Bear Tracks - The WVU Tech Magazine Fall 2015

BEARTRACKS THE WVU TECH MAGAZINE

ISSUE 04

FALL 2015

STAYING GOLDEN

Alumnus shows the world what it means to be a Golden Bear

BRIDGING THE STEM GENDER GAP

Students and faculty launch new initiatives to support women in STEM

WHERE ARE THEY HEADED?

Young alumni share their vision for the future

BEST SEASON EVER

Student athletes smash records in 2014-2015

TOP PROGRAMS, TOP ROI

Alumni report highest return on educational investment in the state

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04 ON THE COVER: Alumnus Tim O’Neal, ’97 Production Director, Dow Chemical Company

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Features 08

WVU Tech Rankings

Departments

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The New Face of STEM

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Alumni News

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Class Notes

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In Memoriam

Catch up on events from the 2014-2015 academic year.

It’s been a busy year for alumni since our last edition.

Remembering those Golden Bears we lost this year.

Tech ranked first in state, sixth in nation for annual college return on investment.

Building a bridge — right over the STEM gender gap.

Where Are They Headed?

Young alums find their calling.

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A True Golden Bear

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A Bigger Record Book

Golden Bear, Through and Through: How Tim O’Neal stays connected to WVU Tech.

WVU Tech marks winningest season in history.

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A Message from the President I t’s been another exciting year here at WVU Tech, and before you dig into the magazine, I wanted to provide an update on what life has had in store for the Golden Bears in this last academic year.

For the second year in a row, we’ve been recognized as a smart investment. WVU Tech was ranked #1 in the state and #6 in the nation for student return on investment by Payscale.com, and we continue to be ranked among the top 100 engineering programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. These reports show others what we already know — that an education from WVU Tech is a worthwhile endeavor.

You know that WVU Tech students are educated in an inclusive and supportive environment that creates knowledgeable and civic-minded graduates. A part of that environment is built on the many student clubs and organizations where our students gain knowledge and experience in the things they love. There are more than 30 clubs and organizations on campus where students can get involved, and there are more created all the time. Just this year, two such groups were formed that have already proven to be very popular.

The E-Sports Club balances academics with competitive gaming.

The club has hosted on-campus gaming events and competed in a national gaming tournament. It is one of few clubs of its kind in the country.

The Association for Women Engineers, Scientists, Or Mathematicians Empowerment (AWESOME) is dedicated to supporting and empowering women in STEM fields. The group regularly hears from STEM professionals — including WVU Tech alumnae — and works with K-12 students on outreach activities designed to introduce young minds to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We’re also expanding internship and cooperative education opportunities for students. We continue to hear from employers what we’ve heard for many years: WVU Tech graduates are ready to hit the ground running on day one. We’re working hard through campus job fairs and professional development workshops to ensure that more employers get to know the benefits of hiring talented Golden Bears.

Providing the tools for students to be successful in the classroom is a top priority. Last fall, we awarded more than $100,000 in private donor scholarship funds to our students through the WVU Foundation. In addition to financial support, we continue to provide access to free tutoring and advising through the Student Support Services program and the Student Success Center.

The Student Success Center sees hundreds of students each week and its vending cafe is a popular spot to connect and grab a bite to eat. The Tech Spot, our new grab-and-go dining facility in the engineering building, also opened last fall and receives rave reviews from students, faculty and staff.

On campus and across the country, students participated in expositions, competitions and conferences to learn, network and showcase their work, all while representing WVU Tech with pride.

Our student-athletes were also busy this year and posted the most overall single-season wins in WVU Tech history during the 2014-2015 athletic season. Even better, they did it while excelling academically. You can read all about their record-smashing season on page 14.

It’s the drive of our students, faculty and staff that move us forward and this drive exists in no small part because of the culture you helped build here.

Best wishes,

West Virginia University Institute of Technology ISSUE 04 FALL 2015

ALUMNI NEWS

HOMECOMING 2014 In November, WVU Tech alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends gathered in Montgomery for Homecoming 2014.

