GRADUATION EDITION The Daily Athenaeum May 9-11
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2 | Graduation edition
Friday May 9, 2014
Congrats, WVU class of 2014
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A student excitedly receives her diploma during last year’s graduation. More than 4,300 West Virginia University students will move their tassels to the left during the 2014 Commencement Weekend and celebrate the closing of a chapter in their lives. The Daily Athenaeum staff would like to congratulate each of these graduates and their support systems on this outstanding accomplishment and milestone. Time spent at this University is special and comes at a critical point in the lives of young adults. Throughout your time here, you’ve no doubt experimented with new things and many
of your beliefs were sure to be challenged. While many college days were spent partying with friends and enjoying youthful bliss, a majority of your days as a Mountaineer were spent focused on the tasks at hand. You spent endless hours working toward your long-term academic and professional goals, and those efforts have finally paid off. For some graduates, this weekend marks a transition from one level of academia to another, as they continue on to pursue higher degrees. For others, it marks the end of their educational career
that began more than 16 years earlier when they got on a school bus to head to kindergarten. Regardless of what commencement means to you, graduation is a defining moment in each of your lives – a fork in the road so to speak. As with all milestones in life, this weekend marks the end of one challenge and the beginning of another. In addition to celebrating your achievements and marking the beginning of new paths, graduation is also a time for you and your loved ones to reflect on the last few years of your life. During your time at
WVU, you’ve made lifelong friends, chosen a career path and then changed it one or more times, found the love of your life and became a lifelong Mountaineer. Together with your classmates, you witnessed the WVU football team beat the Clemson Tigers 70-33 in the 2012 Orange Bowl, saw the girls soccer team win the 2013 Big 12 Championship and the rifle team become National Champions for the sixteenth time. In August, you saw Macklemore and Ryan Lewis rock the Mountainlair Green surrounded by thousands of your closest
friends at Fall Fest. You learned from some of the brightest minds in the world and studied next to students who garnered national attention for their accomplishments. You aced the GEC courses, and you struggled through Calc 2, Calc 2 again for a second time and then maybe even a third. This tremendous experience is now drawing to a close. Whether you will be returning to WVU to further your education or whether you are embarking out into the “real world,” take this opportunity to reflect on your time at this University and all it has meant. Re-
member all the good times, and the bad, you had here. The experiences you had here and the lessons you learned will help you succeed in the next stage of your life, no matter where that road may lead you. Again, we offer our congratulations to you on a job well done. You made it. The tassel was worth the hassle! Now, go out there and make West Virginia University proud. Show the world what the Mountaineer spirit and work ethic is all about. And please, never forget… Once A Mountaineer, Always A Mountaineer.
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2014 graduates reflect on time at WVU BY Caroline Peters
“Some of the people that are closest to me are moving across the country, so it’s exciting to start After years at West Vir- a new chapter, but I’m too ginia University, it is time nostalgic.” for the graduating class to Although saying goodbid farewell to the blue and bye is difficult for most gold. For many, this good- graduates, others are ready bye is bittersweet as they to enter the next stage of are ending one chapter of life. their lives and opening a Josh Feeser, a business new one. graduate, said he is ready Andrew Sealy, a tele- to move on to the next big vision journalism grad- step in life. uate, said he will always “This is one of the best view the Mountaineer moments in my life – truly Nation as his extended makes me feel accomfamily. plished by checking off an“I have a mix of emo- other objective,” Feser said. tions. It’s exciting that big “It’s a completely surreal things are happening and feeling.” Scott Fowler, an exercise new opportunities are on the way, but I look back on physiology graduate, said the best four years of my WVU has played a critical life, and I’m having trou- role in his life throughout ble letting go,” Sealy said. the years. “WVU has become my Fowler said his time home, and Mountaineers at the University has allowed him to grow as an are my family. Staff Writer @DailyaTHENAEUM
individual. “Throughout my time at WVU, I’ve grown and matured into someone I never knew I was capable of,” Fowler said. “The hard times and unfathomable challenges that stood in my way these past four years have taught me that no challenge is too large to bear or overcome. “I will always bleed blue and gold, and the mountains and country roads will always stay instilled within my soul.” Lane Horter, a public relations graduate, said the University has been a major part of his life, and the future is uncertain. “It’s definitely weird. WVU has played such a big role in my life the past four years, and now, to be moving on is kind of strange,”
Horter said. “I’m excited, but at the same time, there are still a lot of uncertainties, which make me nervous.” After four years of learning and meeting people, Alexis Vongohren, a journalism graduate, said she will miss her friends from college more than anything. “It feels like just yesterday I was walking around Towers meeting people I never imagined would still be my friends today,” Vongohren said. “To watch those friends grow has been wonderful, and I am so proud of all of us. “The friends I made in Morgantown will be with me forever. A part of me will go with them, and a part of them will stay with me.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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A graduate shows his enthusiasm during last year’s graduation.
