faculty President; Mrs. Susan Tuck, President of the Alumni Association; and Ms. Taylor Carter, President of the Student Government Association. The Concord University Band, under the direction of Dr. David Ball, and the Concord University ConChords, under the direction of Dr. Kelly Hudson, provided musical selections.

A reception was held in the Carter Center small gym following the ceremony. The gathering offered an opportunity for photographs and congratulations.

Howerton Honored As Fall 2019 Valedictorian The valedictorian for the Fall 2019 class is Kelson James Howerton of Princeton, W.Va. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, Kelson received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts degree. His major was Public Relations.

When asked about achieving top academic honors for his class, Kelson acknowledged the contributions faculty made to his accomplishment.

“Being recognized as valedictorian for the Fall 2019 Class is a tremendous honor,” Kelson said. “Getting to this point took a lot of hard work and dedication, but I owe this recognition to the professors that have taught me so much along the way.”

Asked prior to his December 2019 graduation, Kelson said his plans for the future included a move to Pittsburgh, Pa. “to pursue a career in communications.”

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

COMMENCEMENT

Spring 2020 Class Honored during CU's First Virtual Commencement Ceremony “Under normal circumstances, family and friends of our graduates would be driving onto campus about now. They would fill every available space in the gymnasium of the Carter Center, eager to see you, their loved ones, walk across the stage. Our faculty and staff would all be here, dressed in regalia, ushering in your class, the outstanding class of 2020 for its final on-campus experience as students,” Dr. Kendra Boggess said as she welcomed viewers to Concord University’s first-ever virtual commencement.

Held on Saturday, May 9, 2020, this history-making celebration honored Concord’s Spring 2020 graduating class. A virtual format was utilized due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event marked the 145th Spring Commencement for Concord, and featured a morning ceremony at 10 a.m. and an afternoon ceremony at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies could be viewed on the CU YouTube Channel, Facebook and by following the link that was provided on Concord’s webpage.

“While we are unable to celebrate your graduation in our typical way, your accomplishments have not diminished in importance in any way,” Dr. Boggess continued. “We are here because of you, the amazing, resilient, the flexible Class of 2020. And even though we are gathering virtual for the first time in our 148-year history, you deserve this moment to commemorate all that you have achieved.

“Graduates of Concord are resilient. You have shown that this semester. You’ve accomplished this milestone under extremely challenging circumstances, and I am proud of every single one of you. Today is a time to celebrate all that you’ve done and all that you’ll continue to do as Concord University alumni,” Dr. Boggess said.

“As you transition from this day into your own futures, I want you to know that the Concord community will always be here to welcome you back to ‘The Campus Beautiful’ especially now during this crisis,” she said. “We look forward to having it all be over as you do, and we look forward to the time when we can all be together again.”

Videos for both ceremonies began with inspiring drone footage of the campus landscape and landmarks. The strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” set the tone for the milestone event as the platform party consisting of Dr. Boggess, Dr. Susan Robinett, Department Chair and Professor of Business, and Dr. Peter Viscusi, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, arrived on the stage in the Student Center Ballroom.

Serving as Grand Marshal, Dr. Robinett, led viewers in the Pledge of Allegiance which was followed by the national anthem. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, she asked “each of you in the Mountain Lion community from near and far joining us today” to stand and join in singing the CU Alma Mater.

Among the 312 applicants for graduation, 78 graduate candidates and 234 undergraduate candidates meeting requirements for graduation were honored.. Ninety-nine individuals graduated with honors and four received field honors. Six veterans were among the candidates for graduation.

Along with West Virginia, states represented by the candidates for graduation include Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. The countries represented include the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Rwanda, CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

Dr. Boggess going over her notes before beginning the filming of our first virtual commencement ceremony.

Ukraine and United Kingdom.

The Spring 2020 class has three valedictorians: Kandace Eileene Barnette of Princeton, W.Va.; Tanner Bret Cantley of Glen Daniel, W.Va.; and Samantha Ann Franks of Lewisburg, W.Va. Barnette received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree Summa Cum Laude. Her field of study was Elementary K-6. Cantley received a Bachelor of Science degree, Summa Cum Laude. His major was Biology (Molecular). Franks received a Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude. Her major was Biology (Molecular) and her minor was Neuroscience.

Cantley and Franks offered their valedictory addresses during the morning ceremony. While acknowledging the sacrifices made by the Class of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Franks also spoke of what she and her classmates have learned.

“Because of COVID-19, we have been forced to grow in compassion, forgiveness and selflessness, giving up our time and plans for the health of our families. We have learned to work toward a common goal, to protect and provide for others,” Franks said. “And, we have been trained to intelligently confront the inexplicable problems that are intertwined within our society.”

“So much of this is what we have already been exposed to at Concord,” she said. “So, take ahold of the knowledge you have gained at Concord, and the mentorship of your professors, coaches and the wonderful staff in these facilities and convert that knowledge into wisdom, refined by trials, and let that grow your character. Let your conduct be the manifestation of your thanks.”

Cantley filled his remarks with words of thanks to those who have helped him in his educational journey. »

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COMMENCEMENT

“I want to thank all those that paved the way for me to be where I am today,” he said. “Both of my grandfathers were coal miners and pastors who worked very long and hard hours for families they loved. Both of my grandmothers were stay-athome moms who worked extremely hard as well. Just like my grandparents, my parents grew up to teach me the values of discipline and hard work.”

“For their lessons and endless love and prayers, I want to say thank you to my entire family,” he said.

He also thanked his closest friends for “laughs and all the long study group sessions” and acknowledged the contributions of his professors.

“To the entire Biology Department and Pre-Health Committee, I give thanks. If it weren’t for your honest advice, patience and efforts, I would not have been accepted into medical school,” he said.

In her valedictory address during the afternoon ceremony, Barnette said, “We have made it to the day that we have long been waiting for. We have written the conclusion to our collegiate story and are now eagerly anticipating the introduction to the next story in our lives.”

“Throughout these years at Concord, all of our stories have changed,” she said. “We each have had our fair share of plot twists ....”

In the process of navigating “all those twists, turns, loops and curves”, she says the Class of 2020 has “learned to embrace the challenge before us, ask questions until we are certain, put our knowledge to the test, and not be afraid to seek ... from those who are wiser.”

“We have discovered the critical necessity of hard work,

determination, perseverance, and support of our loved ones to complete any worthwhile tasks,” she said. “So I encourage you, Class of 2020, never lose faith in yourself, expand your knowledge of the world, share your values and passions and keep writing a better story.”

The 10 a.m. ceremony recognized candidates for graduation from the College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences which includes the Department of Fine Arts, Department of Humanities, and Department of Social Sciences as well as candidates from the College of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Health which includes the Master of Arts in Health Promotion, Department of Biology, Department of Physical Sciences, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Department of Health Sciences. Also honored in the morning ceremony were candidates in Interdisciplinary Studies and those receiving the Regents Bachelor of Arts degree.

The 2 p.m. ceremony recognized candidates for graduation from the College of Professional Studies which includes the Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education and Master of Social Work and candidates from the Department of Business and Recreation and Tourism Management, Department of Communication Arts and Media, Department of Education, and Department of Social Work and Sociology.

Each graduate had the opportunity to submit a video clip or photographs for a personalized slide that was shown as their name and degree were announced by Dr. Viscusi. All members of the Spring 2020 class have been invited to return to campus to march in Concord’s Fall 2020 commencement ceremony.

Trio of Scholars Leads Their Class as Valedictorians Three students – Kandace Eileene Barnette, Tanner Bret it come to pass was really exciting. I felt very blessed!” he Cantley and Samantha Ann Franks – share the spotlight as says. the valedictorians for Concord’s Spring 2020 Class.

Tanner is from Glen Daniel, W.Va. He earned a Kandace received a Bachelor of Science in Education Bachelor of Science degree, Summa Cum Laude. His major degree Summa Cum Laude. was Biology (Molecular). He plans to further his education Her field of study was Elementary K-6. She explains in the medical field.

Barnette how she reacted when she learned she had made it to the “I will be attending the West Virginia School of top of her class.

Osteopathic Medicine,” he explains. “I have full intentions “After the initial surprise, I felt very honored, excited, of remaining in West Virginia and working as a D.O.” and blessed to serve as my class’ valedictorian,” she says.

“I was very grateful to represent an extraordinarily A resident of Princeton, W.Va., Kandace says she plans dedicated, critically minded, and amiable class,” Samantha to put her education to work right here at home. explains. “I also looked forward to the opportunity to “Following graduation, I plan to stay in southern West Cantley speak to my peers so I might provide hope and consistency Virginia and apply, apply, apply, for a teaching position in despite our difficult circumstances.” one of our local counties,” she explains. “In a year or so, I Samantha, who is from Lewisburg, W.Va., received a hope to return to ‘The Campus Beautiful’ to begin working Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude. Her major on my master’s degree.” was Biology (Molecular) and her minor was Neuroscience.

“Becoming valedictorian was a goal I set for myself “I am enrolled in Virginia Tech’s Translational Biology, during freshman year at CU,” Tanner says. “However, I Medicine, and Health Ph.D. program for this fall, where Franks did not tell many people about this goal. I thought such an I will be primarily located at the Virginia Tech Carilion facilachievement would be a long shot for me. ities in Roanoke, Va.,” she says.

“Nevertheless, I worked diligently each semester as if each Samantha has other big plans that she is happy to share. “I am one was my last. When I finally received the news, I couldn’t also getting married to my fiancé Jordan this summer, who I met at believe it. This goal has been four years in the making, and to see Concord!” she says.

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SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

DR. BECKLEY MICHAEL DINNER BEAN XXXXXXXXXXX

Pick a Seat. Just for You. This is your chance to help make a difference at Concord, It Starts With You! Come take a seat with us and leave a lasting legacy at Concord University by naming a seat in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

Supporting the A Seat for U campaign is a generous act of philanthropy that creates a lasting legacy for the donor in one of the most public spaces on campus. This special one-time gift will also take this project further by making renovations and upgrades in other areas of the Main Theatre.

You may also use the enclosed envelope to purchase a seat – just mark "theatre seat" on the memo line of your check made payable to the Concord University Foundation, Inc.

To purchase seats or for more information, visit

www.concord.edu/aseatforu CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE FALL 2019

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2020

PRESIDENT'S

BALL

The roaring '20s came to life at Concord's annual celebration

T

he Roaring 20s may be a century into the past, but for one night, the generation known for jazz, flapper dresses, and fedoras was back in full swing on “The Campus Beautiful.”

In honor of the University’s 148th Anniversary, guests at this year’s President’s Ball walked into the ballroom of the Jerry and Jean Beasley Student Center and were transported back into time.

“I knew if we were going to do a Gatsby theme, that 2020 was the year we absolutely had to execute it,” says Blake Farmer, Manager of University Advancement.

The Advancement staff transformed the third floor of the Student Center, drawing inspiration from The Great Gatsby film staring Leonardo DiCaprio. Choosing a color scheme of white, black, and gold reminiscent of the extravagant parties thrown in the Gatsby remake, special attention was paid to every detail of the night. When guests walked through the door, their gaze was drawn in by the six-foot metallic gold fringe curtains hanging from the stairs leading to the ballroom. In the lobby area, gold foil covered the walls creating an art deco feel.

Once guests entered the ballroom, every name plate, candelabra centerpiece, and antique frame hanging on the wall reflected the 1920s. Prior to

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Haylie McPherson and Brandon Hicks, '17 dance beside Stacey Hicks, CEO of Princeton Rescue Squad, and his wife Kim Hicks.

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

XXXXXXXXXXX

the night’s entertainment taking the stage, period appropriate music that sounded as if a phonograph was positioned in the corner of the room provided a soft, upbeat jazz soundtrack completing the overall feel. Balloons and confetti mingled in the corners of the room, and once the band started playing the dancers took the floor, the effect was exactly as Farmer had imagined.

“Gatsby was known for his lavish parties filled with confetti and balloons and I wanted that reflected on the ballroom floor,” he says. “Guests dancing among the balloons all over the floor was really cool.”

Many guests were inspired by this year’s Gatsby feel, choosing to participate in the theme by wearing flapper dresses and feather adorned headbands.

Some men took on a teamster look, choosing accessories to resemble the bootleggers of the time. In addition to the elegantly plated meal provided by Concord’s Aramark staff, guests could also enjoy specialty drinks created in honor of the event—The Bees Knees, Fizzy Flapper, and Glitz & Gold. Farmer says the participation really helped elevate the theme.

Before the dance portion of the evening began, President Kendra Boggess presented her 2020 Presidential Excellence Awards, recognition she gives annually for faculty, staff, and students who have demonstrated dedication and service both to Concord University and the surrounding community.

The awards for excellence among Auxiliary Staff, which includes workers in Aramark, the CU Child Development Center, Concord’s Foundation, Concord’s Research Corporation, the Follett Bookstore, or the WFF Custodial Services, went to Aramark’s Tamara Knick and WFF staff member Randy Broyles. For Non-Classified Staff, the award was given to Stephanie Bowles from the Business Office and Marie Newcomb Lewis, a counselor in Student Affairs. »

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

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2020 PRESIDENT'S BALL The Classified Staff winners were Admissions Counselor Maizy Landreth and William Bailey, manager of Concord’s Radio and TV stations. In the Faculty category, the awards were presented to Dr. Alice Hawthorne Allen, professor of Physics and college Dean, and Dr. Jacob Womack, professor of Music. And finally, there were two awards given to outstanding Concord students: Taylor Carter, SGA President and Political Science major, and Emma Gardner, an Education major.

This was the first year the awards were presented at the President’s Ball, and each winner was given two complementary tickets to the event. The award presentation was not the only new addition to the President’s Ball. As a special surprise for guests, company dancers from Princeton Dance Studio preformed a number for the crowd to the song “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody,” a hit from the Gatsby soundtrack.

The number was choreographed by Advancement’s own Chelsea Goins.

“Chelsea worked with her girls for two months preparing for their performance at the Ball,” Farmer says. “None of the guests knew we were having this surprise performance, so I think that was an exciting element to add.”

All the performers were high school aged, so Farmer says they were not only excited to dance, but to attend the event.

“It was neat to be able to give some prospective students a glimpse of campus life at Concord,” he says.

After all the evening’s special presentations were over, Downtown Collective took the stage, playing a set list that included hits from a range of generations. Tickets were sold for this portion of the night only, so more guests arrived to enjoy the music and an evening of dancing. If anyone attended without attire to reflect the theme, the photo booth had them covered with a

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table of accessories to stage a fun picture session. Each person photographed was given a complementary picture strip with the President’s Ball logo at the bottom, something special to remember the evening.

Three community groups sponsored this year’s President’s Ball. Princeton Rescue Squad was a Gold level sponsor, and Princeton Health Care Center and Princeton Community Hospital were both Bronze level sponsors. PCH donated their four tickets to Honors Program students, and several other individual donors including faculty and staff members did the same, allowing students to attend in their place. The proceeds for the night benefit the Concord Foundation’s Annual Fund, which provides scholarships and funds campus improvement projects.

There were nearly 180 guests in attendance this year, the largest number since the President’s Ball establishment three years ago. Buzz surrounding the event has grown with its popularity, and as attendees started purchasing their attire six months prior to this year’s Ball, Farmer says he felt the excitement, as well as the pressure. The night lived up to the hype, and looking forward, Farmer is grateful for the support in what he feels is becoming a signature event for the community.

“The event continues to grow each year and we’re so thankful for all the guests that chose to attend and celebrate the founding of Concord University with us,” Farmer says.

If you missed out on this year’s President’s Ball, reserve the last weekend of February in your calendar and make plans to attend in 2021. Tickets will go on sale the month before, so follow Concord University on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on this event and many more scheduled throughout the year.

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

2020 PRESIDENT'S BALL 2020 Presidential Excellence Awards

Dr. Alice Hawthorne Allen, Faculty

Ms. Maizy Landreth, Staff

Ms. Emma Gardner, Student

Dr. Jacob Womack, Faculty

Ms. Taylor Carter, Student

Ms. Marie Newcomb-Lewis, Staff

Princeton Dance Studio performed as part of the nights festivities. The dancers are shown here with with Ms. Chelsea Goins.

Ms. Tamra Knick, Aramark

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2019 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Santa Claus made a guest appearance at the 2019 Holiday Open House. As each Christmas list was shared, every child walked away with a special gift from Santa.

Concord University Freshman, Anthony Nelson, and admissions counselor, Maizy Landreth ’18 performed Silent Night and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

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The ConChords emsenble, lead by Dr. Kelly Hudson, performed classic carols to ring in the holiday spirit.

SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

2020 GROUNDHOG DAY BREAKFAST

Sarah Turner ’98 and Dr. Kendra Boggess present CU Head Football Coach Dave Walker with his 2020 Grand Groundhog Watcher certificate.

Ed Gilger is all smiles in the Concord U shirt Dr. Boggess gave him at the breakfast.