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n Friday afternoon of Homecoming weekend, President Carolyn Long delivered the State of Tech address, where she outlined the immense progress WVU Tech has made in the last two and a half years. She discussed the completion of a variety of physical campus improvements, the addition of a popular forensic investigation degree program, a new nursing training center in Montgomery General Hospital, a 4+1 MBA pathway agreement with WVU and a successful year for the Student Success Center, which saw 10,000 visits in its first year of operation.

Saturday’s festivities included a parade, athletic events, laser tag and a tailgate featuring food, live music and a rock-climbing wall.

That afternoon, WVU Tech students Rob Leibel and Kat Lively were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Golden Bear.

WVU Tech’s wrestlers kicked off the day’s athletic events, outgrappling Southern Virginia University in a 49-6 victory. Women’s basketball followed suit, beating out Virginia University of Lynchburg at 115-35, and men’s basketball rounded out the day with a 97-76 victory over Ohio State University — Newark.

More than 100 prospective students and their families also got a taste of the Golden Bear life, visiting campus for WVU Tech’s open house on Saturday. Attendees toured campus, met with current students for a Q&A panel and participated in academic sessions to learn more about the areas of study they’re interested in pursuing.

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Honoring Our Distinguished Alumni On the Friday evening of Homecoming, WVU Tech hosted a cocktail reception and a banquet to honor Alumni of the Year recipients, Sarah “Sally” Smith, ’74 (pictured above left), and Aaron Morris, Ph.D., ’01, and five WVU Tech Athletic Hall of Fame inductees: Dr. Leonard C. Nelson (pictured above right), Douglas Epling, Damieon Mills, ’02 (pictured above center), Mike Morrison, ’64 and Ronald K. Rice, ’59.

WVU Tech has honored Alumni of the Year since 1949. Honorees are selected for their stature in their chosen profession, a strong dedication to their communities and a commitment to serving as role models for all WVU Tech alumni. The WVU Tech Athletic Hall of Fame has been honoring notable athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors since 1956.

“The most important thing you’ll never forget about a Tech grad is how they made you feel,” said hall of fame inductee Mike Morrison.

“My Tech experiences brought out the best that I had to give. Tech gave me a life rather than a living.”

— Mike Morrison

EXPO Event Brings Together Alumni, Welcomes New Chapter This March, WVU Tech hosted a reception for engineering alumni at the Embassy Suites to kick off the 2015 West Virginia Construction and Design Expo in Charleston. President Long and Dr. Zeljko Torbica, Dean of the Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering and Sciences, were on hand to celebrate the innovative and pioneering spirit of the more than 60 alumni in attendance and the contributions they have made in the workforce since graduating.

The Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association also officially reestablished its Charleston Alumni Chapter at this event.

Numerous alumni committed their personal support to help with the local Charleston Chapter, which hopes to provide opportunities to network and engage with alumni, students, faculty, the campus and the community.

“Tech’s identity is truly about our great people,” said Tim O’Neal, ’97, vice-president of membership development for the Alumni Association and the new president of the Charleston Alumni Chapter. “The legacy of our alumni should be about helping our students, faculty and our community.”

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ALUMNI NEWS

WVU Tech’s 116th Commencement Ceremony honored nearly 200 graduates on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Neal D. Baisi Athletic Center in Montgomery.

Some of you may wander the planet in search of your passion while others will find it right here at home.”

— Carolyn Long

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At WVU Tech’s Commencement Ceremony, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin addressed the class of 2015 — a class he said holds immense potential.

“To anyone who says that America is a nation in decline and our young people are soft and uncompetitive, I would say this — come to WVU Tech and I’ll introduce you to 190-plus graduates who I guarantee will change your mind.”

Campus President Carolyn Long also spoke to graduates, advising students to take what they’ve learned during their years at WVU Tech and use it to make positive changes.

“Some of you may wander the planet in search of your passion while others will find it right here at home,” Long said. “Wherever you land and wherever you go in the months and years ahead, know that you have everything you need to make a better life for you and the ones you love.”

“WVU Tech has prepared us with the knowledge to go out and face the world — to not just challenge it, but to improve it,” said Amy Haddix, graduate and President of the WVU Tech Student Government Association.

Included in this year’s graduation ceremony were the Golden Alumni Class of 1965.