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Friday May 9, 2014
Graduation edition | 5
Career Services tools, programs available beyond graduation BY Alexis Randolph Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Graduation is an exciting time for students, but there is still the age-old question of “what next?” that can damper the experience. The current unemployment rate for the United States is 6.3 percent. In West Virginia, the rate is slightly lower at 6.2 percent, and even lower yet for the city of Morgantown with a rate of 4.9 percent. Even with a positive trend in the unemployment rate, many recent college graduates have trouble finding the job they have spent the last four years working toward. West Virginia University can still help these students as alumni with services such as MountaineerTRAK and the WVU Career Service Center. “It is really important for alumni to realize they still have access to our services after they graduate,” said Sarah Glenn, assistant director of employer relations for the WVU Career Service Center. “They can come in and meet with one of our career counselors, get assistance with their resume and get help developing a job search strategy.” According to Glenn, one way for graduates to engage in the job search is through social media. Recent graduates can develop a LinkedIn profile and begin joining alumni association groups and groups linked to the industry they are interested in. “Not only do you want to be proactive, but you want to manage your relationship and make sure you are never burning down a bridge you may need further down the road,” Glenn said. Not restricting yourself to one location which may lack jobs in your field is also important Glenn said. “Be open geographically. Sometimes you may have to
Alumni can use tools such as scheduled career fairs. move early on in your career in order to find a great opportunity,” she said. Networking is a big part of the job hunt. Glenn said there are many places to start expanding your network. “Attend alumni association events held in your hometown or the area you are moving to after graduation,” Glenn said. “This is a great way to start making connections.” Professors, former employers and sources of internships are other places students can start to network and look for jobs. Adrian Ferrera, a career service counselor, also had some advice for networking sources. “Start talking with your parents, and talk to your parent’s friends. Obviously, these are people that want you to be successful. They want you to have a job,” he said. “Often times, this may lead to a job.” Ferrera said students holding out for the career of their dreams may need to take a step back and understand the importance of any type of employment. “Sometimes you may need to take a part time job just to make sure you are paying your bills and paying off those student loans,” he said. “And when you have that part time job, make sure you are still looking for your big boy or girl job.” Rejection is something students need to accept and move on from according to
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Ferrera. He said everyone is going to be rejected at least once in their life, but building from that rejection is the key to success. “If it is possible to get feedback of why you were rejected, take it,” Ferrera said. “Listen, and then make those adjustments when you apply for the next one.” A recent graduate may be turned down from a job for many reasons, such as lack of experience or that they weren’t the right cultural fit for a company. Ferrera suggests an early and active approach with a student’s job search. Preparing resumes and applications on Saturdays and Sundays and sending out emails on Mondays allows the applicant to have the remaining part of the week to correspond with companies. Keeping track of your search and staying organized are important factors too. Glenn suggests the use of an Microsoft Excel spread sheet to help stay on top of your search. Students should remain timely in their search. As the summer goes on and continues into fall, many entry level positions in the student’s field of study will be filled. To learn more about the WVU Career Service Center and the tools available to alumni visit http://careerservices.wvu.edu danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Friday May 9, 2014
Economic outlook grim for graduating seniors By Jacob Bojesson
ter one of the toughest labor markets since the turn of the century, according a recent report by the EcoThe West Virginia Uni- nomic Policy Institute. versity Class of 2014 will enThe labor market has Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
made slight progress since the Great Recession in 2008 but continues to be rough on young workers. At an unemployment rate of 14.5 percent for peo-
ple under the age of 25 as of March 2014 – twice the overall unemployment rate – many graduates are expected to find themselves without a job after graduation. “A college degree does not necessarily protect you from high unemployment and underemployment,” said Heidi Shierholz, EPI economist. “The unemployment of recent college graduates is generally improving but agonizingly slowly, and it remains extremely high relative to where it was in 2007. “Furthermore, many young college graduates are underemployed. They either don’t get the hours they need, or they are working in jobs that don’t require their college degree.” According to Shierholz, the problem is not that graduates lack the sufficient level of education but rather the current labor market, which sees no need for them. “It’s not about them not having the right credentials,” she said. “It stems
from weak demands for goods and services, which makes it unnecessary for employers to significantly ramp up hiring.” Many graduates find themselves “idled” meaning they are neither working nor in school. The rate of idleness for young college graduates rose from 8.4 percent in 2007 to 11.4 in 2012 and has just barely improved to 11.2 percent in 2014. “They have been unable to take either of the two cheap paths that generally for young people help them continue prepare for their careers,” Shierholz said. “This high rate of idleness for both high school and recent college graduates represent an enormous loss of opportunity for these young people that will have lasting consequences for their careers.” An estimated 1 million Americans under the age of 25 are currently unemployed because of the weak labor market, which would not be the case if job opportunities were stronger.
