The Daily Athenaeum | May 17-19, 2013
GRADUATION EDITION
2 | GRADUATION EDITION
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
Graduates reflect on time at WVU by celeste lantz copy desk chief
Throughout the weekend, West Virginia University students will be crossing the stage to accept their diplomas, resulting in a mix of emotions. Some are terrified of leaving the relatively small pond of WVU and jumping into the career world. Some are excited to leave the confines of college life and some, such as Natalie Carpini, can’t believe the file photo experience is over. She will Thousands of WVU undergraduates will be participating in commencement cer- be graduating with honors emonies this week. from the Eberly College with a degree in English with a dual concentration in creative writing and professional writing and editing. “I have excited yet mixed emotions when I think about graduation on Sun-
day,” she said. “It still hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m graduating from college and receiving a degree. In a couple of months, I’ll be right back here in grad school and teaching English 101. “It’s just weird. I don’t feel old enough for these things.” During the past four years, Carpini served for two years as editor-in-chief for WVU’s undergraduate literary magazine, Calliope, accepted the honor of the Eberly College Outstanding Senior award, and was inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta and Phi Beta Kappa honors fraternities. “My favorite undergraduate memory was definitely working with Calliope and the WVU Writing Center. I worked with a lot of great people and got some really great experience,” she said.
Ashlee Filkins, another WVU soon-to-be graduate, said she is excited for her parents to see what she’s been doing the past three years. “My family is coming into town to see graduation. We’re going to spend the whole weekend together getting ready for graduation,” Filkins said. “I want them to see what I’ve accomplished during my time at WVU.” Filkins will complete her degree in political science and a minor in Spanish this weekend. She has had an unconventional college experience. “I spread my schedule out and took a lot of online classes to be available to work in politics and recent West Virginia campaigns and elections,” she said. “I
wanted to do what I love and get as much real-world job application as I could before I graduated.” While taking a full course load both online and in the classroom, Filkins served as the deputy finance director for the 2012 Bill Maloney for Governor campaign, as well as other roles in local politics. Filkins said upon graduation, she will begin looking for jobs in her area of interest, using her connections made during college to meet that goal. “I’m excited to graduate so I can travel more. I traveled often during my undergraduate schooling, but I can’t wait to get out there and start making a difference.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
Graduation Edition | 3
Congrats, WVU class of 2013
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This weekend more than 4,000 WVU students will partake in the 2013 Commencement ceremonies. More than 4,000 West Virginia University students will celebrate their graduation at the 2013 Co m m e n c e m e nt t h i s weekend. The Daily Athenaeum staff would like to congratulate all of these students and their loved ones on this outstanding accomplishment. College is a critical time in your lives during which you try new things and challenge your beliefs. It is also a time you spend endlessly working toward your long-term professional goals. For some graduates, this weekend marks a brief transition from one level of schooling to another. For others, it marks the end of an educational career that began about 16 years earlier in a kindergarten classroom. Regardless, the college experience is definitive, and graduation serves as both the end of one chal-
lenge and the beginning of another. In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of graduates, this weekend is also a time to reflect on your past few years. During this time, you made lifelong friends, decided which career path you will take and worked hard to put yourself in a good post-graduation position. Some of you found love. Others discovered that burning furniture would land them in legal trouble.
In the past four years, you saw a basketball team make a historic run to the Final Four and a rifle team have an unprecedented run of excellence. You learned from some of the brightest minds in the world and studied among many students who have garnered national attention for their accomplishments. And now this tremendous experience is finally coming to an end. Whether or not graduation marks your transition from the
world of academia into the “real world,” take a moment to reflect on your time at WVU, good times and bad. The lessons you can draw from your time at WVU will help you succeed no matter where the next stage of your life leads you. Again, we offer you our utmost congratulations. You made it. Now go out there and show the world what the rugged Mountaineer work ethic is all about.
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WVU recognizes Outstanding Seniors, Order of Augusta By Megan Calderado staff writer
West Virginia University announced the 34 seniors who will receive the WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award in March. Eight of those seniors are also being awarded with the Order of Augusta – the University’s most esteemed student honor. All of the award recipients were honored during the April 8 Celebration of Student Honors in the Ruby Grand Hall of the Erickson Alumni Center. These awards are given to seniors each year based on academic achievements, leadership and involvement in the community. Each senior with at least a 3.8 GPA is sent a letter of eligibility for the Outstanding Senior Award, for which those interested may then apply. Up to one percent of the graduating class is selected from the applicants. “This honor is really a nice ending to my fabulous experience here at WVU,” said Order of Augusta scholar Caroline Bailey. Bailey said some of her proudest achievements have been receiving the West Virginia 4-H All-Star award for outstanding service, receiving the Frank “Doc” Stevens memorial scholarship for the Pride of West Virginia: the Mountaineer Marching Band and being selected for a summer internship with Senator John D. Rockefeller in Washington, D.C. “Being chosen as an Outstanding Senior was quite a shock. And then to have been chosen as one of
the top eight seniors was a lot to digest, but after the initial shock, it was definitely a wonderful honor,” she said. While at WVU, Bailey also accomplished one of her dreams by traveling to Tanzania for a semester and learning to live and work in another culture. Bailey said she plans to pursue a master’s degree in international development and then hopes to work in Sub-Saharan Africa, possibly through a government agency. Darrin Nichols, an Outstanding Senior from Walker, W.Va., said he remembered being overwhelmed by the large population of students as a freshman, so being recognized as a top senior is something he is very grateful for. “I think that each person receiving this award is a well-rounded individual who encompasses the qualities of a true WVU Mountaineer,” Nichols said. While at WVU, Nichols has created and become president of a new student organization, the Mountaineer Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary. He also served as a Resident Assistant in Dadisman Hall during the last three years and won the Dadisman Hall RA of the Year Award for the past two years. Upon graduation with a bachelor’s in biology, Nichols plans to begin his family medicine education at the WVU School of Medicine. “Performing my
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
GRADUATION EDITION | 5
James named WVU’s 36th Goldwater Scholar by alyssa puchino staff writer
West Virginia University civil engineering student Rachel James has been named WVU’s 36th Goldwater Scholar. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program gives awards to college juniors and seniors who demonstrate elite commitment and show potential in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences or engineering. James said that to be one of just two civil engineering applicants to receive this award is an honor. “I’m still in a state of shock that I was placed into this category of students. I’m so honored,” she said. “It has been a huge confidence boost. Most doubts about my ability to survive graduate school have vanished (as a result).” James, who resides in Crawford, W.Va., initially became inspired with city and transportation infrastructure when her high school band traveled to Disney World her junior year. “In my hometown, there are less than 1,000 people. I wasn’t subject to congestion or any of the other issues that result from an abundance of people living in a small area,” she said. “The first time I saw an eight-lane highway, all I could think about was how interesting it was that the demand for this road was so high that this level of capacity was necessary to efficiently move traffic. “Now my interest is in the use of probability and mathematical models to more accurately characterize the uncertainty in travel times.” Ja m e s ap p l i e d t o WVU with little direction regarding the ca-