WVU Tech honored this special group of alumni by recognizing their 50 years of personal and professional distinction since graduating from WVU Tech.

After the Commencement ceremony, graduates, family, friends and WVU Tech faculty and staff were invited to a reception hosted by WVU Tech and the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association. In recognition of the graduates and to welcome them into the family of Golden Bear alumni, the Alumni Association gifted each graduate who signed up for the Association a free one-year membership.

Young Alumni Gather to Celebrate and Reconnect WVU Tech young alumni and their families gathered together at Charleston’s Appalachian Power Park on May 22, 2015.

This was the first event held solely for these young graduates. The evening included watching the West Virginia Power play from the Party Deck, fun zone passes for the kids, and buffet-style food and drinks.

“The purpose of this event was to re-engage , our young alumni,” said Tara Hines, 03, alumni relations coordinator at WVU Tech.

“After graduation, people go off to start their careers and soon after that, a family. Often times, their alma mater is the furthest thing from their mind. We don’t want that to be the case at WVU Tech.”

The first young alumni event was very well-received, and many in attendance expressed interest in coming to similar events. Alumni also shared how impressed they were with progress at WVU Tech and the communications they have been receiving since leaving campus.

President Long Meets with Texas Chapter in Houston On Saturday, June 20, 2015, WVU Tech representatives traveled to Houston, Texas for an event hosted by the Texas Alumni Chapter. Chapter president Valori Ranson put together a great evening that consisted of a social hour followed by dinner.

Attendees spent time with President Long, Dean Z Torbica, engineering faculty member and alumnus, Garth Thomas, and alumni relations coordinator and alumna, Tara , Hines, 03.

Through the course of the evening, President Long updated the group on the many improvements that have been made on campus over the last few years. At the end of event, chapter members expressed a better understanding of what WVU Tech has been working on and how they can help provide support.

If anyone is interested in starting a chapter in their area or finding out where the closest chapter is, contact TechAlumniAssoc@mail.wvu.edu.

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WVU Tech Ranked First in State, Sixth in Nation for Annual College Return on Investment For the second year in a row, WVU Tech has taken the highest marks in the state on Payscale’s annual College Return on Investment (ROI) Report.

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n both 20-year net and annualized ROI categories, WVU Tech offers the highest return on investment in the state of West Virginia. WVU Tech is also ranked #6 in the nation in annual ROI for students paying in-state tuition, coming in at a reported 11.8% annual ROI over a 20-year period after graduation. In 2014, WVU Tech was among the top ten percent in the nation for students paying in-state tuition.

financial aid and the average salary for high school graduates of the same age.

This ranking provided national exposure not only through the report itself, but also through national media coverage.

WVU Tech landed a spot among a mere handful of colleges mentioned in the 2015 Huffington Post article, “Colleges Where Graduates Get the Most Bang for Their Buck” and in the Wall Street Journal in a list of top public universities for return on investment.

The report shows that WVU Tech graduates can make $11,000 more in their early career salaries than those from schools — Carolyn Long outside the WVU system. By mid-career (at least ten years of beyond the classroom — that’s a big factor career experience) those same graduates in why our graduates are able to report can earn nearly $28,000 more per year. that they’re doing so well,” she said.

The report was based on self-reported employment data from more than 1.4 million graduates from throughout the nation, which was used to rank colleges based on two categories: 20-year net ROI and annual ROI percentage. The report factored in the cost of attending college,

“Of course, the engineers and accountants we’re sending out into the workforce have fantastic earning potential by virtue of what employees earn in those industries, but we’re doing more than simply conferring those degrees,” said WVU Tech President Carolyn Long.

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In addition to the College ROI Report, Payscale releases an annual College Salary Report, the most recent of which lists WVU Tech among the top ten percent of public schools in the nation for salary potential.

“We’re preparing our graduates to navigate the workforce with confidence through professional development programs and internship opportunities. Our graduates know how to land jobs, function in the workplace and how to continue learning

We’re preparing our graduates to navigate the workforce with confidence through professional development programs and internship opportunities.”