The wages of young workers with a college degree have also declined substantially since 2007, and there has been no growth in over a decade, according to the report. Numbers for health care coverage and pensions have also seen a significant drop. Another trend in the labor market is that college graduates who do find a job will have a hard time moving to more prestigious and higher paid jobs in the near future. There are now 20 percent fewer “voluntary quits” in the labor market than there were in 2007. “Graduating in a bad economy has long lasting economic consequences,” Shierholz said. “Research suggests that for at least the next 10-15 years, the class of 2014 will likely earn less on average than if they had graduated when job opportunities were positive.” The entire report is available at http://www.epi.org/ publication/class-of-2014 danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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2014 WVU COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE Friday, May 9: • •
School of Public Health 4 p.m., Morgantown Event Center Honors College Recognition Ceremony 4:30 p.m., Creative Arts Center
Saturday, May 10: • • • • • • • • •
School of Dentistry 9 a.m., Morgantown Event Center College of Education and Human Services 9 a.m., Coliseum Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism 9:30 a.m., Creative Arts Center Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources 1 p.m., Coliseum School of Nursing 1 p.m., Morgantown Event Center College of Law 1 p.m., Creative Arts Center School of Pharmacy 5 p.m., Morgantown Event Center College of Creative Arts 5 p.m., Creative Arts Center College of Business and Economics 6 p.m., Coliseum
Sunday, May 11: • • • • • •
School of Medicine, M.D. and Ph.D. 9 a.m., Morgantown Event Center Davis College of Ag., Natural Resources & Design 9:30 a.m., Coliseum Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Doctoral/Master’s 10 a.m., Creative Arts Center School of Medicine, Professional Programs 2 p.m., Morgantown Event Center Eberly College of Arts and Sciences 2 p.m., Coliseum College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences 2:30 p.m., Creative Arts Center
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WVU names Goldwater Scholars
Trevor Butcher
wvutoday.wvu.edu
By Alyssa Lazar Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
West Virginia University has announced three Goldwater Scholars for the academic year 2013-2014. The scholars are: Trevor Butcher, Virginia Cunningham and Andrew Maloney. These students have demonstrated the excellence needed to earn the country’s premiere scholarship for undergraduate research in the STEM field. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is open to sophomores and juniors in the mathematics, sciences and engineering fields who are currently pursuing undergraduate research in their respective fields and who wish to pursue it later on in their career. Butcher is a sophomore chemistry student from Hollywood, Md. Cunningham is a junior physics student from Hurricane, W.Va., and Maloney is a sophomore chemical engineering student from Morgantown, W.Va. “70 percent of applicants are juniors, and 80 percent of winners are juniors. So, that means only 20 percent of winners are sophomores,” said Cate Johnson, program coordinator for the ASPIRE Office. “This year, two of our winners are sophomores; this is a really big deal. “They all came from different fields. It is not one particular STEM program that is nurturing undergraduate research; it is happening all across the university.” The University receives numerous applicants from students from these back-
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wvutoday.wvu.edu
Virginia Cunningham
Andy Maloney
grounds but only chooses four to nominate every academic year. The Goldwater Committee is comprised of faculty members at WVU who review the applications and choose the best four to nominate at the national level. This year, the Goldwater Committee nominated four applicants, and three were selected. “It is wonderful for WVU to be able to say we have three scholars, and this is the third time in history to have three,” Johnson said. “It shows that we do compete on a national level with research institutions.” The ASPIRE office is a resource students can use to achieve their goals of competing for a nationally competitive scholarship or fellowship. They assist students with their applications for these scholarships. They also provide graduate and professional school counseling and guidance for students interested in these fields. Johnson, along with Amy Cyphert, director of the ASPIRE Office, and Keith Garbutt, faculty advisor for the ASPIRE Office, work with students who are chosen to assist them with the editing process as well as the rest of the application. The scholarship awards $7,500 to each scholar that can be used for tuition, books and supplies. Many of the scholars are already receiving fully-funded scholarships with the University, and so they receive very little money. However, the scholars benefit immensely from the prestige of being a Goldwater Scholar.
“The real benefit of receiving the Goldwater scholarship is the prestige of it,” Johnson said. “It is like being an actor and having the title of Academy Award winner next to your name. It is a gold seal on their resume.” Johnson said receiving this award is also beneficial in their occupational outlook because these students are interested in pursuing a career in research. “The application is a series of short essays where they write about what they want to do in their career. They have to go into a career with research,” she said. “They need to be on a path to get a Ph.D. in a STEM field, whether in academia, private industry or government agency.” These students were especially eligible for the scholarship because of their current research. “The Goldwater Foundation seeks to invest in the next generation of STEM researchers,” said Keith Garbutt, dean of the Honors college, and faculty advisor for the ASPIRE office. Johnson said having three Goldwater Scholars in one academic year is also beneficial for the University. “It demonstrates the excellence in undergraduate research that we have at this University,” she said. “It shows that our university is doing really good work.” These scholars bring the total number of WVU Goldwater Scholars to 39. Interested sophomore and juniors can learn more about the application process by visiting http://aspire.wvu.edu danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Friday May 9, 2014
Graduation edition | 11
First-generation college grad heads to Harvard By Hannah Wigal Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
First generation college student and West Virginia University senior, Adam Carte, has accepted an offer from Harvard University for entrance into their Systems Biology Ph.D. program in August. Carte will graduate from WVU with a degree in biochemistry and a minor in biology. During his time at the University, he served on the Student Government Association Board of Governors and founded the WVU Association of Undergraduate Researchers. Carte grew up in Hico, W.Va, on a small farm where he was homeschooled until eighth grade. “I asked a lot of questions as a kid, and I was always curious how and why things worked,” Carte said. Over time, Carte developed a curiosity for how things work on a biological level and said he credits one of his high school teachers at Nicholas County High School, Ms. Arthur, for furthering his interest in biology. Carte earned gas money to commute from school in the next county over by tutoring students after school. Through this, he developed a passion for teaching others. “I knew I wasn’t going to college unless I could do well with scholarship money.