reer path she wanted to pursue. During her freshman year, James said she toyed with the idea of obtaining degrees in business or law and enrolled in several general electives. “My grandparents did a great job of instilling in me the importance of higher education. I’ve known since I was five that college was the route to go in order to be able to support myself in life,” James said. “I knew I wanted a college degree, but the ‘dream college major’ changed almost weekly. “I’ve wanted to be everything from a marine biologist to a teacher to a lawyer.” Soon enough, James said she found her calling while listening to a civil engineering lecture and became deeply passionate about the field and her studies. “Prior to the lecture, I didn’t know what opportunities existed within engineering. I also was unaware of the breadth of material encompassed in the realm of engineering,” she said. “Before, all I knew about the major was that it would involve a lot of math and science. “With respect to the lecture, I think what made me excited about the major was that it meshed so well with my interest in transportation infrastructure.” President James P. Clements said James’ hard work is reflected in her reception of the award. “This achievement reflects Rachel’s hard work and the quality of the faculty and staff who have been a part of her journey here at WVU,” Clements said. “I love her story of being inspired by a civil engineering lecture, and in that moment, finding the passion that has taken her to the highest lev-
SENIORS Continued from page 4 biology capstone, honors thesis and other research under Dr. Lesley Cottrell in the Department of Pediatrics, as well as attending the 2013 American Heart Association Conference have been highlights of my junior and senior years,” Nichols said. Nichols said he would like to open his own family medicine clinic in the area to provide health care to the communities that played a pivotal role in his success in high school and college. Petra Zublasing, a civil engineering student from Italy, is also among the eight seniors being awarded with the Order of Augusta. Zublasing is a member of the WVU Rifle team and helped lead them to their 2013 national ti-
tle by winning the air rifle and smallbore titles in the competition. She also placed No. 12 in the same categories at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Because her parents live so far away, they can only experience her accomplishments in what Zublasing can tell them. “This award means that all the hard work I put in was worth it,” Zublasing said. “It lets my parents see what I’ve accomplished, and they are very proud of me being top eight in my class – it’s something they are more familiar with than being named all-American.” Zublasing said she plans to go back to Italy after graduation and start her graduate schooling in Italy for energy engineering. She also said she hopes to participate in the 2016 Olympic games. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Civil engineering student has been named WVU’s 36th Goldwater Scholar. els of national academic recognition. “We are honored to have her as part of the WVU family and excited to see her continue on this path of success.” Upon graduation, James said she hopes to receive a doctorate degree to teach and begin research and do extensive traveling to visit states and major cities around the world at least once. “I want to thank everyone (who) has had a
hand in getting me to this point,” James said. “I’d like to thank my research mentor, Avinash Unnikrishnan. His faith in my abilities and willingness to teach me outside the classroom about mathematical modeling, programming and transportation network analysis is one of the biggest reasons I’ve made it to this academic milestone.”
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6 | Graduation Edition
Friday May 17, 2013
Two students awarded Critical Language Scholarship
Jared Leggett received the Critical Language Scholarship and will use it to study in Kazan, Russia.
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Two West Virginia University students were recently awarded the Critical Language Scholarship, a highly competitive award that will allow them to travel abroad this summer for intensive language education. The Critical Language Scholarship Program was started in 2006 through the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program offers fully funded scholarships for students to travel abroad to study a language. The Critical Language Scholarship is a highly competitive one, with nearly 5,000 applicants from across the country. Only 600 students from 200 colleges and universities were selected as recipients of the scholarship. Stephanie Khoo and Jared Leggett were both awarded scholarships, due in part to their experiences
Stephanie Khoo, a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship, will travel to Xiamen, China this summer. and education. Khoo, a first-year graduate student studying linguistics, was awarded a scholarship to study in Xiamen in southern China. Prior to studying linguistics, Khoo graduated from WVU in 2011 with degrees in biology and Chinese studies. In the future, Khoo said she hopes to combine her love of Chinese with her background in science by becoming a biology and Chinese teacher. “I really love the Chinese language, but I don’t want to abandon science because I have spent so much time focusing on it; I really love both,” she said. Khoo said the Critical Language Scholarship Program will allow her to completely focus on developing her fluency in Chinese. “I haven’t really had the opportunity to increase my Chinese (speaking skills) in the past,” Khoo said. “But with this program, you’re in class quite a bit, so there is a lot of intensive teaching and opportunity to come away
fluent.” In addition to her focus on becoming more fluent in the Chinese language, Khoo said she hopes to gain more cultural experience. “Being able to meet other people who love the Chinese language as much as I do and learning their stories, combined with the cultural experience, will be so valuable for my future,” Khoo said. While Khoo is hoping to teach Chinese in the future, she also has a personal connection to the language. “I’ve been studying Chinese for about five years – I started because my grandmother only speaks Mandarin, and every time we would visit her in Malaysia, I could never talk to her; it was an extremely frustrating thing,” Khoo said. “Hopefully after my time in China, I will be able to communicate with her more easily.” Leggett, a senior mechanical and aerospace engineering and Russian studies student, received his Critical Language Schol-
WVUTODAY
arship to study in Kazan, Russia. As a mechanical and aerospace engineering student Leggett said it hasn’t been easy to find time to focus on learning Russian. “I have had to put so many hours a week into engineering that I don’t get as much time as I would like to practice and study Russian,” Leggett said. “Spending the summer in Russia will give me the chance to focus on learning more about the culture and the language; I think it will be a really great opportunity for me.” The chance to study in the small town of Kazan will allow Leggett to learn more about the local culture. “I’m really looking forward to being in Russia and having a chance to experience the culture firsthand and experience the local customs,” Leggett said. “This is an amazing honor to receive such a competitive scholarship – I want to make the most of it.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Friday May 17, 2013
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Friday May 17, 2013
Alumni Association hosts annual Senior Send-off By Jacob Bojesson STaff Writer
Seniors enjoy food and drinks during the 2013 senior send off at the WVU Alumni Association.
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The West Virginia University class of 2013 received one last retreat for their dedication during the past four years before they are sent into the real world. The Senior Send-off: A Zero-Year Reunion is an annual event hosted by the WVU Alumni Association and the WVU Division of Student Affairs at The Erickson Alumni Center. The retreat is meant to mark an end to the WVU experience and introduce seniors to the Alumni Association. “It’s part of our senior year experience,” said Ken Gray, vice president of Student Affairs. “We’re celebrating the fact students have completed their senior year – that they have completed college and are about to graduate – but we are also letting them experience their first alumni event.” During the course of four years, the class rarely gets together.