Faculty, staff and local community members enjoy a hearty meal during the Groundhog Breakfast.

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THE RAILYARD • BLUEFIELD, WV Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Concord gathered together at The RailYard in Bluefield, WV for the January 2020 CU After Hours.

Pictured left to right: Jessamine Hannah ’10, Dr. Karen Griffee and daughter Sophie Klein ’20, and D’Angelo Hannah ’08.

Pictured left to right: Drew Bailey ’15, Chelsea Goins ’19, Sarah Turner ’98, Emma Cole ’19, Teresa Frey ’96, Megan Frey ’15, Allen Smith ’05, and Marcus Murrell ’17.

BILLY'S • ROANOKE, VA Concord alumni in the Roanoke area gathered at Billy’s on August 8 for the last CU After Hours of the summer.

Dr. Boggess visits with CU Alumni Association President Susan Tuck ’87 and her husband Chris ’90 at the After Hours.

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Sammi Webster, ’14 Rachel Artrip ’16 and Lamar Preston catching up during the evening.

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CU AFTER HOURS

ORLANDO & TAMPA, FL CU President Dr. Kendra Boggess, Vice President for Advancement Alicia Besenyei and Director of Alumni & Donor Relations Sarah Turner were able to catch up with a number of alumni and friends of Concord during a trip to Florida in February.

WEATHERED GROUND BREWERY, GHENT, WV

MYRTLE BEACH, SC

Concord alumni and friends from all over the area gathered together on Saturday, March 14 in Myrtle Beach, SC for the March CU After Hours at Topgolf. Attendees enjoyed brunch and access to an onsite pro during the morning event.

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VIRTUAL EVENTS

Competition was fierce during our first virtual 10K. The event was a great success, and we look forward to the next one!

Top 4 Female runners: Rebecca O'Sullivan - 43:27 Erica Morgan - 49:00

Dani Webber - 49:25 Sarah Hunting-Stehlin - 50:42

Top 4 Male runners: TW Moore - 38:36 Wesley McKinney - 39:08

Tim Barry - 43:33 Daniel McDowell - 44:20

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SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

Concord’s 2019 Day of Giving campaign was a huge success – and that is thanks to you, the Mountain Lion Family, for coming together and financially supporting the University and it’s students.

With a goal of raising $24,000 in 24 hours – the Mountain Lion community stepped up to the challenge and helped surpass this goal, raising nearly $41,000 for the Annual Fund. That is thanks to you and your commitment to seeing that our students and University succeed.

Grab your calendar and save the date – Thursday, September 24 will be Concord University’s 2020 Day of Giving. With even more support from alumni and community members we believe this year’s campaign will achieve new heights. This year’s goal is to raise $50,000 in 24 hours for the Concord University Annual Fund. Together, we can meet this goal and contribute to the successes of our students.

Whether you’re in California or Florida, USA or across the seas, join this philanthropic movement on September 24 to support Concord University’s 2020 Day of Giving.

September 24, 11am - September 25, 11am Help us reach our 2020 goal of $50,000 in 24 hours to benefit the CU Annual Fund.

Visit concord.edu/dayofgiving for additional information.

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JONATHAN POWELL HOPE FOUNDATION

The Jonathan Po T

he Jonathan Powell Hope Foundation, along with Tim and Melissa Powell of Princeton, W.Va., is giving CU students whose lives have been impacted by childhood cancer a new scholarship opportunity this fall.

The Jonathan Powell Scholarship will be awarded to promising Concord students who have shown evidence of academic promise and academic achievement. The scholarship recipient must be a childhood cancer survivor, or a parent or sibling of a childhood cancer survivor or cancer victim.

The award will be used to assist students with typical fees and expenses related to attending college including tuition, room and board and/or book expenses.

“What will these kids be able to do because of this scholarship? First, they’ll be able to pursue their education, and who knows, maybe their career path will in some way make a difference for childhood cancer patients and their families,” Melissa Powell says.

There are many families the foundation has supported over the years that have children who are approaching college age, and Melissa says she is excited at the thought that they may be able to see their Jonathan’s Hope kids again and continue to support their family through this scholarship in Jonathan’s name.

“Because of his experience, the foundation is in a position to help others who have been touched by childhood cancer go to Concord University,” Melissa says.

The Jonathan Powell Hope Foundation was founded

by Tim and Melissa Powell in memory of their four-yearold son who lost his battle to Neuroblastoma in October of 2002. Melissa says the name of the foundation includes the

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word “Hope” because “hope gives us something to hold on to during difficult situations.” As a mother, Melissa says helping other families provides her family peace in the thought that Jonathan’s experience wasn’t in vain.

While the Powell family was dealing with Jonathan’s journey through cancer treatment, they saw firsthand the impact this situation was having on other families under similar circumstances.

“What we’ve learned is that when a child gets cancer, the entire family gets cancer. There is not one person in that family not affected,” Melissa says. “We believe that no family should ever experience financial devastation because of their fight against childhood cancer.”

Because a parent’s priority is providing the best treatment for their child, they often lacked flexible funds, something Tim and Melissa wanted to assist with when they established the foundation in December of 2002. Judge Omar Aboulhosn, a member of the foundation’s board from the beginning, says the mission has been clear from day one.

“Tim and Melissa had a clear vision of what they wanted done and they have executed that vision in a very compassionate and deliberate way,” says Judge Aboulhosn.

Since its inception, the Jonathan Powell Hope Foundation has provided over a million dollars to families whose financial focus must be on providing funds for treatment and the expenses related to it, such as transportation, hotel costs, and food. The foundation helps fill the gap by assisting with housing, grocery, gasoline, telephone, and car repair expenses, as well as purchasing clothing and special toys for childhood cancer patients to make their journey less painful.

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JONATHAN POWELL HOPE FOUNDATION

owell Scholarship The group’s mission has always been to support children and families who have battled childhood cancer. More than 18-years later, Tim and Melissa asked the board of the foundation to think about how they could help childhood cancer survivors and the families of children who lost their battle with cancer. Judge Aboulhosn says that they decided a scholarship would be an appropriate way to continue the groups mission of support.

“We know that the fact that a child and their family went through the journey of childhood cancer causes that family to be at a disadvantage approaching college years because of the financial strain that the family has already endured,” Judge Aboulhosn says. “Our thoughts were it was a natural progression of our foundation to provide this scholarship to families and children who have been down that road.”

While Jonathan is no longer physically with those who loved him, Judge Aboulhosn and Melissa say his spirit remains ever present as the foundation provides assistance to other families.

“The lives he has changed, the lives he has helped, the parents that thank the foundation for providing the financial assistance, the children who smile in the midst of unspeakable treatment…all of that is due to Jonathan and the fact that his spirit lives on,” says Judge Aboulhosn.

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Melissa says she knows Jonathan would be proud of the work they do in his name. The foundation’s support of families dealing with childhood cancer that began in 2002 will continue, but this scholarship is an opportunity for the foundation’s outreach to grow.

“This is just another way for us to provide support for these families,” Melissa says.

The Jonathan Powell Scholarship will reside with the Concord University Foundation and may be awarded to more than one student per year, and the award is renewable for up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters. You can apply for the scholarship on our website at www.concord.edu/JonathanPowell. If you would like to support this scholarship and its mission, donations can be made to Concord’s Foundation at www.concord.edu/Give. Specify in the comments that you would like your contribution to go to the Jonathan Powell Scholarship.

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AlumniHappenings

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Concord University Alumni Association Alumni Council Slate 2020 -2021 Executive Board President..............................................................................................................................Ann Pauley '74

1st VP.................................................................................................................................... Jared Tice '06

2nd VP....................................................................................................................Melanie Farmer '07 '15 Treasurer........................................................................................................................... Jean Dickens '81 Secretary.......................................................................................................................Lisa Darlington '98 Members at Large

Deborah Baxter '90 Sonny Boninsegna ‘89

Lee Clark '67 Ben Crawford ‘58

Jessica Fredeking '14 Teresa Frey ‘98

Deborah Gore Gillespie '74 Kevin Green ’11 ‘15

Brandon Hicks '17 Angie Keaton Hill ‘90

Paul Hodges '64 Bill Hopkins ‘95

Carrie Wyrick Jarrell ’05 ’17 Joe Keatley '95

Rose Kessinger '68 Maria Maddy ‘95

Madison May '20 Michael McPherson ‘67

Kay Monohan '65 Marcus Murrell ‘17

Misty Peal '96 Rosalie Peck ‘63

Sarah Furrow Stefancic '12 '15 Adam Wolfe ‘03

Mark Allen Yost '12

Immediate Past President- Susan Tuck '87 President of CU (Ex-Officio Member) –Dr. Kendra Boggess

1) Visit smile.amazon.com.

It’s exactly like shopping on amazon.com.

2) Select Concord University Foundation, Inc. as your charity of choice.

3) Start shopping!

After you’ve chosen Concord University Foundation, Inc. as your charity, your experience will be the same as it is on the Amazon website.

And there’s no extra cost for you at checkout!

Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of your purchase to the Concord University Foundation, Inc.

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SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS

Concord Ambassadors

Bob and Eva Gallione ’68 stopped at The Greenbrier on their return trip home to New Jersey following Homecoming 2019 to spread some Mountain Lion goodwill. They presented 61-year employee Frank Mosley with a Concord pin to add to his uniform.

Many thanks to each of you who took a few minutes of your time to fill out the Alumni Satisfaction Survey we posted last year. We appreciate your honest feedback and will use it as we move forward with future programming. Congrats to Megan Evans '02 who was randomly chosen as the winner of an Amazon gift card!

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DECEMBER 2019

NOVEMBER 2019

OCTOBER 2019

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Sherry Hicks-Buckles '97 Congratulations to Concord alum Sherry Hicks-Buckles ’97 on her recent appointment to the General Manager position at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, CT. Sherry has over two decades of experience with Hyatt Hotels and was included in the 2017 Hotel F&B Magazine “Top 50 Women to Watch” list.

To read the full story about Sherry’s appointment please visit: We wish Sherry the best of luck in her new position!

Gretchen Reese ‘16

This month we wanted to recognize CU alum Gretchen Reese ’16 for recently completing two years of Peace Corps service in Uganda. Gretchen served in the Agribusiness program in a small community in Uganda. Gretchen is pictured here on the right with Roar and her Concord roommate, Carli Dotson ’16, during Reese's time in the Peace Corps. Gretchen is a great example of the amazing things that our alums are doing all over the globe and we are proud to have her as part of the Mountain Lion family!

Christy Martin '90

Congratulations to Concord alum Christy Martin on being named to the International Boxing Hall of Fame class for 2020. Christy is earning this recognition in the first year that women have been on the ballot. The full story can be found at: https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-12-04/boxinghall-of-fame Congratulations to Christy on a very well deserved honor!

FEBRUARY 2020

JANUARY 2020

Virginia Martin ‘89

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Virginia “Jenny Ann” Martin embodies Concord’s motto, “Come to Learn, Go to Serve.” She has served in a variety of roles in the school system and currently serves as the child nutrition, anti-drug, wellness director for Wyoming County Schools. And in 2018 Virginia became the mayor of her hometown of Mullens. You can read the full article about Virginia’s journey by visiting https://www.register-herald.com/news/martin-working-toimprove-child-nutrition-hometown/article_66ba3b20-d87f-54e3-83d93b655c538e3c.html We want to say thank you to Virginia for her service to her community, her county and her state—we are proud to call her a Concord alum!

Andrew Wright '04

Congratulations to Concord alum and former CU head Baseball coach Andrew Wright on taking his baseball talents to the next level! In 2019 Wright left WV and his head baseball coach position at the University of Charleston to work for the New York Yankees. He currently serves in their Development Department as the Director of Dominican Republic Baseball Operations and is based in Tampa, FL. Coach Wright had a very positive impact on the baseball programs at Concord and at UC and we are sure he will continue to do great things in the major leagues!

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

APRIL 2020

MARCH 2020

Katrina Kappen '10 Congratulations to Concord alum Katrina Stewart Kappen on being named Mrs. West Virginia America! Kappen was crowned in Charleston at the Civic Center on February 29, 2020 and advances on to the Mrs. America competition in Las Vegas this August. She is formerly Mrs. Putnam County and spent her year in that role raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on affected individuals and their loved ones. She will continue this work during her time as Mrs. West Virginia. Kappen has a BS in Education from CU and a MS in Communication Disorders from Marshall University.

We wish Katrina the best of luck at the Mrs. America competition this summer!

All Concord Alumni Working in Health Care

As our nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic, these alums are on the front lines putting their own lives at risk in order to take care of the sick. They are working countless hours, under high-stress conditions with limited supplies because they care about their patients and the health of their communities.

To every doctor, nurse, EMT, paramedic, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, PA, NP, CNA, dentist, optometrist, physical therapist or other health care worker who is a Concord grad we applaud you!

M AY 2 0 2 0

Melissa Powell '90, '92

Melissa and her husband, Tim, along with the Jonathan Powell Hope Foundation recently established the Jonathan Powell Scholarship at Concord University. This scholarship is named in memory of the Powell's son, Jonathan Powell who lost a courageous battle with Neuroblastoma in October 2002 when he was four years old.

In the spirit of the foundation’s work, the new scholarship at Concord is dedicated to assisting childhood cancer survivors, or parents or siblings of a childhood cancer survivor or cancer victim financially as they pursue a college degree.

JUNE 2020

Laura Lucas Messer ‘12

Congratulations to Concord grad Laura Messer for recently being named the recipient of the National Service Award from the WVU Center for Service and Learning! This award is one of the Excellence in Community Engagement Awards that the Center gives out each year across the entire WVU system.

Messer is the Coordinator for Service and Outreach at the WVU-Tech campus in Beckley, where she has been employed since 2017. She has been working on community service projects and community partner building since starting at Tech.

To read the full story about Laura’s award visit: https://www.wvutech.edu/news/2020/05/21/national-service-award?fbcl id=IwAR0P9RGVHVy8rxdT30VMIfjlWV8SetoLYeLWgqiIDGWGXwC-OomWu_ LkSUY We are proud to have alums like Laura who are able to live out Concord’s motto, “Come to Learn. Go to Serve.”, in their everyday lives!

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FOUNDATION

Concord University Foundation Board Welcomes New Members

D

onald Holcomb grew up in the Wyoming County, West Virginia communities of Ikes Fork and Hanover. After graduating from Baileysville High School, he majored in accounting and management at Concord and was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1979.

Mr. Holcomb is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He has risen through his profession, seeing successes and building achievements each step of the way.

Early in his career, Mr. Holcomb worked as a staff accountant for a CPA firm, an assistant trust officer for a bank, and a self-employed CPA. He advanced to positions as vice president and president of private companies in the areas of contract mining, automotive dealerships, and consulting for natural resources, and as the chief financial officer for a group that included a large private coal company.

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DONALD HOLCOMB

Mr. Holcomb’s distinguished career includes serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dickinson Fuel Company, Inc. in Charleston, W.Va.; Trustee of various Cline Family Trusts in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and Dealer Principal of Mountaineer Automotive in Beckley, W.Va. Active in professional organizations, he holds membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. He has served Concord University as a member of the Board of Advisors. Additionally, his board service extends to Natural Resource Partners.

Mr. Holcomb’s community involvement includes service on local boards for the Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way. A Past President of the Beckley Rotary Club, he has been honored by the organization as a Paul Harris Fellow.

His generous contributions to Concord are extensive and touch many areas of the University. These range from scholarship support, gifts for athletics, and the GAP Fund, to major contributions toward the President’s House restoration and track renovation projects.

Supporting his alma mater further, he has established The Holcomb Family Presidential Scholarship.

This new endowed fund will benefit Concord University students from southern West Virginia.

For his career success, service to the community, and tradition of giving, Mr. Holcomb received an honorary doctorate from Concord University during commencement ceremonies in December 2018.

Mr. Holcomb’s family includes his wife, Linda, son Mark, and daughter, Megan, who graduated from Concord in 2011. He is a resident of Daniels, W.Va.

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FOUNDATION

The Concord University Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to welcome two new members. Donald Holcomb and Christopher Tuck, both graduates of Concord.

CHRISTOPHER TUCK

A

native of Blacksburg, Va., Christopher Tuck graduated from Gateway Christian Academy. He majored in history at Concord and was involved in a variety of campus activities including theater, intramural athletics, and student government. He served as the Student Government Association Attorney General when he was a junior and Ombudsman during his senior year. Mr. Tuck earned a bachelor’s degree from Concord in 1990.

After receiving his J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich., he returned to the New River Valley and opened a solo law practice in Blacksburg, focusing primarily on criminal defense.

Among his notable professional experiences is work in the case, Lilly v Virginia. Early in his career, he was appointed to represent an indigent client on a capital murder charge. A key element of that case concerned the

violation of the defendant’s right to confront his accuser, and resulted in the case, Lilly v Virginia, being taken up by the United States Supreme Court in 1998. In a unanimous ruling, the Court overturned the conviction and remanded the case back to Virginia for retrial.