That’s just something I realized,” Carte said. “I did well coming out of high school, and financially, I have not had to worry while at WVU.” Carte attributes much of his success in his undergraduate career to McNair Scholars, which is a program that serves first-generation and low-income students as well as students from groups that are underrepresented in higher education. The McNair Scholars Program is designed to prepare students for the next level of higher education. Participants spend six weeks of the summer in a classroom setting learning scientific writing skills and professional research techniques. “McNair is the reason why I’m here now,” Carte said. Carte participated in the McNair Scholars Program the summer following his sophomore year, and after conducting research in a laboratory setting he knew the research field would be a good fit for his skills. Prior to applying to the Harvard Systems Biology Ph.D. program, Carte interned with the program for ten weeks after completing his junior year. “I was able to work with great professors while interning at Harvard,” he said. “I was able to get an idea of where the other interns were applying for grad school, and I got a good idea of what the top-tier programs were.”
Carte accepted interviews from two Ph.D. programs at Harvard University – Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Harvard Systems Biology. He also traveled across the United States throughout the spring 2014 semester interviewing with other Ph.D. programs at universities including Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rockefeller University, Stanford University and the University of California Berkeley. “I wanted to go to Harvard, but I wanted to give the other programs a chance,” Carte said. After the interview process was completed, Carte said he attempted to ignore any outside influences when choosing which program would suit him best. “I think Harvard is the best place for me,” he said. “I got into the Biological and Biomedical Sciences and the Systems Biology Programs, however Systems Biology fits my skill-set and
Adam Carte prepares himself for Harvard after studying at WVU. personality better.” As Carte reflects upon his time spent at WVU, he said the University has adequately prepared him for a future in the research field. “No one should feel limited coming out of West Virginia, especially coming out
of WVU,” he said. “It’s all about what you choose to do and how hard you work. You have to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible.” Even though his undergraduate career at WVU has come to a close, Carte
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wishes to keep close ties with the University. “I hope that I shined some good light here because there are many opportunities for students at West Virginia University.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Friday May 9, 2014
Kimble passes musket to next Mountaineer by Jacob Bojesson Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Jonathan Kimble passes the musket to the new mountaineer Michael Garcia.
Kyle Monroe/The Daily ATHENAEUM
Michael Garcia officially became the new Mountaineer Mascot for the 2014-15 academic year when Jonathan Kimble handed over the musket during a ceremony in April. Garcia, a junior political science student from Fairmont, W.Va., was announced as the new mascot in March and made his first appearance in buckskins during the Gold-Blue Spring football game April 12. “I’m trying to represent the state by getting to know the state,” Garcia said. “I want to meet the people and get to know them and represent them as the best Mountaineer that I can be.” Garcia said it is a dream come true to be the Mountaineer, and he’s eager to start his new job. “I’m really looking forward to the experience,” he said. “Going to elementary schools starting on Monday to see the kids and travel a lot is what I’m looking forward to.” Garcia said Kimble was the inspiration who made him decide to apply to be the new mascot. Garcia and Kimble have worked closely over the last few weeks to prepare Garcia for the job. “I’ve met a lot with Jonathan. He’s really been a great help to me,” Garcia said. “We’ve talked
about almost everything that could go wrong, and I’ve met a lot of (former) Mountaineers tonight, so that’s always good, too.” Kimble is the first Mountaineer Mascot since WVU made the move from the Big East Conference to the Big 12 Conference in 2012. Before handing over the rifle, he fired off his last shots outside the Erickson Alumni Center and started one last “Let’s Go Mountaineers” chant. Looking back on his two years in the buckskins, it is not the thrilling sports games he will remember the most, but rather the philanthropic work that’s part of the job. “My best memories are just being around the kids and being a role model for them means a lot,” Kimble said. “Not waking up and putting on the buckskin. in the morning ... I’m going to miss it a lot.” Several previous Mountaineers were present at the ceremony, as well. West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant served as mascot in 1990 and got to know Garcia in summer 2013 when he interned in her office. “He has what it takes to make his own history,” Tennant said. “As Jonathan has made history, and as all the Mountaineers before have made history for our state and our University.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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WVU associate professor awarded for leadership with Prison Book Project By Jacob Bojesson Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Katy Ryan, an associate professor in English at West Virginia University, has been named this year’s Neil S. Bucklew Award recipient for her work with the Appalachian Prison Book Project. The award is presented by the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and recognizes a person for his or her demonstrations of leadership, courage and support on a continuous basis in the area of social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. Ryan started the Appalachian Prison Book Project a decade ago, and the nonprofit organization supplies prison inmates in six states with free books. “A fantastic group of volunteers has kept the project going for 10 years,” Ryan said. ”The Bucklew Award is a recognition of the great collective work of many, many people who are committed to economic and social justice.” Ryan said the project has been a success, and since the start in 2004, the group has mailed more than 13,000 books to prisons in and around West Virginia. “We started the project in 2004 because there was such an obvious need for books inside prisons,” she said. “Anyone in prison can write to us and make a request for reading material, and we do our best to find a good fit from our shelves of donated books.” The project has seen a positive response from the