“We don’t get this class together but one time, and that’s when they come as freshmen,” Gray said. “Not everyone will come to an event like this, but as many of them as we can get here, we think it’s significant.” The seniors enjoyed drinks and a buffet, as well as a chance to win season tickets to University sporting events. However, their most memorable gift was a lifetime membership with the Alumni Association. With graduation less than a month away, many of the students are leaving WVU with mixed emotions. The seniors were shown a world map and were asked to point where their futures will lead them. Another purpose of the retreat is to prepare the seniors for the future, and Alumni shared their best advice. “We’re trying to pick up some cool statistics that graduating students need to know,” said Tara Curtis, assistant director for communications for the Alumni Association. “How many alumni we have, how
many work abroad and what the social networks are.” WVU was the only school to which Billy Hay, sport and exercise physiology student, applied. Looking back at his four years, he does not regret his decision. “I’ve had a great experience. I’m going to miss a lot of stuff, football games especially,” Hay said. “Just getting involved with such a large university is really special, and it’s something you don’t see in Maryland, where I’m from.” They also were asked to sum up their experience at WVU in a single word. “Unforgettable,” “perfect” and “overdue” were among the words mentioned by the students. “Get involved, join as many clubs as you possibly can and cherish the friendships you make,” said Hilah Zia, a public administration student. “College friendships last way longer than any other types of friendships you make.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Friday May 17, 2013
GRADUATION EDITION | 9
State of Minds campaign reaches $629 million by caroline peters staff writer
“A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University”has raised $629 million, thanks to many contributions from various donors. With the December 2015 deadline approaching, the campaign’s goal of reaching $750 million is looking realistic. The campaign’s mission is to raise money for research, endowed scholarships and learning facilities. “State of Minds” holds the highest goal of any private fundraiser in WVU’s history. With the campaign being three times greater than the 2003 fundraiser, “Building Greatness,”
the University is looking forward. “We continue to receive an excellent response from those we talk to about the University and donating to the campaign,” said Wayne King, WVU Foundation president and CEO. “We have been holding a number of campaign-related events across the country, and our goal is to continue the momentum. “We feel very good at this point but understand we certainly have more work to do.” WVU students are pleased with the efforts the campaign is making to improve their school. Secondary education student Caitlin Campbell said she is appreciative of the efforts that others are mak-
ing to fund improvements to the University. “As a scholarship student, I’m beyond appreciative,” Campbell said. “If it wasn’t for the people working so hard, I would have had to work more and my grades wouldn’t have been as (good). Now that I’m graduating and have a job lined up, it’s good to know that I don’t have to worry about excessive debt to pay off. “It’s a great thing that the alumni are willing to help out and make the school better. One day when I have the money, I’ll want to help out and that’s truly what WVU is all about.” Engineering student Pilar Ayala said she is grateful for her scholarships
and is excited to see how “State of Minds” benefits future students. “I have a lot of friends that are struggling and wished that they had scholarships. I am from West Virginia and am very grateful for the scholarships the state has given me, but I also think that the University should have more (financial) opportunities for the out-of-state people.” “State of Minds” focuses on WVU’s 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future. The plan intends to enhance the undergraduate student experience and global education; advance the research initiative of the University; enable WVU to improve West Virginia’s health, economy
and quality of life; foster faculty excellence; enhance WVU through professional and graduate education; and support healthcare through research, education and patient care. “We have phenomenal alumni and friends of this University who are helping to open doors for students through scholarships, helping to support our faculty with fellowships and helping to improve our academic programs through facility upgrades and technology,” said WVU President James P. Clements. “The support we are getting comes at such an important time and will enable us to extend our momentum. Thank you to everyone who is helping
us close in on a very ambitious goal.” James “Buck” Harless serves as the national honorary chairman for the campaign. Robert Reynolds, 1974 alumnus and chairman of Putnam Investments, serves alongside Verl Purdy, 1964 alumnus and Cadrillion Capital president, as co-chairman. The campaign also receives help from a 23-member national volunteer committee, as well as hundreds of other volunteers. For more information about what the campaign hopes to achieve, visit www.astateofminds. com. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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10 | GRADUATION EDITION
Friday May 17, 2013
Journalism students, faculty earn awards by caroline peters staff writer
Both internationally and nationally, the West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism students and faculty continue to earn awards for their work. The School of Journalism faculty and students were recognized at the international Broadcast Education Association’s 2013 Festival of Media Arts. Assistant Professor Dana Coester received “Best of Festival” in the Faculty Interactive Multimedia Competition for creating “Mobile Main Street,” a mobile app that allows small organizations and businesses to boost their revenue. Two television journal-
ism students received third place at the competition. Krista Baker was awarded for her efforts with WVU News and Jamie McCraken received an award in the TV Sports Feature category of the festival. WVU SOJ students were also recognized at the regional and national Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards. The Mark of Excellence Awards recognizes journalism students in the region for their work. The Region the School of Journalism competes in consists of Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. All first place winners in each region go on to compete for recognition at the national level against the
rest of the nation’s best. Michael Carvelli received first place for his work as a sports columnist at The Daily Athenaeum. Carvelli has spent the last two years as The DA’s Sports Editor, and has covered the West Virginia football and men’s basketball teams for the last three seasons. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Carvelli said. “I sent my submissions like a lot of people on our staff did and thought they were good, but there are a lot of good schools in our region. It’s definitely a big honor to be recognized for the things that you work so hard on.” Carvelli said his experience as a student at the School of Journalism has helped him grow as an aspiring journalist.
“My first advisor suggested I work at The DA,” he said. “The DA has helped me a lot with reporting. Getting to work in the professional environment all day and getting the chance to do things with my career that you can’t learn in the classroom and the School of Journalism pushed me in that direction.” Television journalism student Erik Roberts won third place in Sports Reporting. Roberts said he was honored to receive such prestigious distinction from the SPJ. “It was a surprise,” Roberts said. “I always put pride into my work. I’m overall really satisfied to be acknowledged for some-
thing. The School of Journalism is a very comfortable place to be. I spent a lot of time there. It’s become home and will always have a place in my heart.” Omar Ghabra, who has worked at The DA for several years and currently serves as its editor-in-chief, won first place for Photo Illustration; Jamie McCraken and Chelsi Baker each received first place in reporting. Evan Moore received second place for online feature reporting and WVU News “Special Edition: Election” was awarded third place in Best All- Around Newscast. The success of the Perley Issac Reed School of Journalism serves as a reason to push students to perform well.