In addition to being recognized as a valuable investment, our academic programs receive honors as well. WVU Tech continues to be ranked among the top 100 engineering programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

BUILDING A BRIDGE Right Over the STEM Gender Gap

By Jen Wood Cunningham, ’01

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t’s no secret there’s still a sizeable gender gap in some science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. WVU Tech students and faculty are doing something about it, so they spent the 2014-2015 academic year building out programs and events designed to support the women studying and working in STEM. Last fall, students and faculty teamed up to create AWESOME, or the Association for Women Engineers, Scientists, Or Mathematicians Empowerment.

AWESOME’s mission is two-fold: support the women studying and teaching in STEM fields at WVU Tech and promote the study of these important industries.

“One of our primary goals is to help recruit and retain future generations of women into the STEM fields,” said Dr. Stephany Coffman-Wolph, assistant professor in the WVU Tech department of Computer Science and Information Systems and AWESOME faculty advisor.

“Currently, the number of women in STEM is extremely low, and we hope to assist young women in discovering the wonderful world of STEM and the possibilities for them within these fields,” she said.

The group attends regular meetings and social events where female students studying STEM fields can connect to share ideas and their experiences in the field. Members also regularly hear from guest speakers in STEM industries, like Millie Marshall, President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia.

The group participates in outreach programs that connect K-12 girls to STEM fields. In the spring, AWESOME organized a STEM workshop for the inaugural Girls Day at the Legislature, which brought more than 200 middle

High school girls design and build everything from robots to shoes during WVU Tech’s first-ever STEM Summer Academy for Girls.

and high school girls to the state’s Capitol Complex to meet with legislatures and sit in on live legislative sessions.

WVU Tech faculty and students have also designed creative ways to bring high school girls interested in STEM fields to campus.

In the second competition, students had to put together detailed PowerPoint presentations about what they had learned during the Academy.

Over the summer, the University hosted the first-ever STEM Summer Academy for Girls. An all-girl offshoot of WVU Tech’s popular Camp STEM program, the Toyota and AT&T-sponsored Academy brought more than 20 girls to campus for a week of immersion in STEM industries. Attendees heard from guest speakers and took handson courses in everything from robotics and computer science to biology and chemistry.

“The competition has been beneficial for many of these girls because it’s been helping them with leadership, presentation and communication skills,” said Dr. Afrin Naz, assistant professor of computer science and Academy organizer. “They’re making connections between these fields and how one field can have an impact on another. They are also better able to articulate what they like and dislike in each field because they have to think about what they are learning in an analytical way,” she said.

Academy students also participated in two competitions. The first, a shoe design competition, challenged the girls to engineer and test their designs on a 20-foot runway. The catch? They had do build their footwear from cardstock, glue and tape.

Both AWESOME and the STEM Summer Academy for Girls have been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback, and the students and faculty working on these initiatives look to expand them in the coming academic year.

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WHERE ARE THEY HEADED YOUNG ALUMNI FIND THEIR CALLING

By Zac Carrier

e spoke to some young alumni who are making names for themselves here in West Virginia and beyond. What they shared were stories that highlight the value of the future-focused culture students, faculty, staff and alumni like you have created at WVU Tech over the years.

They’re going on to graduate school. They’re landing rewarding jobs in business and industry. They’re creating new products, powering the economy, healing communities and applying their talents to the pursuit of something better.

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WVU Tech’s alumni are showing the rest of the world what a Golden Bear can accomplish with the right training and a passion for what they do.

MARY CUNNINGHAM, ’15

THY DINH, ’15

AMY HADDIX, ’15

JENNIFER HUDNALL, ’11

LINDSAY MCDOWALL, ’15

CASEY ORNDORFF, ’13

Mary Cunningham can’t help but care for others, and she’s using the nursing education she received at WVU Tech to do just that.

Mary is working in a cardiac catheterization lab in the West Virginia’s largest hospital center, where she prepares patients for heart procedures and provides emotional support to patients and their families. “Being compassionate and caring is just as important as the physical care that a nurse provides,” she said.

“A passion of mine is caring for someone as a human being and hopefully making an impact that counts, either on the patient and family or me, that allows me to grow to become a better nurse.”