Artwork and thank-you notes from inmates are on display at the office. inmates who keep requesting more reading material. “Storytelling and reading are fundamental human activities,” Ryan said. ”There are humane and practical reasons to provide imprisoned people with tools that might improve their lives and all of our lives. We know that education is the single best way to reduce recidivism, and we consider the book project part of that larger social goal.” Social justice issues have long been an important topic for Ryan. She has committed a lot of time to researching topics such as the death penalty. She said the APBP is a matter larger than just giving books to inmates; it is a way of holding a discussion regarding social issues regarding education
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and the justice system. “This is an opportunity for anyone interested in prisons, education or social justice to learn more about what is going on in West Virginia and other states in terms of higher education in prisons and alternative sentencing.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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Three WVU students awarded Critical Language Scholarship By Meagan Carpenter Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Three West Virginia University students have been chosen as recipients of the Critical Language Scholarship through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This program targets rare and critical languages in which the government is interested. Nicholas Amos, Holly McCleery and Emily Morgan will travel this summer to different countries to live, learn about the cultures and advance their skills in their chosen language. Amos, McCleery and Morgan were selected out of more than 5,500 applications from more than 650 colleges and universities. WVU has had nine Crit-
ical Language Scholars since 2010, and this is the second time the University has had three in a single year. Each student worked closely with the ASPIRE office at WVU to ensure their applications and essays met the application requirements. All scholarship winners will leave for Washington, D.C., in June and will return from their countries in early August. Amos will focus on Arabic and travel to Oman, a country south of Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Gulf. McCleery will travel to Guangzhou, China, and Morgan will travel to Suzhou, China. The CLS covers all expenses for the students’ travel, which includes the flight to D.C. for training, the flight to the country
they will be studying in for two months, all room and board costs, and weekend excursions the host country will plan. Amos, a second-year graduate student teaching English as a second language, said he is excited about being able to travel around the country. “For the two months, I will be in language training for six hours a day Sunday-Thursday, because their weekends are Friday and Saturday,” he said. “We will be going on weekend excursions to learn more about the culture.” Amos said he has a lot of Arab friends, which is why he became interested in the language and is most looking forward to experiencing the culture. “I’m really sensitive to the environment when I travel, and I’m really in-
terested in what I’m going to experience in the atmosphere of that region,” he said. “I can’t wait to be immersed in the reality of what the Arab culture looks like.” McCleery, a senior international studies and Chinese studies student, lived in China for three years with her family, and when she moved back to the United States she said she regretted not learning more of the language and made a promise to return to China. “This is my last opportunity to be completely immersed in the Chinese culture 24/7 and not have to worry about my classes or other school work,” McCleery said. Morgan, a junior biology and Chinese studies student, has traveled to China twice before and said she wants to take every oppor-
tunity given while she is in China this summer and explore. “In the past when I have been in China, I never went on the excursions that were planned to leave the city,” Morgan said. “This year, I want to get Nicholas Amos out and eat all the food and see all the sights.” Morgan, like the other scholarship winners, said she encourages every student who is interested to apply for the program. “It takes a lot of time to contact people for the application, so start early,” Holly McCleery she said. “I encourage students to make sure to draw on personal experience and make your application as unique as possible.” To learn more information about CLS, visit http:// clscholarship.org danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
Emily Morgan
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Social media helps WVU students in search of jobs By Alexis Randolph Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
Students and graduates who are active social media users may have an upper hand when it comes to finding a dream job or internship. Websites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn give students who are searching for jobs a chance to go outside of traditional routes for finding a job. Sarah Glenn, the assistant director of employer relations with the West Virginia University Career Services Center, said students need to be aware of what they are putting out that potential employers could see. “Students need to have a very professional and clean social media presence,” Glenn said. “Be very cautious about the pictures you post, the content of your status updates and even the pages you like. Students can do what they want with their own time, but if they are going to use social media to find jobs, they need to be (aware) of this.” Glenn said being professional is not enough when it comes to looking for a job or internship. “In addition to being professional, they must be proactive with what they are putting out there,” Glenn said. “(Do) not just have a Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, but also be on LinkedIn, a professional social media website.” LinkedIn can serve much like a living online resume for students. They can go into detail about internships, previous jobs and study abroad programs. On LinkedIn, students are able to connect with alumni, employers and companies they may be interested in working for.