Even now, Lilly v Virginia is frequently cited in cases where there are questions regarding a defendant’s sixth amendment right to confront an accuser.

Mr. Tuck is a member of the Montgomery-Radford Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar Association, and has served on the board of directors of New River Valley Alcohol Safety Action Program.

He is a board member of the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society and in 2002 was named its Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. In 2009, he was named the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Guardian ad Litem of the Year for his work representing the interests of children in cases of

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

divorce or parental-rights termination.

Mr. Tuck was honored by the Concord University Alumni Association (CUAA) in 2014 with the Outstanding Alumnus award.

Mr. Tuck was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors in 2012 and served for two terms. During his tenure with the board, he at one point served as its Chairman.

His wife, Susan, graduated from Concord in 1987. She currently serves as President of the CUAA. They have two sons, Dylan and Jordan, a 2018 CU graduate. The Tucks live in Montgomery County near Radford, Va. Dedicated to community service, Mr. Tuck’s contributions have included volunteering with his sons’ school activities and civic involvement in his role with the Board of Supervisors. As both an alum and a parent of a student, he has maintained close ties with Concord.

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JIM COINER

Civil Air Patrol Names Center In Memory of Professor of Art Emeritus Jim Coiner ’60

J

im Coiner was accomplished in many areas. During his lifetime, Mr. Coiner became known and respected as an esteemed professor, award-winning artist, devoted husband, father and grandfather, loyal alumnus and dedicated community servant.

As a private pilot for 50 years, Jim also had a deep affinity for flying. Coupling this with his bent for helping others, he served with the Mercer County Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, West Virginia Wing for more than three decades.

Earlier this year, Mr. Coiner’s longstanding and decorated service with the Civil Air Patrol was recognized when his squadron’s command center was named in his memory. In a special ceremony on Feb. 1, 2020 the facility officially became the M.R. “Jim” Coiner Building.

Joyce Coiner ’60 was on hand for the event honoring her late husband along with their daughter, Cherie Coiner Durbin ’91, sonin-law, Ron Durbin, and grandson, Barrett Durbin.

Local and state officials with the Civil Air Patrol offered remarks during the ceremony. They presented Mrs. Coiner with a posthumous CAP Retirement Certificate and a National Commander’s Commendation in honor of Mr. Coiner who passed away in April 2018.

An official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol is a public service organization that carries out emergency service missions in the air and on the ground. Jim earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in this organization, and throughout the years, he served as a Search and Rescue Pilot, Air Operations Officer, Public Affairs Officer and Deputy Commander.

Lt. Col. Coiner was awarded three search and rescue ribbons and a Find Ribbon for ELT mission 14-15 Oct 1988. For his 30 years of dedicated service, he received the Commander’s Commendation Award for Outstanding Duty Performance in February 2018.

Along with completing hundreds of missions on behalf of the Civil Air Patrol, Lt. Col. Coiner was also a key player during construction of the new hanger and command center for the local squadron located at the Mercer County Airport. He worked closely with state Civil Air Patrol leadership and E.T. Boggess Architect as he led design approvals and fundraising efforts for the facility.

M. R. “Jim” Coiner graduated

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JIM COINER

from Webster Springs High School in 1952.

He then served four years with the United States Air Force during the Korean War as a radar technician in South Charleston, WV and also at a remote outpost near Anchorage, Alaska.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Concord in 1960 and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University in 1962. Jim taught at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN for five years and at Bluefield State College for two years. He then returned to Concord and taught for thirty-one years until he retired in 2000.

During his tenure as a member of Concord’s faculty, Mr. Coiner served as Assistant Professor, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Art. He was instrumental in developing a new and updated curriculum in Commercial Art and Advertising, which is now called Advertising/Graphic Design. In retirement, he received the title of Professor of Art Emeritus. He was a resident of Princeton, W.Va.

Joyce Coiner ’60, left, and Cherie Coiner Durbin ’91 attend the ceremony.

Photographs taken by WV Wing Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Debbie Tysor.

Mrs. Joyce Coiner, right, receives a certificate in honor of her late husband.

Photographs taken by WV Wing Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Debbie Tysor.

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The Bone Collector THEODORE I. MALININ ’55 ADVANCES THE FIELD OF ORTHOPAEDICS THROUGH TEACHING AND RESEARCH

R

esearch conducted by Theodore I. Malinin in the field of orthopaedics has led to major advancements in the specialty while benefitting countless patients. A leading authority in such areas as tissue banking, cartilage structure, latent injury in cryopreservation of cartilage, and bone and tissue transplantation, Dr. Malinin has dedicated his life’s work to study, teaching and surgery.

He considers “the ability to help many people and the accumulation and dissemination of new knowledge” especially rewarding components of his distinguished career.

Theodore Malinin was born in Russia. “My family emigrated to the

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U.S. in 1949,” he says.

Early on, he was drawn to health care, working at a hospital as a youth.

The experience provided him with guidance as to what direction his educational journey should take. He chose Concord for his undergraduate degree based on a recommendation from an administrator at the hospital.

“I was attracted to Concord College because we lived in Beckley and I had a weekend job at Beckley Hospital. Dr. A. U. Tieche, Superintendent of the hospital, recommended Concord College,” he explains.

As a student at Concord, Theodore belonged to Delta Delta Tau fraternity and had certain classes that

he especially enjoyed.

“My favorite classes were those in zoology,” he says. “My favorite Professor was Dr. P. C. Bibbee, who was a sterling character, and who helped me a great deal. I have placed a brick at Concord in his memory.

My other favorite professor was Dr. William Burnie, Professor of foreign languages.”

Reflecting on how Concord has impacted his life, he says, “Concord College has helped me in my career by broadening my horizons and in addition to general education, provided an introduction to science as well as liberal arts including literature, theater and music.” »

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THEODORE MALININ

Theodore graduated from Concord in 1955 with a He has contributed to chapters in books, editorial bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to earn a master’s papers and review articles, and has several books to his degree in anatomy from the University of Virginia (UVA) credit. Among these are: “Microcirculation, Perfusion and Transplantation of Organs” (1970) with in 1958 and his medical degree from Linn, Callahan and Warren; “Surgery the UVA Medical School in 1960. and Life: The Extraordinary Career of He completed fellowships in Alexis Carrel” (1979); “Cancer Meranatomy and pathology at UVA. A chants: History of NCI’s Viruses and third fellowship took him to England Cancer Program” (2008); and “Musto serve as a National Foundation culoskeletal Tissue Transplantation Fellow in the Department of Patholand Tissue Banking” (2013) with H.T. ogy at the University of Cambridge.

Temple.

He interned in pathology at Johns He holds an impressive number of Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. patents dealing with a variety of topics Dr. Malinin began his work with such as cartilage material, instrumentissue banking and tissue transplantatation, osteochondral allografts, and a tion early in his career. When he bemethod for regenerating cartilage. came affiliated with the United States Other especially notable accomPublic Health Service at the National plishments in Dr. Malinin’s career Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md. in include his work with Charles A. the early 1960s, he was asked to come Lindbergh on organ perfusion and up with a program whereby researchConcord College student Theodore Malinin transplantation of massive allografts for ers would have human tissue available limb salvage surgery. to them. To aid in this project, he was dispatched to the Additionally, he says, “study of biology and structure U.S. Navy Tissue Bank for training. articular cartilage, transplantation of the same and the He also worked as a surgeon while he was with the development of microparticular NCI in Bethesda and later taught Pathology at Georgebone and cartilage allografts” town University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry in make the list of his profesWashington. D.C. sional highlights.

Dr. Malinin went on to organize research tissue banks “Early on I obat several institutions, and in 1970 established the Universerved accumulation of sity of Miami Tissue Bank. It is the longest running facility protein in cancer cells. of its kind in the United States. Dr. Malinin served as Eventually studies such director from its inception until retiring from the position as these resulted in proin 2005. He considers his work with this tissue bank one of teomics,” he added. the highlights of his career.

Dr. Malinin has Joining the University of Miami School of Medicine contributed his wisin 1970, Dr. Malinin has served the institution in a variety dom, knowledge and of leadership positions through the years. These include: expertise to an extensive Professor of Surgery and Director of Surgical Research list of directorships and Laboratories (1970-1990); Professor of Orthopaedics and committee memberships Rehabilitation (1979-2013); and Associate Chairman for Academic Affairs, Department of Orthopaedics and Reha- throughout his career. bilitation (1991-2006).

Along with his duties at the University of Miami, Dr. Malinin was a staff physician in the surgical service at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Miami from 19701978. He served with the United States Public Health Service from 1961-2011 rising to the rank of Captain. In 1980 he returned to the University of Cambridge to serve as a visiting scholar with King’s College.

A prolific writer and researcher, Dr. Malinin has presented his work extensively in medical journals and scientific papers and at scientific meetings, both nationally and internationally. Presenting at medical gatherings in major cities across the United States including New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, he has also traveled to Aruba, Puerto Rico and Japan to share his work.

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THEODORE MALININ

Theodore Malinin and his wife Dorothy at the Congress of the Latin American Orthopaedic Society.

Naming a few, he has served on the Research Committee for the American Cancer Society, Florida Division; as Co-Chairman of the Tissue Banking Committee, South-Eastern Organ Procurement Foundation; and as a member of the Task Force on AIDS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Additionally, he has been a member of the Board of Directors for the European Bone Bank Foundation, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and the Board of Directors of Cosmas y Damian Foundation Tissue Bank,

Dr. Malinin presents a lecture at Roswell Park Memorial Institute.

Bogota, Colombia. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mannheimer Foundation, Homestead, Fla. Dr. Malinin holds membership in more than 20 professional societies. Among these are the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the American Society for Investigative Pathology; the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; The Johns Hopkins Medical and Chirurgical Society; The Royal Society of Medicine; The American Medical Association; The American Association for Cancer Research; The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland; and, the American Association of Tissue Banks.

His awards and honors include Order of Caballero, Javeriana University; Order of Merit, Republic of Colombia; and Rotarian of the Year award, Rotary Club of Miami. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Scranton and the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award from the University of Miami.

The American Association of Tissue Banks honored him with the George W. Hyatt Memorial Award and he recently received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who.

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Having retired from the University of Miami, Dr. Malinin is now an Emeritus Professor there. In retirement, he is continuing several professional activities.

“I serve as a Medical Director of Osteolife Biomedical, a company engaged in making allografts for restorative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery,” he says.

“I also do some writing and some lecturing.”

In the area of civic and community involvement, he is a member of the Rotary Club of Miami. His pastimes include reading, tennis, music, travel and enjoying the outdoors. He lives in Key Biscayne, Fla. Dr. Malinin and his wife, Dorothy, have four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Malinin siblings have been successful in a variety of careers.

“My eldest daughter is retired from the University of California at Los Angeles. She was a Professor of Psychiatry there. She is now a Program Director at the National Science Foundation. My son is an architect and lives in Colorado,” their father says. “My other daughter is an attorney for the EPA. My youngest son is a musician. He is a band leader for Tanya Tucker.”

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'

It s All In The Algorithm Al Guenthner ’66 Develops Process to Tap into Top Market Performers

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t’s all in the algorithm for Al Guenthner. As an investment manager, he has devised a process for selecting stocks that, with fine-tuning through the years, has paid off for his clients and landed him among the best in his field.

“The key to my investment success, I believe, has been to apply a disciplined valuation model to individual stock selection,” he says explaining how he winnows out businesses in search of superior companies. To learn more about his process, please see the accompanying sidebar.

Guenthner considers his ability to choose top performing stocks a highlight in his nearly 50-year career.

“Regarding my chief business accomplishment, it consists of my portfolio of stocks performing well for ten years and extremely well for the five year period ending in 2018,” he says.

Al currently works for Novant Health in Winston-Salem, N.C. “I manage some of their ‘Capital Reserve Fund’ whose ultimate purpose is to fund future hospital expansion,” he says.

Alfred R. Guenthner was born on Sept 12, 1943 in Pforzheim, Germany. “I am an immigrant from Germany arriving in 1952 with my family when I was nine. I became a naturalized citizen just before arriving at Concord,” Al says.

In 1962 he graduated from Middletown Township

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High School in New Jersey. A guidance counselor at his school recommended Concord to him.

“A good friend of mine and I drove to visit it during the summer of ’62 and I very much liked what I saw,” he recalls. “As importantly, I could afford it. Back then, for out-of- state students, the all in cost was about $1,300. I was able to earn about 70 percent during the summer and I borrowed the rest.”

Al graduated from Concord in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.

“My favorite classes were in economics,” he says. “One professor who stood out was Dr. Tom Pendleton, a recently newly minted Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. He was marvelous. He was known for writing with one hand on the blackboard and erasing with the other as he sped along sharing insights as to what made the world function. As I recall, I took all the classes he taught.

“Even though I was a Business major specializing in Personnel, I took the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) in Economics and scored in the 88th percentile,” he goes on to say. “I shared that news with Dr. Pendleton and as I remember it, he responded by saying that there were many graduate students at UT that would not have scored as well.” »

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AL GUENTHNER

As a recently naturalized citizen in college, Al points out “the importance of being accepted at Concord.”

“I felt nothing but friendship and a level of comradery from fellow Concordians,” he says.

“I joined the fraternity Phi Sigma Epsilon as soon as I was eligible and the friendships formed there have lasted a lifetime,” he said. “We have reunions every few years and some (kind) of get-together annually.”

During his first three years at Concord, Al was a starting member of the Mountain Lions baseball team. He said this was “a wonderful experience traveling with the team and Coach Kyle.”

“It provided companionship and allowed me to visit many campuses across the state. As I remember, the baseball team won the conference title the year before I played (’61) and the year I stopped playing (’66). Is there a correlation?” he wonders.

While baseball and fraternity activities were a big part of his college years, Al says his favorite memory from “The Campus Beautiful” is meeting his wife, Nancy Harmon. They met in Al’s first year English class.

“She was a freshman from St. Albans, W.Va. who would not go out with me on my first try,” he says. “Things improved as time went on.”

Al and Nancy were married in St. Albans on Dec. 16, 1966. Nancy graduated from Concord in 1967. One especially notable accomplishment from her career in education was being the first white teacher to teach black students in Monroe, Ga. The Guenthners’ first son, Jay, was born in 1970. Today, he works for Jones Day, a large law firm in Washington, D.C. The

Al and Nancy Guenthner celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

family added a new member when David arrived in 1972.

David’s career has taken him to Charlotte, N.C. where he works for Microsoft.

Sadly, Nancy passed away last year.

“We were married for 53 years until she passed away in January 2019,” Al says.

After graduating from Concord, Al began working on a doctorate. “Concord gave me the opportunity to grow,” he said, noting his alma mater’s “nurturing environment.”

“I was literally a straight C student my freshman year,” he recalls. “My grades improved each year and with the GRE results, I received a teaching fellowship at the University of Georgia where I studied for a Ph.D. in economics.”

“While teaching one class each semester at UGA, I took two classes. This went on for five years (1966-1971) at which time I took the Ph.D. written and verbal exam.

I passed both. The written exam consisted of five areas, and I was given a High Pass in

three of the five sections,” he says.

Thanks to an Academic Exchange Program, Al and Nancy then spent a year in Germany while he conducted research at the University of Bonn for a Ph.D. dissertation focused on post -WWI hyperinflation.

“That topic proved too unwieldy for me and I did not complete the dissertation,” he says. “I like to think that the investment results produced while working for Novant might, in a certain way, be considered my dissertation completion.”

Although he came back to the United States without completing his dissertation, Guenthner did have an interesting career opportunity come his way. “I was offered a job as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency upon my return from Germany. I have always considered that an honor,” he says.

Turning down the CIA offer, Guenthner joined the Wachovia Bank Trust Department in the fall of 1972 as its economist. Noting some of the highlights on his career timeline, he explains that he began working on fixed income markets to find absolute and relative value in 1978 and in 1982 he began working on equity stock selection to find absolute and relative value.

A promotion in the mid-1980s saw him appointed Research Director for the Trust Department. In 1985 he and his associates developed a Private Market Value Model which proved to be very successful in stock selection during the 1980s.

Guenthner explains that in 1989 the Private Market Value Model “evolved” to a Public Market Value Model, making it “more useful as an analytical framework for stock selection.”

He took on another responsibility

Al Guenthner Explains His Stock Selection Algorithm “The key to my investment success, I believe, has been to apply a disciplined valuation model to individual stock selection.

Using consensus information, the process consists of estimating normal earnings per share for each firm and applying an appropriate multiple, or capitalization rate.

The appropriate multiple consists of using: normal interest rates, company specific risk measure, normalized dividend payout ratio, expected growth of earnings over the next five years as well as normal tax rate. Using this process resulted in portfolio returns that were acceptable, but not exceptional, until I introduced an innovation seven years ago. This change in the algorithm reflects a specific additional ‘hidden’ value not taken into account by the earlier items mentioned.