Amy Haddix, like so many WVU Tech students, had a job lined up before she started her senior year. She’s now a production engineer for the Dow Chemical Company in South Charleston. Amy’s work ensures that chemical products are manufactured safely and efficiently. “I want to break the glass ceiling and show younger females that it’s possible to run a company,” Haddix said. “I have a 14-year-old sister at home and I don’t ever want her to think ‘Well I’m a female so this is as high up as I can go.’ I want her to see what I have accomplished and say, ‘Look what she did, I’m going to go there, too.’”

Lindsay McDowall landed a once-in-a-lifetime internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Then she used what she learned to research new ways to make fuel from biomass. After graduation, she landed a job as a process engineer at a company in Kentucky that makes activated carbon products. “Being able to do research helps you gain experience using the machinery you’ll use when you graduate. I stand out on a resume because I know what a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer is and how to use it. At a much bigger university, I likely wouldn’t have done this type of research as an undergraduate,” she said.

Mechanical engineering graduate Thy Dinh grew up in Houston, Texas, where he discovered a love for working on car engines. Now, he’s combined that passion with his degree. Thy works as a performance engineer for the Columbia Pipeline Group and spends his days boosting the performance of massive compressor engines used in natural gas transmission.

“My experience at WVU Tech prepped me for the working world.

It’s complicated work, but once it is completed, you have a great sense of relief that all your studies and hard work pay off. This is my dream job. I’m doing what I like to do and without regret,” he said.

Jennifer Hudnall is building her career around helping pet owners and their beloved pets modify problem behavior.

A graduate of WVU Tech’s psychology program, Jennifer is currently finishing her master’s degree in applied behavioral science to chase her dream of becoming a certified applied animal behaviorist. “I’d spent years looking for a passion — something that changed the world for me,” she said. “I’m not a vet, but getting to work with pets in this way fulfills that lifelong desire to help them. If you look at psychology as the study of behavior, understanding it can really change your life.”

WVU Tech grad Casey Orndorff is in Louisiana earning his Ph.D. in computational analysis and modeling. Today, he’s using his passion for mathematics to aid in the fight against cancer as he predicts how hyperthermia treatments will impact the skin of a cancer patient. Tomorrow, he wants to teach others to do the same. “In a way, you can compare curing cancer to an open-ended math problem: we need to find a procedure that works, or a combination of procedures to attack each individual subpart of the problem,” he said. “It’s a giant math problem in a sense, where the solution could save countless lives.”

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GOLDEN BEAR How Tim O’Neal Stays Connected to Tech

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By Tara Hines, ’03 / Photography by Tracy Toler olden Bears are renowned for their passion and the spirit of innovation they bring to every task they undertake. They have a reputation for being capable, resilient and generous. They’re known for these things because of alumni like Tim O’Neal, ’97.

From his work as a production director at Dow Chemical Company to his dedication in his many volunteer activities, Tim, at his very core, exemplifies what it means to be a Golden Bear.

Dedicated from the start

Born in South Korea, Tim and his family traveled because his dad was in the military. His formative years, however, were spent in the Charleston, West Virginia area where his father grew up.

There, he attended South Charleston High School where he knew he had to make some decisions about his future.

Before entering college, he pursued his passion for traditional Japanese karate. Tim was so passionate about the art, in fact, that he has quite a few championships — including a world championship — under his belt.

He credits the art with developing in him “a strong appreciation for coaches, instructors, mentors and peers.”

“In the martial arts or any profession, feedback is essential to success,” he said. “I could not have been successful without the support of others. Also, I learned what focus, hard work and self-discipline can achieve.”

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Even in his martial arts success, Tim knew he needed an education that would give him a different set of skills, so he began looking at colleges in West Virginia where he could study another passion: engineering.

A different kind of discipline

Tim approached his father about his decision and began researching and visiting campuses, where he quickly came to realize what a special place WVU Tech

Tim started his career at Union Carbide (now Dow Chemical Company) immediately after graduation as an environmental protection engineer in Seadrift, Texas.

Since then, he has climbed his way up the corporate ladder. In his first few years with the company, Tim realized how important it was to supplement his education, so he completed his Master’s in Business Administration at Marshall University while working.