Glenn said many companies go through LinkedIn profiles to see if candidates meet the requirements for their positions. Reaching out to companies through social media is another way to advance your search options. Many companies not only have a general page, but they also have campus recruitment pages, as well. Glenn said it is important for students who are looking into jobs involving social media to have a large number of friends or followers, and they must update their accounts frequently. Cara Wood, a sophomore strategic communications student, works as an intern for The Celebrity Cafe. She posts jobs on social media but said she feels it has also made the job search harder in a way. “It’s hard because now through social media people can talk about not liking a job or giving a place bad reviews just because they don’t like working for them,” Wood said. “Then it is hard because when you think you got a great job, you look at reviews and get doubts about it.” Wood said to be careful with emotional posts. “As hard as it is, never post about a boss,” she said. “Keep it to yourself, because you never know who is going to see it.” Ryan Petrovich, a junior television journalism student, found a summer internship through a tweet sent out by Eric Minor, the director of Student Careers and Opportunities in the WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. Petrovich worked as an intern for WV Illustrated, where he covered athletic teams at WVU. He said social media was a great tool for him and can be for all students. “I think it can help im-
mensely. If other students are like myself then they’re constantly checking their Twitter, Facebook and what not,” Petrovich said. “They’re more likely to come across opportunities on there because that’s where they spend time. I would’ve never known about WV Illustrated had I not seen a tweet.” He said with so many students on social media, they are more likely to look there than on other platforms. While it can be a great tool, Petrovich said students still need to be cautious with their posts.
“You just have to be careful. If you have a second thought about sending a tweet that might not go over well if your future boss saw it, then it is probably not a good idea,” he said. “Have fun though. Twitter is supposed to be entertaining.” For more information and job opportunities, visit the Career Services Center’s LinkedIn page at http://linkedin. c o m / g ro u p s / W V U - Ca r e e r-S e r v i c e s - C e n t e rNetworking-2840017/ about. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
To learn more about job and internship opportunities in social media and other areas, visit the WVU Career Services Center’s LinkedIn page at
http://linkedin.com/groups/ WVU-Career-Services-CenterNetworking-2840017/about.
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
18 | Graduation edition
Friday May 9, 2014
WVU’s top seniors receive Order of Augusta award By Hannah Wigal Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
West Virginia University honored 34 top-ranked seniors with the WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award on April 15 with a ceremony held at the Erickson Alumni Center. The event is part of the University’s annual Week of Honors, which takes place each April to commend exceptional achievements of WVU’s faculty, staff and students. The Outstanding Senior Award honors students for their contributions and achievements in scholarship, leadership and service and was established in 1995 to mark the 40th anniversary of the WVU Foundation.
Eight of the 34 students received the Order of the Augusta Award, which is the most distinguished academic honor a student can receive at WVU. Augusta was among one of the original names considered by the Legislature when the state seceded from Virginia in 1863, and the award is named for the historical significance in the state. The Order of the Augusta further recognizes the students’ superior scholarship, demonstrated leadership and record of community and public service. “It is an absolute honor to be selected as an Order of (the) Augusta scholar,” said Brooke Bertus, a 2014 Order of the Augusta recipient. “I have worked immensely hard during my time at West
Virginia University, and receiving this honor makes me feel as if my hard work and efforts have really paid off.” The 2014 Order of the Augusta recipients are Brooke Bertus, of Parkersburg, W.Va.; Zachary Claudio, of Charleston, W.Va.; Jessica Harlee, of Bel Air, Md.; Priyanka Jagannath, of Charleston, W.Va.; Rachel James, of Crawford, W.Va.; Rachel Manning, of Huntingtown, Md.; Caroline Miskovsky, of Hedgesville, W.Va.; and Benjamin Seebaugh, of Parkersburg, W.Va. “Overall, at West Virginia University I have been able to learn a lot about myself and create a new plan for my future,” Bertus said. “I wholeheartedly believe that I would not have been given
Wythe Woods/Daily Athenaeum
Seniors await walking across the stage during last year’s graduation, some garnered with Outstanding Senior Awards. the chance to embrace such a plethora of high-quality opportunities at any other academic institution.” Bertus is pursuing degrees in biology and chemistry with a minor in French
and said the support and knowledge she has gained from the University has prepared her for her future as a physician. “I’ve been given the confidence to pursue my own
career path and to exploit other opportunities,” Bertus said. “I could not be more appreciative for what I have learned at this University.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
FRIDAY MAY 9, 2014
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20 | Graduation edition
Friday May 9, 2014
The Daily Athenaeum’s graduating editors bid farewell, prepare for real world Summer Ratcliff City Editor @summerratcliff
Three and a half years ago, I took a huge leap of faith and came to West Virginia University as a 23-year-old, non-traditional student. When I arrived in Morgantown, I knew no one and often times, felt like a fish out of water during my first semester on campus. I was a few years older than all of my classmates and never had the opportunity to live in the dorms. Both of these factors made making friends and finding the place I could flourish quite difficult. After interning with the Student Government Association during my sophomore year and then running for Board of Governors and losing by 67 votes that spring, I became frustrated.