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That hidden value may be contained in companies with excess capital on their balance sheet.

The well known investor, Warren Buffett, of whom I have been an admirer and constant attendee at his annual meeting for more than three decades, has always advised investors to buy superior businesses.

There are a variety of reasons for this suggestion, but the question is, how does one know whether a business is superior and if it is, how does one arrive at a valuation adequately reflecting that superiority?

During the mid-1980s, I was the Research Director for the Wachovia Trust Department. At that time, my associates and I constructed a Private Market Value Model, which was quite successful in selecting stocks during much of the 1980s. The key to that model was

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AL GUENTHNER

when he became sector analyst for the Trust Department in 1999.

However, the next year, Guenthner’s run with the financial institution would take a downward turn.

After nearly 30 years with Wachovia, Guenthner was among 10 percent of the company’s employees who were terminated in 2000 during what he explains as “a change in management and a change in direction of the Trust Department.”

The situation would, however, turn into an opportunity for him. ”Within a year several of the senior people working in the Trust Department also left and we formed a new company, Tanglewood Asset Management,” he says. “We managed mainly bonds and I was asked to start an equity product.

“Our group, Tanglewood, was purchased by Novant Health, Inc. to manage and monitor financial assets owned by Novant’s Foundation. I was asked to manage a small portion as an equity portfolio using techniques I developed while Research Director at Wachovia,” he says.

Novant Asset Management was formed in 2007 and Guenthner has managed the Novant Opportunistic Equity Fund since 2008.

“The portfolio I manage is fairly concentrated in that it holds

about 25 individual securities. This is considerably fewer than held by most managers and is practiced by those who believe they know something about how to value companies,” Guenthner explains.

“Over the past 10 years, the portfolio, despite fewer stock holdings than most, has had better returns than the market with lower risk as measured by a host of standard measures. One is not supposed to be able to accomplish this, and it is certainly better than I expected.”

“A fellow I used to work for used to say, in jest, I think, to ‘Pitch low and behind them, but don’t put them on first’. Exceeding the market’s return for many years while having less risk is comparable to achieving the goal of ‘Pitch low and behind them, but don’t put them on first’. So, it apparently was possible,” he says.

“Can I repeat the accomplishment?” he wonders. “I am trying.

Check back with me in 10 years.

DISCLAIMER “I have been working ½ time for the past 12 years with little outside assistance with the exception of a wonderful colleague, Stan King, with whom I worked for many years at Wachovia. Finally, I need to mention my reliance on one Wall Street firm, Sanford Bernstein.”

Al Guenthner

Al Guenthner and his family

to estimate the borrowing capacity of a firm and contrast that value to the stock valuation in the market at the time. The point of this bit of history is that it showed me the importance of considering borrowing capacity and its importance in valuing a company.

As it turns out, superior companies, companies not subject to excessive competition, often produce earnings in excess of their capacity to reinvest the funds in their business.

The last observation of note is that the substitution of debt for equity increases the value of the firm up to some point. I believe that point is equivalent to the debt level carried by firms rated as Single A. Raising debt levels above that level is thought to increase risk to the firm that outweighs any benefit.

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The nature of the benefit is the recognition that equity capital generally is much more expensive than debt capital.

To summarize, it has been quite useful to capture the ‘hidden’ value of very good businesses by optimizing the balance sheet. It allowed me to reflect in my algorithm the proper P/E ratio a firm should command in the market. Buying very good businesses in a disciplined manner was made possible by capturing the value imbedded in the balance sheet of superior businesses. Over time, the market is likely to adopt a similar process and I will need to discover another way to differentiate myself in the future.”

Al Guenthner

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JOHN WIMMER ’87 56

Technology and Hospitality Combine for Successful Career

J

ohn Wimmer says the academic instruction and guidance he received at Concord have served him well. He credits his Concord education with preparing him to succeed in graduate school and in his professional life.

Concord, he says, equipped him with technical skills and a “foundation” for further study and to begin his career.

Graduating cum laude from Concord in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, Wimmer went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Information and Telecommunications for Business from Johns Hopkins University. He graduated with an impressive 3.999 GPA. As a senior IT executive with more than 25 years of experience, Wimmer has built a successful career serving the health care and hospitality industries in all facets of information technology from programming and applications development to infrastructure and telecommunications. He has worked for small, mid-sized and Fortune 500 companies. Now, this recently retired chief information officer shares his expertise in the field by teaching on the university level.

A native of Princeton, W.Va., Wimmer was a commuter at Concord. Even as a college stu-

dent, his trademark drive to achieve and dedication to personal development were in evidence as they guided his selection of a field of study.

“When I first came out of high school, computer science was a brand new field,” he explains.

He said he saw this major as “a doorway to get into the business world and be successful.”

John considers his interactions with favorite professors his best recollections from his time at Concord.

“My best memories of my days at Concord focus mostly on the great relationship I had with some of my professors. They were not only great teachers but great mentors who helped me determine a great direction for my career and motivated me to achieve what was necessary to accomplish those goals,” he says. “Without their help and guidance, I would not have been successful obtaining my master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University or as successful as a business executive throughout my career.

“In particular, I have fond memories of several professors including Dr. Dan Krider, Mr. Larry Griffith and Mr. Ray Durrand.”

Along with graduating as an honor student, John was also named to the Computer Science Programming Team which represented Concord for a competition at Purdue University. »

"They were not only great teachers but great mentors..."

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The family gathers for son Kyle's wedding. His twin brother Cliff served as the best man.

Early in his career, John worked for Centra Health, Inc., in Lynchburg, Va., as a Programmer Analyst and a Project Leader in Financial Systems. After more than a decade with Centra Health, he made the transition to hospitality serving as Director of Information Systems at The Homestead Resort located in Hot Springs, Va. He found his niche in the field and continued to successfully advance in this industry.

Making a move to Columbia, Md., Wimmer worked for Micros Systems holding such important leadership positions as Director of Resort Technology and CIO and Director of Information Systems. In the area of business development with Micros Systems, he led the sales effort and implementation of a point of sale solution for several major clients including The Greenbrier.

Also on Wimmer’s resume is the time he spent as Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Systems for Kiawah Island Resorts. He went on to join

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Xanterra Parks and Resorts as Chief Information Officer.

Xanterra, based in Greenwood Village, Col., is the largest national and state park concessioner in the United States.

He spent more than a dozen years with the company.

When discussing the highlights of his career, he turns the spotlight on how he has advanced his companies.

“While I’m extremely proud of my career accomplishments, two particular accomplishments come to mind as being the most impacting to my organizations.

First, I was a member of the team who designed and implemented all the technology at The Sanctuary at Kiawah which is a Five-Star Hotel, part of the Kiawah Island Resort in Charleston, S.C.,” he said.

“The primary reason I left The Homestead Resort and went to Kiawah was the opportunity to design a technology environment from ‘the ground up’ and Kiawah was starting the process of building this new hotel as an addition to the resort,” he explains. “Overall, our SPRING 2020 CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE

JOHN WIMMER

technology solutions were successful and the hotel was well received and has obtained its Five Star status.

“Secondly, I’m extremely proud of the growth I was a part of at Xanterra Parks & Resorts,” he says. “When I started at Xanterra, we were simply a parks concessionaire managing National and State Parks for the National Park Service and state park agencies.

“During my tenure at Xanterra, we saw tremendous growth and I was honored to be a part of the executive team which oversaw that growth including the purchase of several independent hotels, the addition of multiple tour operating entities and the acquisition and integration of Windstar Cruises into the Xanterra portfolio of properties,” he says.

Wimmer considers being surrounded by the beauty of national parks a special perk of working in hospitality.

“Working as a CIO in the hospitality industry had tremendous benefits. First of all, I had the pleasure of visiting and working at some beautiful locations as well as playing a part in helping people have once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” he says.

His affiliation with Xanterra also offered the opportunity to contribute to the safekeeping of some of America’s most precious destinations.

“In addition to the incredible environments, I also had the unique experience of working with a hospitality company in Xanterra which was a steward of many of our National Parks such as The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Glacier and others,” he says, “While a small part, I’m extremely proud of playing a role in the stewardship of some of the country’s greatest treasures and will remember those experiences for the rest of my life.”

While he was working for Xanterra, Wimmer widened his career path to include higher education.

For several years, he served on the advisory board for the Business Information & Analytics program at the University of Denver. When he was offered an adjunct teaching position at the university, he accepted, viewing it as a way to improve his public speaking skills. He thought that if he would “teach a class, it would help professionally” by building his confidence. Not only did he conquer his nervousness about speaking to an audience, he thrived in the classroom environment, staying on to teach for the Daniels Business School MBA program for several years. His courses included Information Technology Strategy and Business Analytics.

This rewarding side gig in education has transitioned into what he calls his “retirement job” as an instructor at Elon University in North Carolina where he currently teaches classes in Management Information Systems. Now in the position of being a mentor, Wimmer enjoys sharing his experience and guidance with the students in his classes, just as his college professors did with him.

“After my successful career, it was important for CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

John and his wife Pam attend the NCAA Basketball Tournament games held in Denver.

me and my wife Pam to move back east to be nearer our families in West Virginia. I could have fully retired or looked for another opportunity in technology, but I found that teaching at the university level gave me the opportunity to ‘give back’ and help mentor the next generation of leaders who will be supporting technology for their companies,” he said. “I felt my colleges in both Concord and Johns Hopkins helped me grow so that I could be successful and I wanted an opportunity to help the next generation grow and improve so they could be successful as well.”

Relocating from Denver in 2019, John and Pam now live in Burlington, N.C. “Pam recently retired after spending 30 years with the federal government,” he said. “I have a son named Brent who lives in Denver, Col. and twin sons, Cliff and Kyle, who both reside in Richmond, Va. A majority of my family still resides in Princeton, W.Va., and my wife’s family resides in Bruceton Mills, W.Va. near Morgantown.”

John’s favorite pastimes – as both a spectator and a participant – revolve around sports.

“I’m a huge college basketball fan who has been a lifelong season ticket holder at several universities near my homes – schools such as Liberty, Charleston Southern, University of Maryland Baltimore County, The University of Denver and now Elon University – and I’m an avid, yet not very good, golfer,” he says.

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NEFF, STEHLIN VOTED TO COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM enior infielder Nathan Neff and junior infielder Anthony Stehlin of the Concord University baseball team have been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team.

Normally, the CoSIDA Academic AllDistrict Teams recognize what studentathletes accomplish on the field for a particular season; however, this year the players’ overall career is highlighted.

Neff never missed a game in his Concord career as he started 160 straight games. A career .332 hitter, the Fredericksburg, VA native collected 166 hits over his 500 career at-bats. He tallied 64 RBI, 12 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Additionally, Neff sported an on-base percentage of .463 in his career as his 95 career walks rank fifth in program history. The CU infielder was a two-time AllMountain East Conference selection – once

to the second team and once to the honorable mention squad.

Neff earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with emphases in accounting and finance. He was a Summa Cum Laude graduate after finishing his college education with a GPA of 3.97.

Stehlin owns a career .339 batting average in 77 career games in the Maroon and Gray. He has 21 total extra-base hits and 38 career RBI in his first three seasons.

A two-way player for the Mountain Lions, Stehlin has also won five games on the mound and collected four saves which ranks top 10 in program history. At the end of the 2019 season, Stehlin was named All-MEC First Team and was also named to two allregion squads – National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association First Team and D2CCA Second Team. Stehlin owns a 3.75 GPA in the classroom as a business administration major with an emphasis in accounting.

ANTHONY STEHLIN JUNIOR INFIELDER

NATHAN NEFF SENIOR INFIELDER

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ATHLETICS

FITZWATER NAMED NCAA DIVISION II STATISTICAL CHAMPION IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

F

or a third consecutive year, junior forward Riley Fitzwater of the Concord University women’s basketball team has been named a NCAA Division II Statistical Champion.

Fitzwater led Division II in field-goal percentage during the 2019-20 season as she shot 67.4 percent (211-for-313) from the floor. Fitzwater earned the same award after the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. As a sophomore, Fitzwater paced Division II in blocks per game.

The Glenville, W.Va. native helped the Mountain Lions to a second-straight 20-win season as they finished 21-9. Along the way, Fitzwater shot at least 70 percent from the field in 13 games, including finishing the season shooting 89.4 percent (17-of-19) from the floor in two games at the Mountain East Confer-

ence Tournament. Additionally, Fitzwater broke the MEC Tournament record for field-goal percentage with her performances against Urbana and Glenville State.

Entering her senior season, Fitzwater’s career field-goal percentage sits at 67.9 which is 0.3 percentage points ahead of Deidre Williams (Valdosta State / 1993-96) who currently has the alltime Division II record.

In addition to her prowess of making shots, Fitzwater also led Division II in total blocks with 126 this season – though the NCAA only recognizes blocks per game which Fitzwater finished second in with 4.2 per game.

Two plaques will be awarded, one to Fitzwater and one to Concord women’s basketball, for her achievement this season.

2020 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DATE SEP 12 (SAT) SEP 19 (SAT) SEP 26 (SAT) OCT 3 (SAT) OCT 10 (SAT) OCT 15 (THU) OCT 24 (SAT) OCT 31 (SAT) NOV 14 (SAT)

TIME TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

AT HOME AWAY AWAY HOME AWAY HOME AWAY HOME AWAY

OPPONENT GLENVILLE STATE WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN FROSTBURG STATE FAIRMONT STATE WEST LIBERTY CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA STATE WHEELING UNC-PEMBROKE

LOCATION ATHENS, W.VA. (CALLAGHAN STADIUM) BUCKHANNON, W.VA. (CALLAGHAN STADIUM) FROSTBURG, MD. ATHENS, W.VA. (CALLAGHAN STADIUM) WEST LIBERTY, W.VA. ATHENS, W.VA. (CALLAGHAN STADIUM) INSTITUTE, W.VA. ATHENS, W.VA. (CALLAGHAN STADIUM) PEMBROKE, N.C.

* BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND POLICIES SURROUNDING IT, THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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ATHLETICS

ATHLETES HONORED BY MEC FOR ACADEMIC WORK The Concord University Athletic Department placed 56 student-athletes on the Mountain East Conference’s Academic All-Conference List or the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

During the fall semester, 64 student-athletes were lauded for their academic work from CU. For the year, Concord had 120 student-athletes honored by the MEC. By comparison, 53 student-athletes earned academic accolades from the MEC in the spring of 2019.

Below is a breakdown of each sport’s athletes for those programs that were in a championship segment during the spring semester. To receive Academic All-Conference, a studentathlete must have had at least a 3.7 GPA for the fall semester.

To be on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll, a GPA between 3.253.69 was required.

BASEBALL Academic All-Conference: Caleb Hare, Joanthony Hernandez, Adam Linkous, Logan Morrison, Nathan Neff, Andrew Neff, Keith Reed Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Brandon Bayne, Caleb Dangerfield, Chance Davis, Michael Dupont, Juan Fortique, Ryan Fralin, Richard Ortiz, Jon Osteen, Fernando Rodriguez, Zach Saryeldin, Anthony Stehlin MEN’S BASKETBALL Academic All-Conference: Brandon Kennedy Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Jake Hamilton, David Bea Mulumba

MEN’S TENNIS Academic All-Conference: Adam Tolliver Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Derek Farley MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD Academic All-Conference: Cedric Drennen, Ryan Muse, Jason Weitzel Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Daniel Baldwin, Micah Bates, Cooper Brady, Riley Griffith, Nate Leichner, Isaac Prather, Brett Strickland SOFTBALL Academic All-Conference: Darby Fitzpatrick, Laura Thompson, Jenna Witt Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Skylar Jenkins, Jolie Privett, Sarah Thompson WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Academic All-Conference: Emilee Beggs, Hannah Loy Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Jazz Blankenship, Savannah Dunford, Riley Fitzwater, Ashton Funderburg, Madison May, Gracie Robinson, Morgan Thomas WOMEN’S TENNIS Academic All-Conference: Monica Hutchins, Alison King Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Emily Hendricks, Carri Zeigler WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD Academic All-Conference: Aidan Payton Commissioner’s Honor Roll: Jackie Endy, Briana Parsons, Kiersten Shrader

HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS KEEP MOUNTAIN LIONS CONNECTED Since sports activities stopped at the NCAA Division II level on March 13, the CU Sports Information Department has gotten creative in producing content for fans, athletes, students and alumni to view during the global pandemic of Covid-19.

The Mountain Lions did end the athletic year on a high note as the CU baseball team defeated Pitt-Johnstown in 11 innings, 7-6, in a game that took nearly four hours to play on March 12.

Unfortunately, student-athletes had their seasons and, in some cases, careers cut short due to the pandemic and subsequent cancellation of spring sports.

However, throughout the spring the Concord Sports Information Department has highlighted the careers of those seniors with the newly created Concord Athletics Senior Spotlight, which is a podcast-style interview that allows the athlete to describe their recruitment to Concord and their career in the Maroon and Gray.