Zack King, television journalism student and president of the WVU chapter of the Radio and Television News and Director Association, said the school has steered him in the right direction. “It makes me excited to see other School of Journalism students, including people I’ve worked with as well as friends, accomplish things, because I know that I might have a chance of earning those things one day,” King said. “The professors I’ve had have taught me a lot (about) technology and other parts of journalism that have contributed to my knowledge of television journalism.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
GRADUATION EDITION | 11
WVU senior wins National Science Foundation fellowship By Madison Fleck Staff writer
Emily Lipscomb, a senior civil and environmental engineering student at West Virginia University, has been awarded the 2013 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The program recognizes outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. “I first became interested in the fellowship when Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas encouraged me to apply,” Lipscomb said. Weidhaas, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at WVU, is also the faculty advisor for the American Society of Civil Engineers. She and Lipscomb first met in 2011 when Lipscomb was an officer in the student American Society of Civil Engineers. “I think she was impressed with me after that, and she asked me to do a summer undergraduate research fellowship with her,” Lipscomb said. After working together for two semesters, Weidhaas encouraged Lipscomb to apply for the NSF fellowship. “Emily is one of the brightest students that I’ve worked with,” Weidhaas said.Lipscomb will be awarded $30,000 for three of the five years it will take her to complete her graduate program. The money can go toward her tuition or her research, and while she is still weighing her options, Lipscomb has a good idea of the kind of research she wants to do. “One of the things I’m really interested in possibly working on is antibiotic re-
sistance genes and how they act as pollutants in the environment,” she said. “We all use antibiotics, and you’ll flush extra prescription drugs that eventually end up in the sewers. “If they’re not treated completely, they end up in rivers; so how can we deal with that in environmental systems?” Lipscomb hasn’t decided where she will do her graduate work. She says she is currently considering WVU, Virginia Tech and the University of Illinois. “I want to get a Ph.D and work in some type of research,” she said. “Whether that’s in a university or for the government or for a private research setting.” Weidhaas said she is also very optimistic when it comes to Lipscomb’s future. “I’m really happy that Emily was awarded this fellowship because we don’t have enough women in engineering,” she said. “I know that she will really take advantage of this opportunity and make the best of it.” wvutoday
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Senior Emily Lipscomb won a National Science Foundation fellowship.
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
Graduation Edition | 13
DA’s graduating sports writers say goodbye Michael Carvelli SPORTS EDITOR
At the beginning of this year, I was in one of my journalism classes here at West Virginia University. We had just received the grades for one of our news stories that we had written, but the professor didn’t hand mine back. Instead, they asked me to come talk to them after class. I’ll never forget what they asked me after they handed me back my story – for which I received an A, for the record. “Why are you wasting your time doing sports?” they asked. “You’re good enough to have a career doing real news.” And to be honest, if I hadn’t just gone through my four years here at WVU taking my classes at the J-school, things probably would have been different. Maybe I would be leaving this school to start on my career covering “real” news. But I was lucky enough to have something better. I had four years at The Daily Athenaeum. The truth is, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I showed up at 284 Prospect Street to interview for a sports writer position with Brian Gawthrop and John Terry. All I knew was that, after a semester as an athletic training student, I had just switched to journalism and was looking for a way to continue to write on a regular basis. What I got was so much more. I got the chance to work every day in a professional environment, doing exactly what I would be doing if I worked at any other newspaper. I’ve had the privilege to work with some of the best young journalists this school has to offer, as well as some of the best in the state.
But like all good things, my time at The DA has to come to an end. And although I’m not entirely done yet (I’ll still be writing stuff occasionally this summer while I take my final class), I wanted to use my final column to share some of the things I’ve learned since working here. The first is that you get out of something as much as you put into it. I’ve seen many writers come through The DA who wanted to get hired and go straight to covering football and men’s basketball (and when they didn’t get what they wanted, quit). But you have to be willing to work your way up. We’re all students, and we’re all learning what we’re doing when we first get hired here – there’s nothing wrong with moving your way up. In fact, it’s more rewarding than anything when you see yourself progress and get to where you want to be. The second thing is to do what you’re passionate about and do what you love to do. I’m lucky enough to be able to say that when I leave school, I will be entering into a job that I will truly love doing every day for the rest of my life. Not a lot of people get to say that, and I wouldn’t have known this had it not been for The DA. If I were to go through and thank every person who needed to be thanked, this column would be way too long – so I’ll try to condense the list a little bit. The obvious ones were Brian and John, the two people who hired a freshman whose only clips were stories he wrote on Bleacher Report as a senior in high school. Then you have people like Tony Dobies and Dave Ryan, who were seasoned vets at the paper by the time I got there and were always willing to help with anything I needed – and still are. There are too many other
see CARVELLI on PAGE 14
NICK ARTHUR CORRESPONDENT
I had no clue what I was doing on that bus. Surrounded by dozens of people I’d never met, I was tired and questioning why I agreed to attend. I had just been hired as a sports writer at The Daily Athenaeum and was asked to tag along to its annual retreat – only required for the section editors but open to anyone. I was asked to come, because, naturally, not all of the editors wanted to wake up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday and spend all day listening to guest speakers tell them what they’re doing wrong. While on the bus, when everyone was admitting how tired they were and questioning why they, too, were sacrificing a Saturday, we all agreed we needed to come up with a hashtag to include in our tweets about the retreat – in a world of social media gurus, it was only fitting. “Living the Dream,” I proclaimed. “With the ‘D’ and the ‘A’ capitalized.” I don’t know how I thought of it so quickly, it just came to me. After an outburst of laughter, we all agreed the sarcastic-term would be coined as our daily reference on Twitter. The retreat turned out to be very beneficial. I learned a lot about the dos and don’ts of the journalism industry – one with which I had no prior familiarity. We each poked fun and tweeted how bored we were at times and returned home late that evening. My first year as a writer turned out to be better than I could have ever asked for. I was fortunate enough to cover WVU football and basketball. From traveling to the women’s basket-
ball Big East tournament in Hartford, Conn., to the Orange Bowl in Miami, and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in between, it was an amazing experience. I was promoted to an editor’s position in my second year and had the opportunity to design and lay out the paper on a daily basis. I helped hire new writers. I continued to cover the football and basketball and reported from places such as Lubbock, Texas; Stillwater, Okla.; Bronx and Brooklyn, N.Y.; Landover, Md.; Lawrence, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo., and many more. After my memorable experience at The DA, I’ve learned the term that once made a mockery of the idea of sacrificing free time for work turned out to be genuine. During my two years, I lived the dream. I learned firsthand how priceless of an opportunity it is to work for the The Daily Athenaeum. I also reaped the benefits of the resume-building position. It opened the door to multiple internships, networking opportunities, and ultimately, the most important thing – a job. Life is simple – you get as much out of things as you put in. I invested a ton of time, effort and work over the past two years. And in return, I was given back more things than I could even begin to list. So, as I move on to the next junction of my life and write this column on a Saturday morning, I have just one thing to say. Thank you, Daily Athenaeum. For making a dream the reality. #livingtheDreAm nicholas.arthur@mail.wvu.edu
CODY SCHULER CORRESPONDENT
I shouldn’t be here right now. That’s what I told myself on a daily basis during my first couple of weeks covering the West Virginia football team. I was, after all, a finance student with no journalism experience from a handful of articles I wrote about the rowing team in my first month at The DA. For a while, I worked with the fear of a coach or player calling me out in front of all the other reporters and asking me what I was doing there. It wasn’t until months later on the field after the end Orange Bowl, with shreds of Clemson’s defense still hanging in the air, I finally realized I was supposed to be here. I looked around, watching Mountaineer fans celebrate in the stands; I brushed shoulders with Geno Smith as he celebrated a game that meant more to him than maybe any other player on the roster; I even saw Mike Montoro, director of football communications, run at a full sprint toward head coach Dana Holgorsen to make sure he was ready for a television crew heading his way. It was an unforgettable series of moments, and I used them all to write a deadline recap from the press box that was instantly sent out to WVU fans still awake and craving for more coverage of a game many people will never, ever forget. It was in that time I realized truly what it meant to be a sports writer at The DA. As reporters, we are given opportunities few others have access to. We get to interact firsthand with coaches, travel to games and ask questions in an effort to provide you, the reader, with a closer look at all the action. This job was never about
me and what I was able to experience for myself – especially on road trips like the Orange Bowl. Instead, it has always been about sharing the experiences I had with everyone who was unable to be there to see them firsthand. When friends, coworkers and other people I would run into would ask me my take on WVU Athletics, it was strange in that they always took special attention to what I had to say, because I had this job. Often what I found was the people asking me these questions actually knew more about what was going on than I did. This is the beauty of covering the Mountaineers: Every fan is an expert, and every fan has a passionate interest in WVU. I’ve done so many awesome things and made so many incredible memories working at this paper. All of that has required sacrifice, hard work and literally hundreds of hours inside the newsroom. I wouldn’t have made it through two years, especially this year as managing editor, without the help of some great people. I want to thank my parents, for always being there and providing support and guidance every step of the way; my girlfriend, Allison, for so many things, including not getting frustrated for all the time I spent at the office; her dad, Ken, for cultivating my interest in so many things and inspiring several columns. And especially to Tony Dobies and Dave Ryan, who showed me what The DA was really about, helped me get my start and always answered questions. I’d like to thank Patrick Southern and Geoff Coyle for showing me the ropes without knowing you really were. To Michael, Nick and John, as well as the rest of The DA writers (including Alex Sims), for taking this journey with me.