I couldn’t seem to find my niche. Everything I thought I would be perfect at just didn’t quite work out. During my junior year, I decided to go out on a limb and apply to be a writer at The Daily Athenaeum. I had always been told I had a knack for writing, but I never really put much thought into it. Carlee Lammers, City Editor of The DA at the time, decided to give me a shot. I become a Correspondent and just two weeks later, was moved to a Staff Writer. I loved every assignment I got and worked hard to prove I was a journalist. When I received the role of City Editor at the end of my junior year, I was elated. Words cannot describe the excitement and pride I have when I see someone walk to a news stand on campus and pick up a
copy of The DA. Many times I have been out in the community at restaurants or grocery stores and have seen residents or visitors to the area pick up the paper and read it. Each time I see this occur, it reminds me that my work and the work of my teammates at The DA is important. Few undergraduate students have the opportunity to say their writing was read by thousands of people on a daily basis. Being in this role over the course of the last year has given me more opportunities than I ever dreamed of. I made connections with people all across campus and the city of Morgantown. I went from not knowing a single person in this town to knowing a handful of people every time I walk from one class to another.
see Ratcliff on PAGE 21
Amit Batra Sports Editor @BATRA01
It was difficult to find a way to even start this column. Over my years at West Virginia University and as an employee at The Daily Athenaeum, I truly believe I learned a lot about myself. As the Sports Editor of my high school newspaper, I discovered my passion for sports and sports writing. I knew I wanted to cover teams and have the opportunity to write about what I’ve enjoyed playing and watching for as long as I can remember. The journey wasn’t always smooth, but I learned how to get a feel for sports writing and the ins-and-outs of what is needed to be done to
be effective. I knew if I worked hard enough and was committed, I could reach my goals. I applied to become a sports writer with The DA my sophomore year of college. I was lucky enough to get men’s soccer as my first beat in the fall. It was a bit of a transition from what I did in the past, but I got the feel for AP style writing and learned to do what was expected. I have never missed a deadline to this day, and I’m proud to say I never gave up against adversity. After two years of hard work, I was able to get a promotion and become the Sports Editor at The DA. Let me be clear with one thing; I was never really the type of person who was creative with design and laying out pages.
I’ve always been a writer, and even though my personality says otherwise at times, I’m not a creative genius. Thanks to the help of my writers and the Associate Sports Editor and good friend Connor Murray, I was able to get the feel for this position. There was a lot of pressure on me at first, but I can honestly hold my head up high knowing I gave it my all. I hope the end result was satisfying for those who read the paper and those I worked with. The most rewarding part of this job was knowing fellow students, and even those who I never interacted with, enjoyed some of the work I did and all the efforts the staff put in. There’s
see Batra on PAGE 21
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Friday May 9, 2014
Batra
Continued from page 20 not a better feeling in the world than knowing someone can come up to you and say they’ve read your work and enjoyed it.
Ratcliff
Continued from page 20 Little by little this town and this University has become my home among the hills. I even had the honor of wearing the buckskins as a Mountaineer Mascot finalist this past spring, which is an experience I will remember forever. It is time to close the undergraduate chapter in the story of my life. But I close it as a changed person. I am no longer that fish out of water. My time at The DA and
That’s the true beauty of The DA and WVU in general. I got the experience and opportunity I needed to further my career. Having fun along the way was an added bonus. I’d like to thank all of the people who read my work over the years and all my time at WVU have given me the tools I need to succeed in whatever situations life throws my way. I encourage anyone reading this column to take a step of faith into unknown territory any time an opportunity presents itself. You never know what the experience will teach you and what doors it will open for you. I have been forever changed by being a Mountaineer. I bleed blue and gold. I’m forever a Mountain Momma. summer.ratcliff@mail.wvu.edu
my coworkers. Each and every one of you made me want to be better and never settle for the bare minimum. Not many college students can say they had the opportunity to travel to places like Texas and Oklahoma to cover sports, but through The DA, I was
able to meet some great people from all over the country. That was truly special. Four years ago, I had no idea why I was coming to West Virginia to further my education. I was the first student from my high school to do so. So many people asked me why I was
Graduation edition | 21 coming to Morgantown from a small town in central New Jersey. Besides the reasonable out-of-state tuition (compared to the in-state tuition at Rutgers), I wasn’t really sure. Now, four years later, I have realized this phase of my life is over, and I have to move on. I
know I made the best decision of my life coming to WVU. And just for the record, it will feel pretty weird not being able to correct people when they ask me why I went to school in “Western” Virginia.