The link for these spotlight interviews can be found here: https://cumountainlions.com/sports/2020/4/7/senior-spotlights.aspx Some other content that the Athletic Department and Sports Information Department have rolled out since the middle of March is reliving the top 16 most-viewed Concord wins of the 2019-20 school year. The countdown featured seven different sports, and was made possible through BlueFrame Technology, a live streaming video

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service courtesy of the Mountain East Conference. Eight of the 16 games were viewed over 700 times. This allowed people to watch games at a time when sports are at a standstill. The countdown ran from March 23 to April 13 and can be viewed again here: https:// cumountainlions.com/news/2020/4/13/most-viewed-games-of2019-20-no-1-womens-soccer-wins-mec-semifinal-againstnotre-dame.aspx On April 6, National-Student Athlete Day was celebrated. This allowed Concord to showcase student-athletes with photos on social media of the great triumphs throughout the school year. Additionally, student-athletes sent in submissions on “What’s the Best Thing About Being a Mountain Lion.” Those submissions can be found here: https://cumountainlions.com/ news/2020/4/8/football-student-athlete-submissionsbest-thing-about-being-amountain-lion.aspx All teams continue to sign high school student-athletes and transfers from other colleges as Concord looks forward to the 2020-21 academic and sports year for the Mountain Lions.

During the summer, the Concord Athletic Department will release its 2020 Hall of Fame Class. And throughout the summer, an all-decade team will be released for sports programs at CU, as sports looks back on some of the best to don the Maroon and Gray between 2010-19.

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ATHLETICS

3 MEN’S GOLFERS SELECTED TO ALL-MEC FIRST TEAM HOWARD NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

The Concord University men’s golf team landed three players on the All-Mountain East Conference First Team while head coach Trent Howard was named the MEC Coach of the Year by the league.

Sophomore Noah Clark, junior Brett Laxton and freshman Carson Proffitt were selected to the first team as a result of their top-five finishes at the MEC Championship at Glade Springs Resort in Daniels, WV in October.

The MEC’s all-conference teams are typically the scoring average from select events in both the fall and spring. Due to the cancellation of spring events, the all-conference teams were selected based on the finish at the conference championship event in October at Glade Springs Resort.

Clark led the way for the Mountain Lions at the MEC Championship as he finished second by carding a pair of rounds of 75 with a 71 sandwiched between. In 10 rounds of play during the fall campaign, the Pearisburg, VA native averaged an 18-hole score of 74.4 that included two rounds of 71 and another of 72. A year after being voted to the All-MEC Second Team, Clark moved up to the first team for the first time in his career with this recent honor.

This year marks the second time in Laxton’s career he was named All-MEC First Team after earning the same honor as a freshman in 2018. Laxton finished a stroke behind Clark at the MEC Tournament as he tied for third with a three-day score of 222. After consecutive 76s during the first two rounds, the Pineville, WV native carded the lowest round of the tournament with a 70 on the final day. Overall, Laxton averaged 74.6 during the fall schedule that included four rounds of 72 or better.

Proffitt is the third member of the All-MEC First Team for CU as he tied for fifth at the MEC Championship after rounds of 77, 75 and 74. The Camp Creek, WV native tied for the second lowest score of any freshman at the MEC Championship with his 226. Over 10 rounds during the season, Proffitt averaged 76.4 with four rounds of 75 or lower, including a 67 during the first round of the Wally Edgell D2 Classic in September.

This accolade marks the first time CU has had three first-team all-conference golfers in the same year since 2011.

The trio was mentored by Howard who helped guide the Mountain Lions to their third MEC Championship in his first season in charge of the program. Overall, Howard, the First Team All-MEC players, freshman Bauer Galloway and freshman Michael Growe Jr. were responsible for CU’s first MEC men’s golf championship since 2014. Concord also finished top five in four of its five fall tournaments behind Howard’s leadership.

Before the season was cancelled in mid-March, Concord had locked up a second straight NCAA Regional appearance – slated for early May – and was ranked seventh in the region.

NOAH CLARK SOPHOMORE

TRENT HOWARD COACH

CARSON PROFFITT FRESHMAN

BRETT LAXTON JUNIOR

This section was compiled by Sports Information Director Wes McKinney ’13.

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Class Notes XXXXXXXXXXX

ACHIEVEMENTS 1970s ____________

1980s ____________

PEGGY ALLEN ’72 topped off a 40-year coaching career by leading her Eastern View High School Cyclones field hockey team to a state championship. The 2019 crown was the first for the program at the Culpepper, Va. school. Allen was also named the Virginia High School League Class 4 State Field Hockey Coach of the Year.

She has been head coach at Eastern View since it opened its doors in 2008.

She previously coached at Culpepper High School. Allen, who has earned 350 career wins, was honored with her team at a ring ceremony in February.

An announcement of Allen’s decision to retire was made at the event. Through the years, she has gained the respect and admiration of players and colleagues for her leadership and dedication as a mentor.

CAROL HOWERTON ’85 has joined Marshall University’s Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) as senior strategic adviser for workforce development.

Her background in higher education includes serving as associate vice president for academic affairs at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. Additionally, she served as chair of the college’s Division of Applied and Industrial Technology.

Howerton earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Concord. She received a master’s degree in management information studies from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies.

REGGIE PIERCY ’85 has come on board with the Chattanooga office of Sandler Training as vice president.

With a career in hospitality spanning more than 35 years, he has experience in areas such as operations, sales and training and development. He is a recipient of the JW Marriott Award of Excellence. Piercy is also a certified facilitator in Myers Briggs Type Indicator and by the Franklin Covey organization on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

PENI ADAMS ’86 is now a business advisor by the West Virginia Hive Network. During her career, she has worked as a certified public accountant and for the McDowell County Economic Development Authority, the Wastewater Treatment Coalition of McDowell County and the State of West Virginia. Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Concord.

1990s ____________ RON MARTIN ’92, a co-owner of Grants Supermarket in Bluewell, WV, saw his store receive an impres-

Athletic Trainer Leslie Mack ’16 Honored for Safety LESLIE MACK ’16 and Notre Dame High School were awarded 1st Team Safe Sport School status by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). Mack, a graduate of Concord’s Athletic Training program, is an athletic trainer at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

The NATA awards this honor to ATCs and schools who meet several requirements that are all based on appropriate medical care being provided in a high school athletics department. Requirements include things such as providing or coordinating pre-participation physicals, promoting safe and appropriate practice and competition

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facilities, proper fitting and maintenance of athletic equipment, providing a permanent and equipped area for evaluating and treating injured athletes, having injury prevention strategies in place, having and rehearsing emergency action plans, providing or facilitating medical and health consultations and providing education on risk and benefits of sports participation.

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Class Notes XXXXXXXXXXX

sive honor in January. The business was named one of five 2020 Hometown Proud Retailers in the nation

by IGA (Independent Grocers of America) USA. Having been selected from nearly 1,200 other stores across the U.S., the community supermarket was then in the contest for IGA USA’s International Retailer of the Year. Martin, who runs the store, earned a law degree after graduating from Concord. He and his business partners operate 16 grocery stores in three in states.

2000s ____________ LONNIE BAILEY ’01 has an interesting link to space. As a member of the Planetary Society, his name, on a mini-DVD, was included on the LightSail 2 spacecraft. The spacecraft launched on June 25, 2019. LightSail 2 is the first solar controlled flight by light in Earth orbit. Bailey is also a partner of the education and outreach for Mastcam-Z on NASA’s Mars 2020 rover.

DR. A. HEATH BELCHER ’02 has been appointed assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Lincoln County Schools in North Carolina. He previously served the school system as chief of human resources and as a principal and assistant principal. Belcher has also taught science, math and social studies on the middle school level. He was honored as Lincoln County Schools Teacher of the Year in 2006 and Principal of the Year in 2012 and 2014.

LARRY MARRS ’03 has been honored by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association and the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters. Larry won Best Feature News Report - Serious from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association and Best Sports Feature from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters for a story about the Wyoming East Warriors dedicating their football season to their childhood

friend Kaimyn Anderson. Kaimyn would have been a senior in 2020 but died in 2013 while watching a game at Wyoming East. Larry was also honored by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters for Best Feature Photography for his work on a story about an Air Force veteran teaching kids about leadership and how he leads his community by example.

AARON HYMES ’07 has been selected by Milligan College to lead the new addictions counseling concentration that is part of the school’s Master of Science in Counseling (MSC) program.

With experience in higher education at East Tennessee State University and Lindsey Wilson College, Hymes is also a licensed professional counselor and mental health service provider.

Additionally, he holds certification as a master addictions counselor. Hymes earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Concord; a master’s degree from Lindsey Wilson College; and his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

BRYAN HENDERSON ’08 is a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

Prior to this, he was a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the DeKalb County (Georgia) District Attorney’s Office. He also served DeKalb County as Senior Assistant Public Defender.

Henderson earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, History, and Philosophy from Concord and was valedictorian of his class. He received his law degree from Emory University School of Law. RUSTY UDY ’08 is the recipient of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) “Investigator of the Year” award. The honor is presented to an employee in the Investigations and Fraud Management division. Along with working full-time for the DHHR, Udy also works a fulltime job with The Register-Herald as a sportswriter. Udy earned a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree from Concord, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

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2010s ____________ COLE CLOONAN ’15, ’17 was named the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference-East Region Sports Information Director of the Year.

Recipients of this honor are selected by the Collegiate Water Polo Association Director of Communications. Cloonan is part of the Bucknell University Athletics Communications Staff. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and a master’s degree in Health Promotion from Concord. A member of the Mountain Lions soccer team, Cloonan also worked as a graduate assistant in sports information.

GRETCHEN REESE ’16 recently completed her two year Peace Corps service in Uganda. “She represented her country and the University in the highest regard serving in the Agribusiness program in a small community in Uganda,” states James T. Ham, Country Director for Peace Corps in Uganda.

Ham goes on to thank Concord “for preparing some of our brightest and best volunteers to serve in the Peace Corps.” Reese received a bachelor’s degree in business at Concord.

Anniversary ____________ DEAN KELLEY ’94 and Dana Schoonover Kelley celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Dec. 30, 2019. Dana studied Elementary Education at Concord from 1992 to 1994. After leaving Concord, Dana received her teaching degree from Radford University and is currently a kindergarten teacher at Glenvar Elementary School in Salem, Va. Dean is using his Computer Information Systems degree as a Director of Technology with Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA. They reside in Salem, VA with their two children, Ian (15) and Rayah (12).

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Tung Vu ’13 Welcomes Official Guest at his Restaurant Teddy’s Tung Vu was a Vietnamese student who worked in the Fitness Center as a Student Manager, under the direction of Intramural and Campus Recreation Director Chris Smallwood, over the course of his college career at Concord. Tung graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management in May of 2013. After graduation, he went back home to Hanoi with a passion for restaurant management and hospitality that he had developed through the course of his studies and experiences while attending Concord. With a dream to bring the vibrant flavor of American Grill to Hanoi, Tung opened a restaurant named Teddy’s American Grill House located in the heart of the city. Teddy’s quickly became a wonderful and preferred gathering place for family and friends.

According to Tung, “At Teddy’s, you can enjoy American comfort food with different cuts of steak, incredible homemade burgers and signature side dishes served with Hanoian hospitality in an elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere. To enhance the experience, Teddy’s offers a selection of wines, a rotating list of craft beers, and a list of fun cocktails created by highly trained bartenders. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the ingredients, unique presentations and sophisticated flavor.”

On November 19, 2019, Teddy’s was visited by newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper who made his first visit to Vietnam to highlight the importance of the U.S.-Vietnam defense partnership. Secretary Esper spoke to over 200 students, academics, and government officials at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam emphasizing the importance of the U.S. – Vietnam bilateral partnership and how this partnership contributes to peace and stability in the Indio-Pacific region. Secretary Esper visited Teddy’s during this trip where he enjoyed American Grill served by Tung and his amazing hospitality team.

“It was a real surprise, and a little bit stressful, but a true honor to have Secretary Esper and his entourage visit Teddy’s,” Tung said.

Tung, a proud Mountain Lion who keeps in touch with Chris Smallwood on a regular basis via social media outlets, said that “Teddy’s welcomes all Mountain Lions who get the chance to visit Hanoi and promises that all of his American friends will feel right at home at Teddy’s.”

OBITUARIES 1940s ____________ GERTRUDE “GERTIE” CRUTE SNIDOW ’47: February 22, 2020. Nancy Gertrude Crute Snidow was born on June 28, 1926 in Scottsburg, Halifax County, Virginia and moved with her family to

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the coal fields of southern West Virginia when she was one year old. When she was fourteen years of age, Gertie’s family moved to Princeton, WV where she resided for all of her adult life until moving to Knoxville, TN in 2015. Gertie was a 1944 graduate of Princeton High School and earned a B.S. degree in Education from Concord. While in college, Gertie met and married the one true love of her life, James Edward “Jim” Snidow, in 1947 and they enjoyed an exceptionally long and loving marriage until Jim’s death in 2009. Gertie taught school for two years before taking on the full-time job of raising her family. Gertie loved the Lord and was an active and lifelong member of the First Baptist Church where she served in numerous roles including Sunday school teacher for 45 years, wom-

en’s circle member, and Vacation Bible School leader. Over the years, Gertie also enjoyed many civic and social activities including garden clubs, bridge clubs, dance clubs, and local style shows. She was a devoted wife; wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; exceptional role-model; and an excellent cook and homemaker. She loved to be active - walking, swimming, water skiing, and playing tennis and golf. And she delighted in fashion - especially “wacky” hats (according to her children). Gertie had a great sense of humor and was a true extrovert; she loved being with people and she truly loved her family and friends. Gertie was predeceased by her parents, Herbert Joseph and Susie Ora Dance Crute, and her brothers, William T. “Bill” Crute and Herbert D.

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“Don” Crute. She is survived by her three children and their families, James Bradford “Brad” and Linda Graham Snidow of Simpsonville, SC; Jack and Nancy Snidow Magiera of Cary, NC and their daughter and her family, Nathan and Ashley Magiera Bridges and their children Austin James and Knox Michael of Mount Pleasant, SC; Dr. John and MaryAnn Murray Snidow and their daughter, Carly Elizabeth, of Knoxville, TN and their son and his family, John James and Rachel Snidow and their daughter, Susanna Grace, of Arlington, VA. Gertrude is also survived by her sister-in-law Jeanette Snidow Green of Richmond, VA and her children and their families, Bill Green of Charlotte, NC; Randy and Holly Green Johnson of Stafford, VA and their children; Art and Hope Green Dornik of Richmond, and their children. Surviving nieces and nephews include Dr. Conley Trigg and Jordan Snidow of Richmond, and their children; Anne Snidow Stewart and her wife Diane Delrosso of Santa Fe, NM; Tom and Carolyn Snidow Leonard of Wilmington, NC and their children; Paul and Libby Snidow Gross of Atlanta, GA and their children; Dr. Robert and Sheila Snidow of Princeton and their children; Bill and Donna Crute of Maurertown, VA and their children; David and Gina Bates of Houston, Texas; (the late) Barbara Crute Molitoris’ and son Taylor of Alpharetta, GA; and Paul Crute of Plano, Texas and his children. Extended family members, who adopted, loved and truly cared for Gertrude as if she were their own mother, include Dennis and Maureen Murray Adams of Loudon, TN and their son and his family, and Bill and Marsha Murray Whitehouse of Loudon, and their daughter and her family.

SARAH KATHRYN WHITE YOUNG ’49: January 18, 2020. Born May 23, 1928 in Princeton, she was the daughter of the late Nathan English White Sr. and Ruth Damewood White. Sarah was a graduate of Princeton High School and received her teaching

degree from Concord College. She taught in the Mercer County School System retiring after more than 30 years of service. Sarah was a faithful member of First Christian Church on Straley Avenue in Princeton where she sang in the choir and volunteered in numerous ways throughout the church. She was a resident of Bluefield. While her health permitted, she along with her late husband loved to travel, having visited 49 out of the 50 states as well as taking trips to Canada and Mexico. Sarah enjoyed sewing, cooking, and playing golf. She made several wedding dresses and was known for her yeast rolls. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister and Christian. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Gale Young. Those left to cherish her memory are her loving daughter and her husband, Kathryn and Jack Montgomery of Alpharetta, GA; two siblings, N.E. White, Jr. and wife Lucille, and Betty Lambert along with several nieces and nephews.

1950s ____________ LOUIS BOUGIE’50: November 5, 2019. Louis was born in the Bronx, NY, on June 7, 1926.

He was the son of Joseph and Gertrude (St. Pierre) Bougie. Louis was predeceased by his brother Raymond.