see SCULER on PAGE14
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14 | GRADUATION EDITION
SCHULER
Continued from page 13 To the good folks at Tudor’s Biscuit World, Black Bear Burritos and Mario’s Fishbowl for fueling late nights and early mornings on the job. And most importantly, to anyone who ever read a single paragraph of the hun-
CARVELLI
Continued from page 13 people to thank, but that’s the great thing about being a part of something as great as the sports section here at The Daily Athenaeum. Sure, the games are fun to cover and everything, but
dreds of articles I’ve written here for the past two years. I don’t know how good of a job I did, but I had a lot of fun, and hopefully some of my work was enjoyable and insightful – or at least kept you busy during class or at work. It isn’t with a heavy heart I finish this, my last column, but instead with a smile and a wave.
It’s not hard to leave, because I’ve known I’ve been on borrowed time all along. Next year, several writers without a clue of what they’re getting themselves into will step into our roles and experience the very same things we have. And that is the true beauty of this place.
it’s the times when we’re all hanging out in the hotel the night before the Orange Bowl or the late-night Subway rides from Manhattan to Brooklyn after the Pinstripe Bowl that I’ll remember most. While I’m leaving The DA and WVU to get ready to start my full-time job cov-
ering Mountaineer athletics for Blue & Gold News, I will never forget any of the people I’ve met or the times I’ve had here. I can honestly say that I’ve been #livingtheDreAm for the last four years. Thanks for reading.
charles.schuler@mail.wvu.edu
james.carvelli@mail.wvu.edu
BRING YOUR FAMILY TO THE FISHB TO CELEBRATE GRADUATION! OWL
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Friday May 17, 2013
Borgia earns Edward M. Osetek Educator Award By Evelyn Merithew Staff writer
Anthony “Tom” Borgia, Chair of the West Virginia University Department of Endodontics, has won the prestigious 2013 Edward M. Osetek Educator Award from the American Association of Endodontists. Recipients of the award must demonstrate their status as an outstanding educator by earning the esteem and respect of students and faculty in 10 years or less. Borgia, who currently completed his third year at WVU, quickly gained an excellent and notable reputation. “Dr. Borgia continues to be recognized by our dental students and our graduate residents in Endodontics for his outstanding teaching style, as well as his exceptional skills in mentoring our students,” said David Felton, Dean of the WVU School of Dentistry. Borgia was nominated by his resident students and peers for the award, all of whom sent in nominations to the judging board; he also won the Outstanding Teacher Award from the School of Dentistry Class of 2011. When he first arrived to Morgantown, Borgia quickly implemented several significant changes to the Endodontics pre-doctoral and post-doctoral programs. There were seven areas with deficiencies that needed corrected to achieve “Accreditation without Reporting Requirements” in the WVU dental department in order to be passed by CODA, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and Borgia resolved those within his
first four months at WVU. “Just me coming to WVU helped to fix one of the CODA credentials because there were not enough faculty in the program,” Borgia said. WVU’s alumni contributed all the money to renovate the clinics, provide new equipment and bring in guest speakers. CODA is a freestanding organization that is responsible for accrediting dental schools. The organization comes up with the rules and regulations for what is needed to be certified as a program. “That [Borgia] has now been formally recognized by the AAE and his national colleagues with the Osetek Award further punctuates his outstanding contributions to the School of Dentistry’s academic mission,” Felton said. “We are extremely proud of Dr. Borgia’s accomplishments – this award places him among our elite educators.” Borgia, who owned private dental practices in the towns of Plymouth and Sandwich, Mass. for more than 30 years, said he never would have guessed that he’d teach in Morgantown, W.Va. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology at Boston College and attended dental school at Georgetown University. “My initial intention was to be a biochemist. That was in the 1970s and there was a recession at the time, and everyone I knew getting Ph.D.s weren’t getting jobs. When the opportunity of dentistry presented itself I took it because for the most part, dental patients are healthy,” said Borgia. After he completed spe-
ciality training in Connecticut, Borgia moved back to Boston to start a practice with a partner. “After 30 years of work and 40,000 root canals I was getting bored. I was on the board of the American Association of Endodontists at the time and the president at the time, Clara Spatafore, had gone to WVU’s dental school and did her endodontic training there,” Borgia said. Spatafore told Borgia WVU had been looking for a Chair of the Endodontics Department for years and that he would be great for the position. Borgia said he had been looking for a position after going back to school for his master’s in health administration, and Spatafore’s advice came at a good time. After his first visit to Morgantown, Borgia felt he may enjoy the opportunity. “I went to a WVU football game in Fall of 2009, interviewed with the Dental School Dean, thought about it and said ‘Why not?’” he said. “I initially thought I’d only be in Morgantown for a few months to help solve the CODA requirements so I rented a condo and didn’t sell my house back in Cape Cod.” Borgia’s WVU experience quickly turned into a life-changing one. “Even though you make half the amount of money, I’m having too much fun and enjoying what I’m doing too much to go back. I get so much satisfaction out of students thanking me. It’s so much more satisfying than treating patients over and over again.” Borgia said by gaining a lifetime of experience
see dentist on PAGE 16
Friday May 17, 2013
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16 | GRADUATION EDITION
dentist
Continued from page 14 through his private practice he feels he is better able to identify what students need and want to learn. After receiving the Edward M. Osetek Award, Dr. Gregory Chadwick, the past president of the American Dental Association and currently the Dean of the Dental School at East Carolina University, congratulated Borgia. Borgia said he has since been solicited by a number of different universities. “This award validated to me that I have made the right decision. You get na-
tional recognition and it’s a very coveted award,” Borgia said. Borgia said that his transition has difficult at times, yet there have been aspects that have been extremely rewarding. “I miss the ocean and fresh fish, but people are nicer here,” Borgia said. Here, I’m answered with ‘No sir, yes sir’ and the students are much nicer to work with. The quality of students is better: they are much more dedicated, much more polite and much more engaged. When students come up and thank me, it makes the difference.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Friday May 17, 2013
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM What are your favorite WVU memories? Be sure to tag all of your tweets this weekend with #wvugrad to share your memories with fellow alumni.