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
amit.batra@mail.wvu.edu
wants to know what advice graduates wish they had been given as an incoming freshmen. Tweet your tips at us for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue.
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Friday May 9, 2014
Charles Sims’ time at WVU helps draft stock By Amit Batra Sports Editor @Batra01
Charles Sims breaks tackles versus Baylor.
Kyle Monroe/The Daily Athenaeum
As former West Virginia University running back Charles Sims prepares for the next stage of his career in the National Football League, he is taking time to reflect on his time in Morgantown and at WVU and how it may have helped his draft stock. “It worked out great for him,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen in a Big 12 teleconference in April. “He knew what he was getting with me, so it made sense for him to come. His ultimate goal was to play in the Big 12 (Conference). He came here and adjusted quickly.” Sims was able to showcase his talents all season, and was able to get the attention and recognition of coaches all over the country. As Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Sims was able to impress the country and also had a chance to play against some of the best competition in the nation. In the 2013 season, Sims rushed for 1,095 yards and had 11 touchdowns in 208 attempts. In his career at Houston and WVU, he
rushed for 3,465 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also had 11 receiving touchdowns. He finished third in the league in rushing. Sims also left his legacy upon running backs on the current WVU roster. The likely NFL-bound playmaker earned the praise of Holgorsen throughout the season and after the annual Gold-Blue Spring Game April 12. “The best thing that Charles Sims ever did by coming here is to teach those guys how to be versatile,” Holgorsen said. “(He taught them) how to practice hard, be unselfish and, all those guys, it doesn’t matter what position they are playing, they all want the ball, and they all want to be a featured running back, but they don’t mind getting in as receivers and catching passes down field.” Following the Iowa State game, Holgorsen said how glad he was to have Sims for a season. After a season in which the Mountaineers went 4-8, Sims exceeded expectations. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Sims as one of his players to watch for in the NFL Draft. His cutting skills and ability to create in open space makes Kiper be-
lieve Sims will be a steal for whichever team lands him. While Sims lacks size and speed for an all-purpose running back, his vision and ability to read blocks is what attracts NFL scouts. The Houston, Texas native has the ability to reach top speed within the open field, and his excellent hands have made his coaching staffs satisfied over the years, he can be tackled by the first hit due to lack of a physicalness. Sims, referred to by some scouts as a “finesse runner”, went through the rigors of the NFL Combine and WVU’s annual Pro Day earlier this spring. Even though his name has been mentioned as one on the rise of draft boards since the end of the 2013 season, Sims says he just focuses on improving his game, even when he has been compared to NFL players such as Matt Forte. “I don’t pay attention to it,” he said at WVU’s Pro Day in March. “I just focus on getting better everyday. I think (coming to West Virginia) helped my stock. It would mean a lot (to be the No. 1 running back in this draft class). I put in the hard work everyday.” amit.batra@mail.wvu.edu
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Friday May 9, 2014
Graduation edition | 23
Graduating seniors gather for Zero-Year Reunion at Erickson Alumni Center By Jacob Bojesson Staff Writer @DailyAthenaeum
The West Virginia University Alumni Association and the WVU Division of Student Affairs hosted the annual Senior Send-Off: A Zero-Year Reunion in April to give the class of 2014 its last supper after four years of hard work. The Senior Send-Off is an annual event where seniors enjoy food, drinks and participate in a number of activities, while at the same time getting an introduction to how they can stay involved with the University through the Alumni Association. “The most important thing we do is bring seniors together one last time to create some best last memories and let them be a part of something fun with their friends,” said Tara Curtis, spokesperson for the WVU Alumni Association. Hundreds of graduating seniors made their way to the Erickson Alumni Center for the event. An interactive photo experience was set up where the students got to take pictures with their friends, and they were asked to pin their next destination in life on a world map. Sixteen teams competed in a cornhole tournament, and there was a bow tie tying competition in honor of WVU President Gordon Gee. With graduation less than a month away, the event marked one of the last chances for friends to get together before splitting up around the world. While most of the seniors felt excitement about the next stage in life, many admitted they will leave Morgantown and WVU with mixed emotions. “Next week is Easter and after that there’s finals, so this is it. We had to come,” said Tina McGugan, a senior finance student. “I’m sad about (not getting to see) the people but excited for the next chapter.” The send-off is supposed to represent the class of 2014’s
kyle monroe/The Daily Athenaeum
Students stand in line for food at the senior send-off. first reunion. In order to promote the Alumni Association and showcase the benefits of being involved, a group of public relations students have spent the semester promoting the send-off as part of their capstone project. “A lot of people think of them as just wanting money and don’t see the benefits of it,” said Nick Gordon, one of
the students involved in the project. “We want to bring them here, so we can show them all the benefits they can have if they join the Alumni Association past their first (free) year of membership.” For more information about the WVU Alumni Association visit http://alumni. wvu.edu/ danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
A student decorates her mortarboard during the senior send-off.
kyle monroe/The Daily Athenaeum
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FRIDAY MAY 9, 2014