Louis lost his loving wife Margaret in 2009 after 59 years of marriage. He was predeceased by his son James Bougie. He is survived by his daughter Jane Martini of Leland, NC; his daughter-in-law Alicia Bougie of Manchester, CT; his son Stephen Bougie of Seabrook, NH; and his daughter Suzanne and son-inlaw Dana Kurylo of Winchendon, MA. He was proudly called “Pops” by his four grandchildren; Justin Wagner and his wife Annmarie, Jeffrey Martini, Lindsay Martini and her fiancé Blair Windham, and Lane Kurylo-Hammond and her husband Rick. His four great-grandsons are Joshua, Andrew, Evan, and Caleb

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Wagner. He considered his AFS student from 1969 to 1970 Hector Arias Camargo a son as well. Louis served in the US Army from August 1944 to June of 1946. He used the GI bill to receive his bachelor’s degree in education from Concord College. He met and married fellow student Margaret Brummett in February 1951. He continued his education to receive his master’s degree from Indiana University. He was employed by the US government in Washington DC and then went on to teach in Oxon Hill, MD from 19531959. He moved his family to Littleton, NH to work as a guidance counselor.

After a long career in education, Louis spent 27 years as a guidance counselor at Branford High School and had retired in 1992. He was a resident of Clinton, CT and was deeply involved in the creation of the Clinton Land Trust.

He was honored to serve as president for many years. He enjoyed volunteering at the Clinton Historical Society.

Louis had a great appreciation for the ospreys that would nest in the salt marsh behind his home.

WILLIAM MARION “BUSTER” BROWN ’50: April 14, 2020.

He was born July 14, 1927 in Mullins, WV, to Mable Pendleton Brown and Roy Leach Brown. He graduated from Princeton High School where he played football, basketball, and ran track. As an outstanding football player, he was recruited by many colleges, including the Naval Academy. He attended and played for Georgia Tech, West Virginia University, and Concord College where he was honored to make the “Little All-American” football team. Bus was inducted into Concord’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. He still holds several of Concord’s rushing records. He remained a loyal football fan of both WVU and Concord University throughout his life.

During his retirement years, Bus and his wife, Marguerite, attended most home WVU football games with his lifelong friend, Elmer Bay, and wife, Norma. After graduating from Concord College, Buster

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taught at Princeton High School, where he also was the assistant football coach and head basketball coach. In addition to taking several teams to the state tournament and number 1 state ranking, he coached Rod Thorn who went on to be an All-American at WVU, then played in the NBA and finally became a top executive in the NBA. Long after leaving the coaching profession, Buster was fondly called “coach” by many who knew him. Bus retired from coaching in 1961 to pursue a second career as a representative for Squibb Pharmaceuticals and later Schering Pharmaceuticals.

He won several regional and national sales awards, including being recognized as the company’s top sales rep in the United States. The principle focus of Buster’s life was his family. Over the years, there were many “gatherings” in Princeton, at the beach, or in the mountains when the ever-expanding family would meet for a week or special event.

After retirement, Marg and Bus purchased an “RV” and spent three months driving across and exploring the United States. He was an avid golfer, enjoying the sport with many friends at Fincastle Country Club and Elks Club in Princeton. He was a longstanding member of the First United Methodist Church where he served as an usher. Buster was known for his strength, toughness, and generosity. Often, he would hand out “tough love” to his children, students and players, but he was always there with a helping hand for anyone in need.

His strength was proven as he overcame two separate cancers in the last 30 years of his life. In addition to his parents and a sister, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite Hinty Brown, his high school sweetheart and love of his life. He is survived by his son William M. Brown, Jr. and his wife, Jamie, of Greensboro NC; three daughters, Susan Brown Lohin and husband, Donald, of Wellesley MA, Katherine “Kakie” Brown and partner, Linda Vance, of Jackson, MS, and Judy Brown Long and husband, David, of Greensboro, NC; eleven grandchildren, Alexandria “Allie” Brown, Peter Brown, Jonathan Lohin and wife, Missy, Michael Lohin and wife, Jessica, Amanda Lohin, Michael Magann, Christopher Magann and wife, Katherine, Melissa Magann, Brian Long and significant other, Franchesca Lamkin,

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Katherine Long Mrdjenovich and husband, Brad, and Elizabeth Long Boyer and husband, Mike; eight great-grandchildren, and one brother, David Lee Brown and his significant other, Elizabeth Hackney. In addition, he was blessed with many dear and wonderful friends, including his longtime caregiver Jan Pedigo and her daughter-in-law Stephanie Burchette and daughter Emily Pedigo.

PHYLLIS ELAYNE SHREWSBURY HURD ’50: November 25, 2019: Phyllis Hurd was predeceased by her parents, Riley Martin and Lois Rock Shrewsbury, and brother Paul Shrewsbury. In 1954, she married John Franklin Hurd, with whom she spent a loving 41 years until his death in 1995. Phyllis leaves behind a son, John Martin Hurd (Lauri) of Wake Forest, NC and a daughter, Ann Kathryn Hurd Pauley of Columbia, SC. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Ann Hurd Wilson ( Jim) of Richmond, VA; grandson John Hurd of Wake Forest; granddaughter Jennifer LaSovage ( Jacob) of Columbia, SC; great-grandson Brayden LaSovage of Columbia; nephews Riley Martin Shrewsbury of Roanoke, VA and James Wilson of Dallas, Texas; and a niece, Jane Wilson Hiser, of Richmond. Phyllis graduated from Welch High School, and then completed her undergraduate degree at Concord College. She taught school at Welch High School for 30 years. Phyllis was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Welch, Blacksburg Baptist Church and North Trenholm Baptist Church. She was a resident of Columbia, SC, and formerly lived in Welch and Blacksburg VA. She was a wonderful, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her loving presence will be missed by all who knew her.

DOROTHY “DOT” RAE GRIMM THOMAS ’50: April 19, 2020.

Dot was originally from Princeton and Athens where

she received her B.S. in Education from Concord College. She was the daughter of the late Tyler Ray Grimm and Dorothy Humphreys Grimm. She was a resident of Glen Allen, VA. Dot is survived by her husband of 66 years, Elmer Lee Thomas; and her only child, Steven Thomas (Cheryl); two grandchildren, Amanda Thomas Chelette (Trent) and Steven Trent Thomas; two great-grandchildren, Lee and Dillan Chelette; one sister, Nancy Grimm Dwight; special in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Calvin W. Grimm II. From 1961, Dot was a devoted member of Laurel Park United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and served on various committees.

She deeply cared about her church family and faith was central in her life. She enjoyed reading, especially science and history and her beloved Wonderful West Virginia magazine. Dot was known for always remembering others with special cards and notes, and now we will always remember her.

BONNIE ALIFF HOPKINS ’54: February 19, 2020. Born on July 11, 1932, in Keystone, WV, she was the daughter of the late Emory B. Aliff Sr. and Nell N. Aliff of Bluefield. She was a 1950 graduate of Beaver High School and a graduate of Concord College. She also received her master of music education degree from Marshall University.

A renowned first soprano, she began her career in music singing in the Bluefield High School acapella choir at the age of 12. While at Concord College, she had lead roles in many productions including Madame Butterfly, Pirates of Penzance and Impatience, among others. She was also an accomplished pianist and violinist.

Bonnie was employed by the Mercer County Board of Education for 37 years as a teacher of music and choir director.

She taught at Fairview Junior High for 30 years until its closing and then served for seven years at Bluefield Junior High before retiring in 1989. She also served as Director of Choral Music for the state of

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West Virginia for more than 20 years.

Known for her beautiful, yet powerful first soprano voice, Bonnie shared her talents singing in the Flat Top Chorus, Songs of Season and the Bland Street United Methodist Church Choir where she was a member for more than 80 years. It would not have been Christmas without Bonnie singing “Oh Holy Night,” at the church’s annual Christmas Eve service. She also regularly soloed for the Riley-Vest Post, American Legion and the Bluefield Lions Club. Bonnie was a resident of Bluefield, WV. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, A.A. Hopkins Jr., her twin brother Emory B. Aliff Jr. and her sister Nancy Aliff Webster. She is survived by her brother, David R. Aliff Sr. of Pomfret, MD, and her sons, Stephen L. Hopkins of Grantham, NH and Christopher D. Hopkins (Karen), of Auburn AL, her dear friend and caregiver, Gay Smith of Bluefield, as well as many nieces and nephews.

GYNETH ROLES TILLEY ’54: December 31, 2019. Born February 27, 1920 in Saulsville she was the daughter of the late Garner and Minnie Roles.

After graduating from Concord, Gyneth went on to teach, primarily at Pineville Elementary School, for the next 30 years. On September 25, 1937, she married Boyd Tilley of Key Rock and together they had six children, Leo, Theda (Bibby) Green, Corma Rein, Terry, Juda McKay and Samuel Charles who only lived four days.

She was proud of her nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren. In addition to being a wife, mother and teacher she loved her church, quilting, crocheting and was talented in too many other areas to mention. Formerly of Pineville, she was a resident of Pickens, SC. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Boyd, her daughter Theda, her son Terry, grandson Timmy Green, granddaughter Vickie Sneed, both parents, five brothers, and four sisters. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

MARY ELLEN SHIELDS ASHLEY ’55: April 14, 2020.

Born in Bluefield on March 15, 1932, Mary Ellen was the daughter of the late Arthur Monroe and Mary Hampton Boyer Shields of Ceres. Mary Ellen was a 1950 graduate of Beaver High School where she served as a majorette and on the Beaver cheerleading squad. She received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Concord College and a master’s degree from West Virginia University in 1957. On April 16, 1965 she married Carl E. Ashley of Bluefield, who passed away in 1978. Mary Ellen taught Physical Education and Driver’s Education at Bluefield High School and served for many years as scoreboard operator at Mitchell Stadium. She was a member of Bland Street United Methodist Church and lived in Bluefield until joining her sons in Northern Virginia in 2007. Mary Ellen loved sports and enjoyed attending Washington Nationals baseball games and watching WVU basketball. She is survived by children Carl E. Ashley Jr. and wife Melissa Bingmann of Washington DC; Boyer D. Ashley of Arlington VA; Kelly S. Ashley and wife Courtney Vest Ashley of Alexandria VA; granddaughters Harper (10) and Holland (7); brother David H. Shields and wife Barbara of Bluefield; and extended family Carla Ashley Perry, Shane Ashley, and David Ashley. Brother Arthur M. Shields and wife Lottie of Ceres Road, Bluefield, WV predeceased her.

JACKIE BIRD “JACK” OXLEY ’55: December 7, 2019. Born June 28, 1928 in Athens, he was the son of the late Charles and Naomi Oxley. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Eula C. Oxley; and one son, Joseph Charles Oxley. He was a graduate of Athens High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Education

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from Concord University. Jack served in the United States Army and retired from Mercer County Schools in 1975 having last taught at Athens and Oakvale schools. After retiring from teaching Jack went on to work for the Pepsi Cola Company in Braxton County, WV and retired in 1985. He was a former resident of Fayette and Greenbrier counties where he managed hotels with his wife.

Upon returning to the Princeton area, he had been employed with Lowe’s since 2000 where he enjoyed interacting with customers and fellow employees. Jack is survived by his daughters, Melissa Oxley Haye and husband Patrick of Princeton and Cynthia J. Crowe and husband Stephen of Princeton; one son, Joel Thomas Oxley and wife Kristen of Charleston; seven grandchildren, Laura Haye Presley and husband Chris, Sarah Haye Wiley and husband Dale, Daniel Haye and wife Sarah, Stephanie Crowe Handley and husband Kevin, Tyler Gray Crowe and wife Courtney, Jared Oxley, and Morgan Oxley; nine great-grandchildren, one sister, Ann Lou Oxley White of Athens; four brothers, Robert G. “Bob” Oxley of Arlington, VA, Charles Stuart Oxley of Hinton, WV, Frederick M. “Freddy” Oxley of Gardner, KS, and William M. “Bill” Oxley and wife Brenda of Princeton.

JOE EUGENE WHITE ’56: March 22, 2020. Born May 6, 1930 in Princeton he was the son of the late Hewitt Edward White and Bertha Damewood White. Joe was a graduate of Princeton High School and Concord University. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War and retired from the United States Postal service after 20 years of employment. He was a member of the Princeton Masonic Lodge 32nd Degree Master Mason, the Princeton Elks Lodge #1459, and Stinson United Methodist Church in Princeton. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Henrietta Sue White; and one brother, Earl White. He is survived by his son, Mark A. White and wife Dreama of Princeton;

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one daughter, Melissa Sue Glover and husband Tim of Princeton; five grandchildren, Tracy Hill and husband Aaron, Terri Radatz and husband Chad, Trena Stovall and husband Eric, Matthew Glover and wife Candice, and Jeffrey “J.D.” Glover; seven great-grandchildren, Abigail and Hanna Stovall, Kylie and Alexis Glover, and Ashleigh, Morgan, and Page Hill; and one sister, Janet Winfrey of Princeton.

ROSANNA REASER ’59: April 28, 2020.

She was born on October 8, 1937.

Rosanna was a graduate of the Class of 1955 of Princeton High School. After graduating high school, she attended Concord College where she received her B.S. degree in Education and then later completed her M.S. degree in English from Radford University. Rosanna began teaching English in Mercer County and ended her teaching tenure at Bluefield High School. In 1981, Rosanna was selected as West Virginia’s Teacher of the Year. After teaching at Bluefield High School, she became Supervisor of English at the Mercer County Board of Education until she retired from the West Virginia Education System. Upon her retirement, she then began teaching at Radford University as Professor of English. Her favorite pastime during those years were reading and traveling to Europe. She was a member of the Delphian Literary Club and the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority. Rosanna was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Princeton, WV where she was involved in numerous activities and organizations. She was a resident of Princeton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emory and Mary Alice Reaser and her brother “Buddy” Reaser and his wife, Kay. Rosanna is survived by her only nephew, Mike Reaser of Vancouver, British Columbia. Rosanna will be missed by all her special friends, relatives, and especially by her faithful caregivers; Loreen, Shelia, Christa, Sandra, Helen, and Frankie.

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1960s ____________ JOHN CHARLTON WILLS ’60: December 9, 2019. John Charlton Wills was born in Hinton, WV on December 31, 1938. He was the son of the late Ted and Estelle Wills. He and his wife, Dana, were married for 59 years. They were both music graduates of Concord College. Their children include a son, Charlton ( Julie), of Antioch, IL, a son, Jeffrey (Karen), of Mt. Juliet, TN, and a daughter, Alison of Chillicothe, OH; eight grandchildren, Joshua and Ashley Wills, Amalia and Kaleigh Wills, and Jessica, Jonathan, Aidan and Audrey Limle. His brother is Edgar (Ellen), of Waverly. John started his teaching career at Beaver (Eastern) in 1960 as band director. He moved the following year to Piketon teaching band for grades five through twelve.

He started a twenty-one year tenure at Chillicothe High School in 1965 which was the love of his life. Not just a band director, he was a professional musician and music educator who taught his students far more than musical skills consistently challenging them to reach their highest potential and exposing them to the vast repertoire of music across many genres.

His influence and inspiration brought a lifetime of appreciation for music, especially jazz, to a multitude of students who continue his legacy across the country and around the world in the teaching and performance of music. He left CHS after being asked to build the program at Southeastern where he took the band from under a dozen students to more than 70 members.

After retiring from Southeastern he was asked to return to Eastern. He retired again only to be asked to fill in at Adena for a few months which turned into five years. John was a member of Walnut Street United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir for 40 years. A resident of Ross County, Ohio, he was also a member of the Renaissance Singers.

MARILYN JUNE FARREN ’61: April 21, 2020.

Born June 23, 1935 in Oceana, WV, she was a daughter of the late Charles Francis and Ennis Graham Francis. June was a kind, loving person and was loved by many. She was a very active member of both her community and church and will be greatly missed.

She graduated from Oceana High School in 1953 and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in education from Concord University. She was a longtime member of the GFWC Oceana Woman’s Club, a member of the Oceana High School Alumni Association and was inducted in the Oceana High School Hall of Fame.

She was a member of the Clear Fork Valley Baptist Church and dearly loved her church family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Farren, Sr.; two sisters, Bobbie Jean Crouch and Geneva May Francis; a niece, Desiree Crouch; and two nephews, Mike Crouch and Brandon Mason. Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Bob Farren Jr. and wife Kathy of Pinehurst, NC; her sister and best friend, Phyllis Ann Clark of Beckley; grandchildren, Casey Farren and his wife Megan, Kristin Farren and Emily Johnston; a great-grandchild Lily Gray Farren; very special nephew, Robbie Crouch; a very special niece, Debbie Mason; and a special great-niece, Leslie Crouch Lambert.

MARIANNA HAYES HANNA ’61: September 11, 2019. Born August 6, 1939 in East Rainelle, she was the daughter of the late Marion Watts Hayes and the late Mary Edgar McClung Hayes.