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Friday May 17, 2013
WVU announces plans for $90 million Evansdale complex
Graduation Edition | 17
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NOW HIRING writers for all sections. Stop by 284 Prospect St. today to pick up an application. Applications should include three writing samples and a resume.
Above is an artist’s rendering of the proposed $90 million residential complex on WVU’s Evansdale Campus.
By CArlee Lammers Managing Editor
West Virginia University announced plans this March for a $90 million multi-purpose development in the Evansdale area. The development, University Park, will be located on approximately 7 acres of land north of University Avenue and located along Harding Avenue and Oakland Street, and stretching along Country Club Road behind the McDonald’s restaurant. University Park will offer approximately 1,100 beds, retail development and WVU and other food services. “WVU must continue to upgrade its housing in order to appeal to the needs of our diverse student population, which includes traditional undergraduates, but more international and graduate students as well as families,” said Narvel Weese, vice president for administration and finance. Currently Morgantown’s Sunnyside neighborhood is
undergoing demolition, so a similar $70 million residential complex project can be completed. Sunnyside’s University Place is set to be completed by fall 2014. University Park will be the third and final phase of the WVU master housing plan to better-accommodate the needs of students. Weese said these projects will help the University achieve its housing goals and better meet the needs of students. “Today’s announcement, combined with the previously announced projects, provide WVU with a strong mix of housing accommodations that can appeal to undergraduate and graduate students from West Virginia and around the world,” said Dean of Students, Corey Farris. University Park will replace current housing located nearby at Fieldcrest Hall and the Medical Center Apartments, both of which will be demolished, and Pierpont Apartments,
Sumbitted
where the lease will not be renewed. However, demolition will not take place until the construction of the new facilities is completed. Students will not be displaced during the construction of the complex, as they were following the announcement of the University Place complex. Weese said the recent public-private projects would do more for the community, beyond providing better housing for students. He said the new complexes would also expand the tax base for both the city and county by generating additional B&O taxes. “University Park alone should more than double the net tax revenue to the city from these properties,” he said. While the University Park development is still in the early stages of planning and design, the project is expected to be completed for fall 2015 occupancy. carlee.lammers@mail.wvu.edu
18 | GRADUATION EDITION
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
Alumnus to bring WVU fans to St. Louis
file photos
Former West Virginia receivers Tavon Austin, left, and Stedman Bailey, right, were both drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2013 NFL draft.
BY Carlee Lammers Managing Editor
West Virginia University alumnus Glenn Isralsky recently landed a new job with the St. Louis Rams. Coincidentally, so did former WVU receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. During this srping’s draft, Austin was selected by the Rams eighth overall in the first round. St. Louis later selected Bailey in the third round. That’s when Isralsky began formulating a plan to bring a piece of home to the
two star receivers’ home opener this fall. Isralsky said he plans to create a Mountaineer section at the Sept. 8 game to cheer on the receivers in their NFL debut. “We reached out to the alumni group in St. Louis, and it seemed like there was a lot of interest. Then, a few light bulbs went off in my head, and I started making some contacts,” he said. “I know WVU fans travel great lengths, so I saw this as the perfect chance to do it.” For a discounted ticket price, Isralsky said he
hopes to create a Mountaineer section in one of the stadiums endzones. A food and beverage deal, along with a possible meet-and-greet with the two players are also in the works, Isralsky said. “The seats will be in one of the end zones in hopes of seeing Tavon’s (Austin) first NFL touchdown from a great vantage point,” he said. “One other thing that we are trying to do, if we do end up getting, say 100 or 200 people, we’re going to try and have Stedman
see st. Louis on PAGE 20
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Friday May 17, 2013
GRADUATION EDITION | 19
2013 Commencement schedule West Virginia University’s 144th Commencement is scheduled Friday-Sunday to honore the 2013 graduating class. Ceremonies for each school and college will be held throughout the weekend at various locations on the Evansdale Campus and the Morgantown area. Many of the ceremonies will be streamed online at http://webcast.wvu.edu/. The events of the weekend are listed below. Friday, May 17 3 p.m. - School of Public Health (Health Sciences Center) Mark Rosenberg, M.D., MPP president and CEO of
Task Force for Global Health will speak. 5:30 p.m. - Honors College (Creative Arts Center) Greg Bowman, associate professor of law at the WVU College of Law will speak. Saturday, May 18 9 a.m. - School of Dentistry (Morgantown Event Center) Dr. Peter J. Lascheid, president of the WVU School of Dentistry, will speak. 9 a.m. - College of Education and Human Services (WVU Coliseum) Irvin Scott, deputy director of education of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will speak. 9:30 a.m. - P.I. Reed School
of Journalism (Creative Arts Center) Richard Gingras, head of news products at Google, will speak. 1 p.m. - Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (WVU Coliseum) Jed DiPaolo, founder and CEO of JNDI Corporation and 1976 WVU graduate, will speak. 1 p.m. - School of Nursing (Morgantown Event Center) Georgia Narsavege, outgoing dean of the WVU School of Nursing, will speak. 1:30 p.m. - College of Law (Creative Arts Center) Bob Bastress, 2013 WVU College of Law Professor of the Year, will speak. 5 p.m. - School of Phar-
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macy (Morgantown Event Center) Dr. Vincente Anido Jr., pharmaceutical executive, honorary degree recipient and 1975 WVU graduate, will speak. 5:30 p.m. - College of Creative Arts (Creative Arts Center) Jay Chattaway, Grammy Award-winning composer and 1968 WVU graduate, will speak. 6 p.m. - College of Business and Economics (WVU Coliseum) Penelope Roll, chief financial officer of Ares Capital Corporation and 1988 WVU graduate, will speak. Sunday, May 19
9 a.m. - School of Medicine (Morgantown Event Center) William R. Sigmund II, M.D., M.H., senior vice president of North American Medical Affairs at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, will speak. 9:30 a.m. - Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design (WVU Coliseum) Robert G. Jenkins, retired brigadier general of the U.S. Air Force and 1967 WVU graduate, will speak. 10 a.m. - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Master/ Ph.D. (Creative Arts Center) Rush D. Holt Jr., U.S. congressman from New Jersey, will speak.
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2 p.m. - School of Medicine, Professional Programs (Morgantown Event Center) Devon Harris, member of the 1988 Winter Olympics Jamaican bobsled team, will speak. 2 p.m. - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate (WVU Coliseum) Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cervera, biological sciences inventor and innovator, honorary degree recipient and 1970 WVU graduate, will speak. 2:30 p.m. - College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (Creative Arts Center) Major Harris, former WVU quarterback, Heisman Trophy finalist and all-American, will speak.
20 | GRADUATION EDITION
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
file photo
Tavon Austin, left, and Stedman Bailey will both be playing for the St. Louis Rams this season. Austin was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, while the Rams chose Bailey in the third round.
st. louis
Continued from page 18 (Bailey) and Tavon (Austin) come out after the first game. I’m sure the fans will appreciate it, and likewise, I’m sure Tavon (Austin) and Stedman (Bailey) will love seeing a bunch of Mountaineers going nuts in the stadium.” Isralsky said as an account executive for the Rams, he was thrilled to see players from his alma mater join the Rams family. He also said he hopes Mountaineer fans nationwide will join in his enthu-
siasm and come to support the two. “I know every time a Mountaineer goes to the pros, people are always watching them and following them. It’d be even greater to do so in person,” he said. “A light bulb just went off, and I told myself ‘Let’s get the Mountaineers out here.’” For $54, those interested will receive one terrace level ticket and a $10 food and beverage voucher. For $84, fans can receive one field level ticket along with a $10 food voucher. For more information or to join the Mountaineer
section in St. Louis, contact Isralsky by calling 314-4250527 or by email at GIsralsky@rams.nfl.com. To order tickets online, visit www.stlouisrams. com/groupticketinfo. Use the promotion code WVU. The Mountaineers will take on the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla. Sept. 7. Isralsky said he hopes WVU fans will stop in St. Louis on their way home from the Oklahoma game and make a weekend of cheering on Mountaineers. The St. Louis Rams will take on the Arizona Cardinals Sept. 8 at 4:25 p.m. carlee.lammers@mail.wvu.edu
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 17, 2013
GRADUATION EDITION | 21
‘I’M PROUD TO BE A MOUNTAINEER’ Former WVU basketball player Kilicli sad to see career in Morgantown come to a close by michael carvelli sports editor
Following his final game in a West Virginia uniform, Deniz Kilicli walked around the Mountaineers locker room. He stopped with every one of his teammates, sharing a few final emotional moments with each of them. “Nobody wants to go out this way,” Kilicli said. “I told all of them that it’s been great playing with them. I’m proud to be a Mountaineer, and I’m really lucky to have played with these guys and for the coaches I’ve played for. “It happens; we lost. But I’m a senior, and I’m not going to have another goaround. I’m glad I played with these guys, I love them to death – all of them.” To those teammates, Kilicli wasn’t just the “big, bearded guy” he claimed to want to be remembered as. To the players who have been around him for as many as three years, he was like a brother. And they admitted it will be tough to see him go. “Deniz is one of my favorite teammates of all time, probably just behind KJ (Kevin Jones),” said redshirt sophomore forward Kevin Noreen. “He’s really helped me become better. It’s just really sad that I don’t get to play with him again. It’s like someone
punched me in the stomach, and now it’s just really hard to accept that as reality.” Kilicli was the one the younger players turned to throughout all of the team’s struggles this season. In his four years, he has been through the highest of highs – like when the Mountaineers earned a trip to the Final Four his freshman season – and during his final season, he got to see what it was like to be as low as he could possibly get. As a senior, his final season offered a mirror image to his up-and-down career in a WVU uniform. He was an offensive force, showing flashes of what had made him such a vital contributor on Bob Huggins’ teams in the last four years. He was benched and had games where he hardly got any playing time. But through it all, his mission stayed the same. He wanted to continue working hard to do whatever he could to try to help his team get out of its funk. After experiencing the feeling of accomplishment of making it to college basketball’s biggest stage in his first season, striving to get back and failing every time, was a tough pill to swallow for the 6-foot-9 forward. It was something he didn’t think his teammates
ever really understood because they hadn’t been there. “As athletes, we sacrifice so much, but we do it all because we want to win,” he said. “You do all the conditioning and stuff in the offseason, and you have those moments where you say ‘I can’t go anymore,’ but you do it, and then you make it (to the Final Four), and it’s worth it. You can say that you did your job. “That’s what’s been missing since then.” It’s a feeling he’ll never get the chance to have again now that he’s played patrick gorrell/the daily athenaeum his last college game. Deniz Kilicli was the only member of last season’s West Virginia men’s basketball team who played on the team that reached Kilicli was frustrated the Final Four in 2010. to see the season go the way it did because he felt – even though they didn’t perform like it – this team could have been better than any team he had played with at WVU. But they didn’t have the x-factor that great teams have. “We had more talent Maria G. Belcher than that (Final Four) Interior Design team,” Kilicli said. “But we didn’t have even close to Loren T. Clevenger the same amount of chemBiochemistry istry. That was the big difference between that team Stephen M. Gentile and this team. Multidisciplinary Studies “That team was a band of brothers. I mean, we Angela M. Martinez love each other, too. We Environmental and Natural Resource Economics just didn’t know each other until it was too late, George P. McGarry and now I’m done playing Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources here. It’s just really sad.”
Congratulations
to our outstanding seniors!
james.carvelli@mail.wvu.edu
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22 | Graduation Edition
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Friday May 17, 2013
Incoming students awarded Presidential Scholarships
Five incoming WVU students were awarded the Presidential Scholarship Tuesday.