She graduated from Lewisburg High School and Concord College. She was a retired teacher, former member of Old Stone Presbyterian Church, and was a current member of Frankford Presbyterian Church. She was a resident of Frankford.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Powers Hanna, a granddaughter, Faith Hanna and grandson, Brady Powers Mickey.

Surviving are her children, Michele Lyn Hanna of Frankford, Michael Lee Hanna

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and wife Shane of Ronceverte, Peri Ann Hanna Mickey and husband Robert of Pittsfield, Mass., and Cary Douglas Hanna and wife Cheryl of Frankfort, KY; grandchildren, Patrick Mickey and fiancée Ashley Brandies, Ryan Mickey and fiancée Erica Allen, Keegan Mickey, Josie Hanna, Mikayla Hanna, Jake Hanna and Brooke Hanna; great grandchildren Maisey Mickey and Jonas Mickey.

CAROL C. STEWART ’62: April 12, 2020.

Born January 25, 1941 in Basin, WV, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence McKinney and Nora Shrewsbury McKinney. Carol was a 1958 graduate of Pineville High School and a graduate of Concord College where she was cheerleader and a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority.

She enjoyed a thirty-five-year career teaching business classes to hundreds of students at Oceana High School. She was a member of the Oceana Alumni Association and the GFWC Pineville Woman’s Club. She also served as an Elder at Pineville Presbyterian Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Larry; a son, Shannon; and brothers, Don, Newman and Willie McKinney.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Kevin Stewart and wife Belinda of Pineville, Melinda Vance and husband John of Pineville and Dr. Sunni Martin and husband Anthony of Proctorville, OH; grandchildren, Amanda, Jacob and Emily Stewart, Josie Cunningham, Joseph and Gabby Lupardus, Ty Eller, Tucker Vance and Skyla and Harley Martin; and great-grandchildren, Grayson and Garrett Dillion. Those around Carol, especially her children and grandchildren, enjoyed her playful banter but relished in her devout, unconditional love. Carol truly loved her family (and her four-legged critters) deeply. Her family remembers her as superwoman for enduring the many losses she has, most notable her dear son, Shannon Ray, with such grace and poise.

LORETTA MCNAMARA KELLY LASPINA ’63: February 13, 2020.

She was born on March 8, 1940, in Princeton, WV, the daughter of the late Donald W. McNamara and Lena P. Poff. Loretta graduated in 1958 from Mullens High School and from Concord College with a B.A. in Business Education. She taught at Gary High School and Matoaka High School.

She worked as a realtor for Century 21, and as an agent for Prudential Insurance in Beckley. Later she worked as a temp for WVU and spent 16 years with the FBI in Clarksburg from which she retired in 2009. She loved gardening and bird watching, and she loved spending time with her family. Loretta is survived by her daughter, Cindy McVey of Morgantown; son, Scott Kelly and wife, Carrie, of Morgantown, and son, Steve Kelly and companion, Connie Humphries Caron, of Beckley; six grandchildren: Wesley McVey and wife, Nicole Watkins, Sean McVey and wife, Nicole Golden, Jake Kelly, Jessie Kelly, Conner Kelly, and Payton Kelly; and five great-grandchildren: Rilee Arbuthnot, Lily McVey, Thorin McVey, Declan McVey, and Saoirse McVey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Milajean Brown and Freda McNamara, and brother, Melvyn McNamara. She was a resident of Morgantown.

MARIA GRIGORACI BEATON ’64: January 14, 2020. Mary will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Cheryl Gregory and Tavia Dillon, as well as her three grandchildren, Dylan, Cheyenne and Kadence. Mary also has a brother, Victor, and several nieces and nephews by whom she will be fondly remembered.

She was preceded in death by her first grandchild, Jeffrey, her sister Rosaria, and parents Annziata and Giuseppe Grigoraci, who bravely brought her family to America from Italy. Maria was born in McDowell County, West Virginia on October 19, 1942. She graduated from Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia. Continuing her education, Maria graduated from Concord University with a degree in History and Physical

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Education. She retired from Prince William County schools and spent the next several years enjoying life in Spotsylvania Virginia until 2015 when she relocated to Georgia. Growing up in the coal camps in McDowell County of West Virginia, education was always paramount in her life. Her parents and siblings instilled the importance of accomplishment. She also inherited an innate strength from her family who braved making a huge sacrifice to better themselves. Mary very much enjoyed traveling, especially if the beach or casino was her destination. She loved going out whether it was to dance, hangout with her girlfriends, play cards with her friends or have a nice meal. Mary knew how to be a true friend; she was always ready to give sound advice and a kind word. Mary’s presence will truly be missed.

LAWRENCE M. SMITH, JR. ’66: May 6, 2020.

He was born December 23, 1937 in Beckley, WV and was the son of the late Lawrence M. Smith, Sr. and Iva Smith. Mr. Smith retired as a District Manager from Frontier Phone Company, having worked for the former GTE, Citizen’s Telecom, and Frontier Phone Companies, which all evolved into Verizon. He had worked in that field for over thirty years. He was a 1956 Graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Concord University.

He was a United States Army Veteran, having served in the Korean War. Mr. Smith was involved in many civic organizations: the PTA, both on local and state levels; Rotary International Club, where he served as local President and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award; and as a member of the Appaloosa Horse Club. His latest venture, for over eighteen years, was managing the Bluefield Laser Wash, where he loved interacting with and taking care of his customers. A resident of North Tazewell, VA, Mr. Smith was an avid WVU sports fan and enjoyed horses, fishing and golfing. He loved his family and friends and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death

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by an infant son and his twin sister, Carol Smith. Those who survive to cherish his memory include his loving wife of fifty-nine years, Elnora C. Smith; one daughter, Pam Waddell and husband, Marc of Tazewell, VA; one grandson, Caden Tyler Waddell of Tazewell, VA; and loving pet dog and companion, Ziva. A host of other family members and friends also survive.

DAVID LEE COOK ’68: February 15, 2020.

Born in Beckley on February 28, 1946, he was the son of Lillian Cook and the late Robert Cook. David was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Concord College with a degree in business. He served in the Army Reserves. David was a longtime resident and businessman in Buckhannon. He is survived by his mother; his daughter, Jami Cook, and her mother, Andrea Boyles of Buckhannon; his brother, Paul of Buckhannon; his sister, Jane Gilkerson of Beckley; a niece and several nephews.

MADGE M. “SUSIE” ARRINGTON ’69: February 1, 2020. Born February 1, 1948 in Princeton she was the daughter of the late John Vernon Arrington and Dorothy Edna White Arrington. Susie was a graduate of Princeton High School and a graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She was a retired teacher with Mercer County Schools spending her career teaching at Lashmeet and Matoaka schools. She was a resident of Princeton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Michael Arrington and one nephew, Dennis Wayne Wiley. Survivors include one sister, Mary Jane “Pug” Wiley of Princeton, and three special cousins, Wanda White, Carol Treola, and Elisa Noble.

JOSEPH THOMAS COLEMAN, JR., ’69: March 12, 2020. Joe was born on July 17, 1947 in Roanoke, VA. He is preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Eades Coleman and his

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father, Joseph Thomas Coleman. He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Kitty) Coleman, his daughter, Kerry Coleman Yeatts and her husband Toby Yeatts (Roanoke, VA); his son, Brian Michael Coleman and his wife Dawn Deeds Coleman (Centennial, CO); his son, Patrick Joseph (PJ) Coleman (Austin, TX); his grandchildren, Owen Deeds Coleman (Los Angeles, CA); Grace Olivia Coleman (Centennial, CO); and Ashlee Catherine Yeatts (Roanoke, VA). Joe is also survived by his brother, Charles Coleman and his wife Vickie Coleman. Joe and Kitty celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 1, 2019. Kitty often spoke of her decision to marry Joe as the smartest choice she ever made. She saw in him what so many others have noted over the years. He was fiercely loyal to his family, but he was determined to offer guidance to anyone who sought his advice and mentorship. He leaves behind numerous friends and family who were inspired by his interest and strong faith in offering counsel to how to achieve their goals and pursue their dreams.

Joe’s genuine capacity for listening to the stories and dreams of nurses, sales people, waiters, teachers, nieces, nephews and so many others was sincere. Joe earned his Bachelor of Science degree in History from Concord University; MALS degree from Hollins University (Hollins, VA); and Ed.D. in Education from Virginia Tech. A resident of Roanoke, VA, he served in public education for 45 years, and his academic career included school systems in Roanoke City Public Schools (14 years) and 31 years in Salem City Public Schools. In Roanoke City Schools, Joe taught history and geography at Monroe Junior High School, and he loved coaching the track team. He transferred to Madison Junior High School as assistant principal, then on to Addison Junior High School where he taught history and geography and served as assistant principal. After six years of teaching, Joe became Roanoke City’s Supervisor of Social Studies.

After 14 years in Roanoke City Schools, it was time for a new beginning. Joe moved to Salem City Schools in 1983 where he served as principal of G.W. Carver Elementary School, principal of South Salem Elementary School, Director of Testing Assessment and Technology, retiring from Salem City Public Schools in 2014.This transition coupled with his previous career in Roanoke City would provide the stability he was looking for.

And although the administrative positions were extremely rewarding, it was Joe’s love

for the children that made him often say he preferred teaching, shaping young minds and guiding them into opportunities they may not have considered. He realized early on that the best way to spend time with his own children during their formative years was to get involved in coaching their sports teams.

Whether on the tee-ball field, golf course, basketball court, or soccer field. Joe managed to carve out time for them while balancing a very productive life of service to others. Joe will be sorely missed by everyone whose lives he touched and with every stranger he always greeted with the same question, “So where’d you go to school?”

GERALD BLAIR “JERRY” JOHNSON ’69: March 29, 2020. Born July 9, 1946 in Rahway, NJ, he was the son of Howard E. and G. Elizabeth (Keim) Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Barry Snyder. Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Odessa (Hynde) Johnson; children: Gregory B. Johnson and wife Mauri; Denise R. Thomas and husband Randy; Joanie R. Rubin and husband Micah; and Jennifer B. Johnson and fiancé Eric Minnick; grandchildren: Alexander and William Johnson, Collin, Cameron, Ian, and Emilee Sherlock, Cody, Jessica, and Paige Thomas, and Adina Rubin. He is also survived by numerous special friends. Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He was the owner/operator of Johnson Memorial Company, Meyersdale, PA where he was the 3rd generation owner of the family business. The business was established in 1905 by Alex Johnson, and is currently being operated by Jerry’s son, Greg, the 4th generation. Jerry was proud to have invented and patented the Power Carrier for setting cemetery memorials. He was a member of Amity United Church of Christ, Meyersdale.

1970s ____________ CHARLES DAVID MARTIN ’70: December 18, 2019. David was preceded in death by his loving wife of 41 years, Brenda Jean in 2007. He was born August 1, 1945, in Penning-

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ton Gap, Va., to the late Coy and Irene Martin. He grew up in a large, loving family with two brothers and three sisters. After graduating high school, he attended Concord, pursuing his love of chemistry. David worked his way through college at a Bluefield hospital, where he met the love of his life, Brenda.

They married in June of 1966 and raised two loving children. David became the Division Chief of Drug Analysis for the Virginia Division of Forensic Sciences, retiring after 35 years of service. He was dedicated to helping and serving others as Scoutmaster for Troop 866 and was also active in his church, Central Baptist. He enjoyed watching the history channel, reading Tom Clancy novels, fishing, hunting and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a resident of Chesterfield, Va. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Amanda M. Staley and her husband, Shaun and their two children, Savannah and Madison; his son, Kevin W. Martin and his wife, Megan and their two children, Scarlett and Wayland.

JAMES “JIM” KING CLARK ’71: April 7, 2020.

Jim was born May 17, 1948, in Huntington, WV, to Eileen and Ferrell Clark. Preceded in death by his parents, Jim is survived by his wife of 49 years, Deborah “Debbie” Dunn Clark; his children, James “Jamie” (Megan) and Hadley Bennett of Barger Springs, WV, Kristina “Kristi” ( Julia) of Decatur, GA; a brother, Walter (Sallye) of Florida; a nephew, Tom Clark ( Jennifer) Cora and Catie of Charleston, WV; a loving family friend Anne ( Juan Carlos) and Oliver Alarcon of Cumming, GA. Jim was active as a youth in BSA Troop 62 in Huntington, WV, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating from Barboursville High School, he attended Marshall University, Bluefield College and then graduated from Concord College. Jim retired from CSX where he was employed as a Brakeman-Conductor and was a legislative lobbyist and secretary/treasurer for United Transportation Union, Local 118. A resident of Hinton, WV for 50

years, Jim was a most valued citizen, giving his time of service to others, touching innumerable people. Among those organizations that benefitted from his generosity and philanthropic endeavors were his faithfulness and loyal friendship to Camp Summers and his most recent volunteer efforts at StoneCliff where he was fondly known as “Fetch”. He was also secretary/treasurer of Kiwanis Club of Hinton, and secretary of Hinton Masonic Lodge 62 A.F. & A.M. He was a past president of Hinton Jaycees, a member of Hinton Elks Lodge 821, a member of the Advisory Council at the Children’s Home Society of Lewisburg, and a member of First United Methodist Church of Hinton where he was active with the United Methodist Men, Yummy Bags Ministry, and the Matthew 2540 Guatemala Mission. Jim has left an honorable legacy throughout Summers County where his volunteer spirit soared, with his loving family, and with all those whose lives he touched.

BETTY JEAN WOOD WHITE ’75: May 12, 2020.

She was born on November 24, 1928 in Page, WV. She was the daughter of the late John and Ruth Wood. Betty was married on April 30, 1947 to the late A.C. Cotton White, who preceded her in death on June 16, 1989. Also preceding her was her daughter Jennifer Ann Lucas; two stepchildren Marlene White Zuber and Lloyd Carlton White; and two sons-inlaw Bo Wierzbicki and David Coffman.

Betty is survived by her daughters Becky Coffman of Marion, IL, Pat Wierzbicki of Big Lake, Alaska, and Carol (Sam) England of Weston, WV; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Betty began playing the piano as a little child and used her God-given talent playing for her church, The First Church of God in Mullens, WV for over 60 years. She also played for Craigsville Camp Meeting in Craigsville, WV for over 50 years.

She graduated from Beckley College at the age of 42, and then continued on to Concord College for her teaching degree after 11 semesters of driving to both colleges. She taught English

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at Mullens High School for 13 years.

Following her teaching career, she gave piano lessons in her home and played for weddings and funerals. She was a talented seamstress having made all of her girls’ clothes as well as clothes for their Barbies. She loved to play Scrabble, Sudoku, and Rummy, and was highly competitive.

STEVE D. WATSON ’76: March 19, 2020.

Steve is survived by his children Mallory Watson, Gregory Watson and Gregory’s wife Jenny Watson; and his brother Tom Watson and Tom’s wife Susan. He is preceded in death by his mother Betty, his father Virgil and his brother Jerry.

Steve was born on August 9, 1950 in Mansfield, OH to Virgil and Betty. He graduated from Concord University with a degree in psychology and then received his master’s degree in psychology from Radford University in 1980.

After moving to Radford, Steve began working for New River Valley Community Services as a clinical psychologist. His children remember him as a passionate father who encouraged them to pursue their goals. Steve was accomplished at fishing and playing guitar and played publicly with The Fisherman Four during his years in high school in Springfield, OH. He also would proudly tell of his many fishing expeditions and near catches of fish “this big”.

CHERYL CHRISTINA HERSMAN ’77: December 7, 2019.

Born July 11, 1948, in Charleston, WV, she was the daughter of the late Wiley Christopher and Mary Virginia McGraw Hersman. Cheryl was a loving daughter, sister, and was a friend to many. Cheryl liked learning, really enjoyed watching television, and was of the Methodist faith. She was a graduate of Concord University with bachelor’s degrees in Education and History. Formerly of Princeton, she was a resident of Bluefield. Left to cherish her memory are two brothers, Wiley Christopher “Chris” Hersman, II and wife, Twyla, of Princeton and David Hersman, of

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Charlottesville, VA; and several nieces and nephews.

1980s ____________ JEFFREY CHARLES “CHUCK” DOTSON ’85: March 2, 2020.

Born November 3, 1962 in Welch, WV, he was the son of the late Ralph Dotson and Gracie Marie Lambert Dotson. He was a graduate of Concord College and was an incredible father and husband who loved to spend time at the ball fields or on his motorcycle.