By Ashley Tennat Staff writer
West Virginia University has welcomed five young academic scholars to its family Tuesday with the Presidential Scholarship awards ceremony. Each year, University President James P. Clements and WVU Foundation President Wayne King select five high school graduates from across the state to receive the foundation scholarship. The scholarship covers the cost of attendance and tuition and a one-time, $4,500 stipend for study abroad and academic enhancement. Once selected, the students are invited to the president’s house with their families for a ceremony, in which they have the opportunity to speak in front of an audience about their journey toward this accomplishment. Dillon Muhly-Alexander of Doddridge County High School was one of the five
students who received the award. “I can’t even begin to describe how elated I am for getting this tremendous award,” he said. Alexander said in order to be considered as one of the scholars, one must first meet a certain criteria in terms of ACT composite score or SAT scores, as well as cumulative GPA. They must also fill out and submit an application. “It was definitely a lot of hard work to get to where I am today, and it’s been over the course of four years, and to get this level of recognition is truly humbling,” he said. “I have a really good work ethic that I’m proud of; I always try to do the best in whatever I have to take.” Julie Peng of Hurricane High School said she believes her hard work has paid off. “I was so excited when I got the email. I couldn’t wait to hear what the results were,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to learn (a variety of subjects), which might sound kind of funny, but I
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just like to learn. My brother goes (to WVU), so he knew about the process, and he was really helpful.” Peng said at times it was hard to keep motivated, but the recognition she received in the end kept her going. “I think it’s really important to keep the end goal in mind because throughout those four years (of high school), it can seem really monotonous, and you may feel like you’re not getting anywhere, but in the end, your hard work will be recognized by someone somewhere. So, it’s just important to just keep going,” Peng said. Sundus Lateef of Bridgeport High School said in order to be chosen as one of the scholars it took not only a lot of hard work and dedication, but also a lot of strength and support from others to help her achieve her goal. “It took a very devoted family who could deal with me when I was really stressed, as well as
see SCHOLARS on PAGE 23
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Friday May 17, 2013
Graduation Edition | 23
SCHOLARS
Continued from page 22 awesome teachers for me to become one of the scholars,” she said. “Just being really dedicated to succeeding in whatever opportunities were available in the classroom and extracurricular activities was something I had to do.” Lateef advised other high school students interested in becoming one of the scholars to keep an open mind. “WVU might be our instate school, but this scholarship proves that we have top-notch students and we can compete with other schools. You don’t have to go to a name-brand school to get a quality education. The presence of these scholarships proves that,” she said. Clements ended the presentation with words of hope for the students’ futures. “You have to believe in yourself. That’s one of the first principles,” he said. “In life, some things can be difficult or something doesn’t go right but you still have to believe in yourself. All of us have been given great gifts, we just have to use them, and we have to believe that we have them,” Clements said. “These five students clearly have them, but then the second part is you have to work hard. You have to develop those gifts.” Clements said he believes these students have bright futures ahead of them at WVU and looks forward to watching them achieve their dreams as Mountaineers. “I believe these five students will make a difference. There is no question in my mind. They have some pretty big dreams that are very worthy,” he said. “I think they have a great future ahead of them and they’re going to make a great difference in the future.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
144th Commencement
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The Department of Sociology & Anthropology CONGRATULATES THE CLASS OF 2013 Sociology & Anthropology Breeona Ambers Trevor Anderson David Ash Ryan Barrett Nicholas Bennett Leah Callen Jonathan Clay Sandy Crum† Emily Dean† Andrew Denny Emily Eddy Aaron Ferguson† Apryl Helmick Sara Hinkle Jessica Kopple Joseph Leonardo Samantha Moore .DVVH\ 5LIÁH Christopher Seckman Matthew Shaffer Alexis Smith Christopher Swisher Alixandra Tate Justin Tucker Nicholas Vallone† Matthew Webster Lacey White Alexander Winton Abigail Wolford-Jarrett Craig Zell Criminology Caitlin Adams Pierre Albouari Anthony Alger William Amos Brittany Andrews Rodger Ausherman II Kaison Ball† Valerie Barber Connor Battin
Kyle Baxter Mark Bledy Lauren Bolton Adam Bourassa Ashley Bourgeois Alesa Bowman Sarah Brosky Sydney Brown Kiara Burnoski Kelly Ann Butler† Brianna Carlson Kelly Caton Sierra Clark Devon Coate Aaron Craft Abigail Crim Sarah Croy Michael Dalton† Christopher Dang Dylan Dayhaw† Brad Delgatti Rylee Dempsey Kristina DiDiano Caitlin DiFiore Emmett Donovan† Ryan Donovan Courtney Dunn Jillian Eggerud Jack Eisenmann† Patrick Fitzgerald Amanda Fratticcioli Ashley Freeland Damian Fry Tyler Fuller Nicholas Greenberg Andrew Grennor Heather Grinstead Jolene Hall Richard Hall Morgan Harms Kent Hastings† Kaitlin Henthorn
Andrew Hughes III Kingsley Iheme Christopher Johnston† Alex Jonese Matthew Kaczmar Zachary Kendrick Ian Kettleman Matt Kilmer Jared Kinder Samantha Korba Megan LaRue Danielle Launi Raven Lee Katherine Leljedal Ayman Mageed Michael Maglisco Megan Martin Cassandra McCurdy Matthew McIntire Lemia McKay Lori McLaughlin Tristian Menendez Mark Michaud Taylor Moore Ryan Moss† Leanne Myers Stephenie Nagy Amelia Nelson Matthew Newman Benjamin Parrish Dalton Parsons Danielle Prizzi Michael Pumphrey Brenna Ramirez Ryan Raven Christopher Reiff John Ridgway Gregory Riggs Cheryl Santimarino George Saymon IV Mark Sechler Jasmine Sheppard
Samantha Siliani David Slaymaker Justin Sleeman Robert Smith Mick Snyder Joshua Sorenson Jessica Soroko Kate Sullivan Lindsey Sutherland Wesley Trostle Richard Viviani Jonathan Waggoner Travis Wagner Darryl Walters, Jr. Megan Ware-Fitzgerald Jonathan Waybright† Christopher Widmer Jonathan Williams Chase Wilson Tony Yates III Masters In Sociology Frank Annie Reinmar Freis-Beattie Jacob Matz Marshall Schmidt Clara Simmons
Outstanding Senior Sociology & Anthropology
Maisie Fraley
(December 2012 graduate)
Finalists: Andrew Denny Emily Eddy Lacey White Outstanding Senior Criminology
Lori McLaughlin Finalists: Abigail Crim Brenna Ramirez Bradley Silberzahn (December 2012 graduate)
†Candidate for August graduation
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
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Congratulations to the inaugural graduates of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
School of Public Health
MAY 2013
DECEMBER 2012
Master of Public Health
Master of Public Health
Brittany Lynn Brooks Amber N. Brown Casey L. Clark Michael B. Dark Kerry D. Gabbert Janelle Wilhelmina Graves Amy A. Hunter Alan Michael Keenan Mohannad Kusti Lindsey J. Mason Lauren A. Rizzuto Katherine Adair Roach Nirupama Seemaladinne Bobbi J. Steele Syam Babu Stoll Miheret Yitayew
Megan Rae Atkins Kristi Anne Barnett Jennifer Lynn Bartos Lindsay Nicole Beery Kathryn Leeming Flack Summer Lea Kuhn Risto Popstojanov Kelly Karen Szabo Emily Ann Waldie
Master of Science School Health Education Kiernan Maureen Dunn Alyssa Ann Ruggiero Ryan Christopher Scott
Doctor of Philosophy Omayma Omar Alshaarawy Laura Marie Kurth Molly Ruth Matthews Ewald
Master of Science School Health Education Megan Louise Barkdoll Samantha Leigh Lamp Jonathan Thomas Tuttle
Doctor of Philosophy R. Constance Wiener
Friday May 17, 2013