He is survived by his wife, Patti Rae Ash Dotson of Dublin; children, Tyler Scott (Carli Brewer) Dotson of Pulaski, Tanner Charles Dotson and fiancée, Taylor Nichole Shepherd of Radford, and Chase Patrick Dotson of the home; brothers, Danny ( Jan) Dotson of Princeton, WV and Kenny (Sonja) Dotson of Glade Springs, VA; sisters Vickie (Tim) Chafin of Iaeger, WV, Sherry Butler of Glenvar, VA and Marsha Lockhart of Iaeger, WV; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

ROBERT “BOB” MICHAEL HOPKINS ’86: December 20, 2019. Born December 1, 1963 in Bluefield, WV, he was a son of C.W. and Mary Butler Hopkins. After graduating from Athens High School in 1982, Bob continued his education at Concord University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. A resident of Rock Hill, SC, he formerly lived in of Princeton, WV. Bob was a purchasing coordinator for Classica Homes and a dedicated member of Fort Mill Church of God. Bob had a strong love for the Lord, his family, watching college football and the outdoors, including hunting and tubing down the river. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Clark and Aileen Butler; paternal

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grandparents, Charles, Sr. and Mary Sue Hopkins; and Uncle Wayne Hopkins. In addition to his parents, Bob is survived by his wife of 23 years, Gail Hopkins; children, Eli and girlfriend, Shay, and Anna Hopkins; brother, Bill Hopkins and wife, Lisa; brother-in-law, Rick Dyson and wife, Nena; sisters-in-law, Millie Jenkins and husband, John, and Vicki Orwig and husband, George; several uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.

1990s ____________ CRYSTAL DAWN FOX’ 98: January 13, 2020.

Born August 21, 1975 in Beckley, she was the daughter of Amelia Wright Fox of Beckley and Donnie Fox of Beaver. Crystal was a supervisor for West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program. She enjoyed arts and crafts, reading and loved her cats. She was a resident of Beckley. In addition to her parents she is survived by her brother, Jared Fox of Morgantown, WV; maternal grandparents, William and Deloris Wright of Beckley; and Uncle Daniel Wright and his wife Sheri of Charlotte, NC. MARGARET LOUISE THORNE-DILLEY ’99: January 5, 2020. She is survived by her loving husband of 48 years Kenneth Gail Dilley; a daughter, Kennette Gail Dilley-Lovett and son-in-law Timothy James Lovett of Austin, Texas; a son Robert Samuel Dilley and daughter-in-law Brittany Lee Elizabeth Dilley and grandson, Nathan Rhett Dilley of El Paso, Texas; a brother Dr. Lawrence Thorne and sister-in-law Sandie Thorne of Houston, Texas; a niece, Dr. Janel Beatie, and husband BJ and great-niece, Isabella Marie Beatie, of Spring, Texas; nephews Frank Thorne of

Humble Texas; Scott Thorne and wife Sherry of Humble, Texas; Adam Thorne and wife Rachael and a great-nephew, Wyatt Lawrence of Houston, Texas. A resident of Beckley, Margaret graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and continued her education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She entered Louisiana State University receiving a master’s degree in Microbiology and a minor in Biochemistry. She returned to West Virginia and completed the requirements necessary to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Concord College allowing her to teach in West Virginia schools. Margaret began her teaching career as an Assistant Instructor and Lecturer II at the University of New Mexico. Upon moving to Michigan, she was the Bench Supervisor for Research in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan for two years. She then became the Laboratory Instructor and Coordinator for first- and second-years laboratories at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Margaret then moved back to West Virginia and began teaching at the Beckley College. Margaret also taught in the public school system including middle school.

Margaret was active in the Boy Scouts of America. She served as a Den Leader in the Cub Scouts Pack 250 and as an Assistant Scout Master in BSA Troop 3. She was a Merit Badge Counselor.

Upon retiring, Margaret continued her teaching by tutoring, as well as serving as Aerospace Education Officer at the Squadron and Wing levels for the Civil Air Patrol. She earned numerous awards in CAP including WVWG Senior Member of the Year 2018; WVWG Aerospace Officer of the Year 2017 and 2018; and MER Aerospace Officer of the Year 2018 to name a few. Margaret was a devoted Christian. She taught Sunday school classes for all age levels.

She served multiple times on the Board of Deaconesses, Board of Christian Education, and the Board of Trustees.

Margaret also worked in the Back Pack Ministries and helped pack shoe boxes every year for Operation Christmas Child.

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2010s ____________ DANNY RAY PINKELTON, JR. ’13: October 24, 2019. Born on July, 6, 1990, he was the son of Danny and Terri Pinkelton, of Ansted. He was a 2008 graduate of Midland Trail High School. He then attended Concord University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Management.

He was a proud member of Chi Omega Psi fraternity and avid fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers and Green Bay Packers. DJ, as his family knew him, had an infectious personality and smile that lit up a room. He loved to laugh and was never in a bad mood. He will be greatly missed. He was a resident of Huntington.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Cecil “Racky” Hundley and maternal great-grandmother, Dolly Sutton. Those left to cherish his memory include his mother, Terri Pinkelton, of Ansted; his father and step-mother, Danny and Pamela Pinkelton, of Lewisburg; sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Macky Brewer, of Ansted; nieces, Mackenzie and River Brewer; nephew, Rhett Brewer; grandmother, Irene Hundley, of Ansted; a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins; and special friends, Montana and Diane Callison and Adam Lee.

Friends of Concord ____________ STEWART OTTO “OTT” FREDEKING: FEBRUARY, 5, 2020. Born in Princeton on April 14, 1938, he was the son of the late John L. and Jewell Perkins Fredeking. He is survived by his wife, JoAnna Miller Fredeking; three children, Ann Fredeking Graham and husband David, John “Jack” Fredeking and wife Kathy and William “Bill” Fredeking and wife Terri; his five grandchildren, who called him “Poppaw”, Lauren G. Imrich and husband, Matt, John C. Fredeking II, Whitney G. Sigmon, and husband Nathan, Corbin S. Fredeking, and wife Jessica, and William T. Fredeking; and four great-grandchildren, Mila Jo , Blake Nicole, and Sadie Graham Imrich and Maverick David Sigmon, known to them as Poppaw “Ott”. He also survived by one sister, Mrs. John L.” Sallie Marie” Fredeking McClaugherty of Charleston, WV; one sister-in-law, Sarah M. Young and husband Gary of Germantown, MD;

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE! We want to hear from you! Send us your personal and professional accomplishments, news on marriages and family additions and updates on other noteworthy events in your life. Photographs are always welcome!

Mail: Concord University ATTN: Office of Advancement P.O. Box 1000, Athens, WV 24712.

Email: advancement@concord.edu

CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

two nieces, two nephews, cousins and a longtime family friend Drew Foster. A resident of Princeton, Ott was the oldest active funeral director in Mercer County. He was a third generation funeral director and embalmer with his son, Bill and grandson Corbin following him in the profession. He was the owner and operator of Fredeking Funeral Service in Oakvale, WV. Ott graduated from Princeton High School, Class of 1956 and was a graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Class of 1969. He was a US Army veteran and was a 50+ year Master Mason, Princeton Lodge No. 134 A.F. & A.M., member of the Bluefield Shrine Club, member of the Royal Arch Masons, 50+ year member of the Bluefield Commandery No. 19, and a 50+ year member of the Beni Kedem Shrine in Charleston, WV . Ott was also a member of First United Methodist Church, Princeton, WV. KATHLEEN ELLISON HIGHT: OCTOBER 27, 2019. Born in Pipestem July 4, 1922, she was the daughter of the late William Henderson and Lou Farley Ellison. For most of her life she was a homemaker.

She attended Lerona United Methodist Church and was a longtime member of the Mercer County Farm Bureau. She was also a former cook for the food services at Concord University. She and her late husband Aubrey raised a large garden every year and enjoyed selling their produce at the Princeton Farmers Market. Kathleen loved reading and working crossword puzzles. She was a resident of Lerona.

In addition to her parents, her husband of 61 years, Aubrey L. Hight; one infant daughter, Patricia Ann Hight; three sisters, Stacie Ellison Cole, Lavonna Ellison and Marguerite Ellison Mann; and four brothers, Oscar Ellison, Emory Ellison, James Ellison and William “Ozzie” Ellison preceded her in death. Survivors include one son, Michael Hight of Lerona; one daughter, Nancy McWhorter and her son Kenneth of Charleston; and several nieces and nephews.

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DR. FREDERICK BAILEY ’52

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ENGLISH

Dr. Frederick Bailey, 89, of Princeton, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2019. Born May 22, 1930, in Princeton, he was the son of the late Everett Dale Bailey and Fannie Chlorine Burk Bailey.

He was a graduate of Princeton High School, received his bachelor’s degree from Concord College, master’s degree from West Virginia University, and his doctorate in English from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Bailey served his country proudly with the U.S. Navy. Dr.

DR NORMAN I. PLATNICK '68

Dr Norman Ira Platnick, Curator Emeritus at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), New York, passed on April 8, 2020 in Philadelphia, PA, after a tragic accident. He married the late Nancy Stewart Price in 1970 and is survived by his son, William Durin Platnick, and daughter-in-law, Rebecca Ehrlich.

Norm was born on December 30, 1951, in Bluefield, WV. Getting what he called a ‘precocious start’, Norm became a college freshman at the tender age of 12, receiving a BS degree at 16, MS at 18, and PhD at 21. He has remarked that he lacked ‘a high school diploma, having made it only through grade 7’!

The world authority on spiders, Norm’s

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Bailey retired from Concord University after teaching for 47 years in the English Department.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Lavonne Ruth Pennington Bailey, along with his two siblings, Garnette Erb and Jack Bailey. Those left to cherish his memory are his three children, Pamela Jean Bailey and husband Wes, Sally Bailey Deskins and husband Tim and Dr. Dale Frederick Bailey and wife Jean; four grandchildren, Nolan Dempsey and wife Stephanie, Jake and Bailey Deskins and Carson Bailey; two great-grandchildren, Molly Dempsey and Amanda Walker; and two great-great-grandchildren, Lilly and Jack Walker.

CURATOR EMERITUS AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

lifelong interest began serendipitously while a teenager, majoring in Biology at Concord College as a direct consequence of meeting his future wife, Nancy, ‘at Concord on October 12, 1967.’ Nancy, also pursuing a BS in Biology, had taken a course on arthropods and become fascinated with millipedes.

Norm accompanied Nancy on her searches so that he could spend time with her. He was less successful at finding millipedes but collected spiders in abundance and tried to identify them back at the college. The rest is history.

After graduating from Concord in 1968, Norm moved to Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, where he was advised by Richard Sauer and graduated with a MS in Zoology in 1970, and finally to Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, where he was advised by Herbert Levi, and graduated with a PhD in Biology in 1973.

He was appointed Assistant Curator in the AMNH Department of Entomology the same year, received tenure and promotion to Associate Curator in 1977, and promotion to Curator in 1982. He was awarded an endowed chair as Peter J. Solomon Family Curator of Spiders in 1998 and served in that capacity until retiring, whereupon he became Senior Scientist in Residence at the AMNH Division of Invertebrate Zoology (2010–2013).

As an AMNH Curator, Norm took over stewardship of the Collections of

Arachnida and Myriapoda from John Cooke, building on the legacy of Willis J. Gertsch to continue developing the spider collection into the world’s largest and most taxonomically comprehensive, a global resource with over a million specimens and 4,000 types. Norm’s arachnological expeditions to Chile, as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, New Caledonia, New Zealand, and Panama, were supported by $4.3 million in research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Geographic Society, and other foundations. As Chairman of the Department of Entomology (1987–1994), In addition to his position as Curator at the AMNH, Norm served as adjunct professor at City College, City University of New York (1978–2014), and Cornell University (1988–2014), and as adjunct senior research scientist for the Center of Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University (1999–2014). Norm was a prolific scientist, publishing almost 12,000 pages in 338 printed publications, including 42 monographs, eight books and two edited volumes over the course of his four-decade career.

This exceptional body of work fundamentally affected several fields. His early works were instrumental in disseminating Hennigian tree-thinking and phylogenetic classification, profoundly influencing systematic biology, historical biogeography,

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and evolutionary biology more generally. In arachnology, the study of spiders and their kin, Norm laid the framework of spider classification and the Tree of Life early on, along with introducing new techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, and character systems, such as spinneret morphology, which forever changed the course of spider systematics. His prodigious monographic revisions and many smaller papers, on most of which he was sole or lead author, added 158 new genera and 2,023 new species of spiders.

In recognition of his contributions, Norm was made Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2003 and received the Pierre Bonnet Award for Devoted Service to the Advancement of Arachnology in 2007, among other honors. Four spider genera, Normplatnicka, Platnickia, Platnickina and Platnicknia (= Modisimus) and 48 species of spiders, other arachnids, and a millipede are named after him. The Concord University Alumni Association honored him with the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2003.

Keenly aware of the threats facing biodiversity, Norm was actively involved in initiatives to address the ‘taxonomic impediment’ by accelerating the pace of species discovery and description, including programs such as Systematics Agenda 2000: Charting the Biosphere. This vision culminated in the Planetary Biodiversity Inventories (PBI) and Revisionary Syntheses in Systematics

programs which he co-developed during his tenure as Program Director for Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories in the NSF Division of Environmental Biology (2002–2003).

In 2006, Norm put these approaches into practice on a global scale with his PBI grant on the megadiverse, microdistributed goblin spider family Oonopidae, involving more than 45 collaborating scientists in 12 countries worldwide. Over the course of eight years, using custom-built cyberinfrastructure, 1056 new spider species were described in 88 papers, increasing global spider diversity by 2.5% and moving Oonopidae from the 21st to the 8th most speciose family of spiders.

In addition to his role as fellow, president or councilor of numerous scientific societies, several of which he was instrumental in founding, and his service on copious editorial boards and scientific panels, Norm leaves a rich legacy in education. He advised or served on the committees of over 20 students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom went on to illustrious careers in arachnology and systematics, around the world, and delivered about 100 scientific lectures in the US and abroad. The original spider man, Norm promoted the old adage ‘if you wish to live and thrive, let a spider run alive’ via diverse media, including the highly successful Spiders Alive! exhibition (2012–2013, and again in 2015), two children’s books on spiders, several popular

JOHN “JAY” WRIGHT

Information provided by Lorenzo Prendini Curator of Arachnida and Myriapoda American Museum of Natural History

DIRECTOR OF UPWARD BOUND

John “Jay” Wright passed away on December 23, 2019 in St. Marys, WV, while he was home visiting for the holidays. Born in Wetzel County, WV on October 5, 1966, he graduated from Paden City High School in 1984. In 1994 he graduated from Marshall University with a master’s degree in Counseling, with specialization in student personnel. He touched many lives throughout his career and his life.

Jay spent the majority of his professional career investing CONCORD UNIVERSIT Y MAGAZINE SPRING 2020

magazine articles, and online videos, such as ‘Seeking Spiders – Biodiversity on a Different Scale’, where he notes: ‘if we wish to conserve as much biodiversity as possible, then we need to pay attention not just to the things that are easy to see, but also to the ones that are not so easy to see and tell us much more about the planet.’

In his spare time, Norm enjoyed ‘another life’ as an art aficionado. While frequenting antique shops with Nancy, who collected vintage eggbeaters, mixers and other mechanical kitchen devices, Norm became interested in the art of magazine covers, advertisements, and articles from America’s ‘Golden Age of Illustration’ (1905–1920), ultimately amassing a collection of over 6,500 pieces. Between 1998 and 2020, Norm wrote 27 full-color books and three articles on the work of various artists from this period, a labor of love, demanding considerable time and energy to self-publish, and was planning ‘at least as many more.’

Norm’s generous personality, fierce intellect, and indomitable can-do approach won friends and admirers across the globe.

His motto, ‘The best is none too good,’ long hanging on his office wall and still seen on his Facebook page, speaks volumes about his attitude to his pursuits.

himself into the lives of his students and colleagues. He served the TRIO Community not only on a program level, but also through his service as the President of the WV TRIO Association and the MEAEOPP Region. He fought passionately for TRIO through various advocacy efforts including his annual attendance at the Council for Opportunity in Education’s Policy Seminar. His passion for the rights of his students was heartfelt and contagious.

In addition to his grandparents, he is preceded in death by his parents Karen and Lee. He is survived by his sister Jodi Wright Keller, brother-in-law Allen Keller, sister Pam Croasmun, nephew Justin Nichols (Suzie), niece Tara Kaye Kent (Chris), and his very special great-nephews and nieces, Ryan, Easton, Brooklyne, Madeline, Jaxson and Harlyn.

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Janet Conroy, '86 at the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also took a nice closeup of Roar in front of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy.

Eva and Bob Gallione, CC '68, visited relatives in Mexico City, Mexico.

Our fearless mascot made his way to Kuwait this year. Ryan Weikle, '18, right, and Owen Wood, '19, pose with a camo clad ROAR. Weikle received one of the care packages that were sent out by Concord’s Office of Veteran Services and the CU Student Veterans Association and was very thankful to hear from his alma mater.

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Kevin Given, '89 shows off his CU spirit at the Donald Ross Pro Am at Royal Dornoch Scotland.

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TAKE ROAR WITH YOU! We want to see you with Roar wherever you go! Cut out Roar, to the left, and take him on your fun adventures.

Take a photo with our friendly mascot and send it to us so we can share with the rest of the CU alumni family!

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October 1-3