There is a strong legacy that has been transferred to us after we graduate. It is up to each of us to make that legacy a positive experience and pay it forward.” is. At WVU Tech, Tim said, he knew he could get a world-class education without the setting of a large university and that he wouldn’t just be a face in the crowd.

Once he visited campus and learned about the co-op program WVU Tech offered, his mind was made up. Tim knew he was on his way to realizing his dream of becoming a chemical engineer and that WVU Tech was the place that was going to make that happen.

“I remember most the strong relationships with my fellow classmates, professors and the administration. With smaller classrooms, I was an individual and not just another student passing through. My professors gave their time and attention generously so we could be successful in understanding the subject matter,” he said.

It’s been 18 years since Tim graduated from WVU Tech, and he says the experience was a major factor in his success. In those years, he has built a successful career and is one of the most respected professionals in the industry.

Paying it forward

Today, Tim says he is in a great position to help mentor WVU Tech students and graduates. He works closely as a liaison between Dow and WVU Tech to recruit students for co-op programs and to hire new graduates. In fact, Amy Haddix, ’15, was in the co-op program at Dow for two years before being hired after she graduated.

“She has a passion and a fire for this kind of work,” Tim said.

“One of the best things I did was to hire someone with so much potential.”

Aside from mentoring students and young professionals, Tim has been instrumental in securing strong financial support in sponsorships from Dow for projects like WVU Tech’s popular Camp STEM program. He also serves as the vicepresident of membership development for the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association and most recently reestablished the Charleston Alumni Chapter.

“For me personally, it is not about the bricks and mortar. It is about the people and what service we can provide the students, faculty, administration and alumni,” he said. “There is a strong legacy that has been transferred to us after we graduate. It is up to each of us to make that legacy a positive experience and pay it forward.”

As if that isn’t enough, Tim is currently active in United Way activities, the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and the Chemical Alliance Zone. He also coaches his daughter’s soccer team. Tim said that he’s thrilled to be able to give of his time and talents, but that above everything, he values spending time with his wife, Heather, and nine-year-old daughter, Madelyn.

“We have to give back and help the success of our communities and our future,” he said. This makes for a stronger and more vibrant community.

It paves the way and hopefully enables other generations to grow and improve.

I have always been taught to leave something better than you found it.

Working with the community allows me to help in a purposeful way.”

Tim’s professional purpose statement is “to provide strong servant leadership to every individual to enable their personal growth and success,” and he shared that he’s blessed to be afforded such a rich opportunity to make a difference for his industry and his state.

What Tim may not realize is how blessed we are at WVU Tech to be able to call him an alumnus, a supporter and, most of all, a friend.

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We’re Going to Need a Bigger Record Book:

WVU Tech Marks Winningest Season in History

By Becky Brouse

WVU TECH ATHLETICS achieved its

men’s soccer and the first ever at-large berth for the WVU Tech Men’s basketball team to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City,” said WVU Tech Athletics Director, Kenny Howell.

can be achieved with great students as well. Six WVU Tech athletic programs were eligible for NAIA Scholar Athlete Team recognition by garnering a team GPA exceeding 3.0 for the academic year.”

Men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, wrestling, golf, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s swimming all earned the opportunity to participate in a National tournament.

Athletic programs earned new records within their respective sports while producing 19 All-Americans and 24 AllAcademics/Scholar-Athletes. Golden Bear student-athletes earned these accolades in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).

Men’s soccer took the National title for the second consecutive year at the 2014 USCAA National Championship Tournament with a 2-0 shutout victory over the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

“The 2014-2015 season was one of great satisfaction and triumph for the Golden Bears. We posted an all-time department record for wins, including a conference championship in swimming, USCAA National Championships in wrestling and

“We’re grateful for the administrative, campus and community support we receive. It takes so many working parts to build successful programs, and our institution has them all,” said Howell. “It is nice to know that record-breaking seasons

most successful season in University history this past academic year. With studentathletes participating on 13 men’s and women’s varsity teams, the Golden Bears finished with a record 129 head-to-head wins overall, two National titles and nine National tournament appearances.

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During the tournament, juniors Joaquin Rodriguez and Carlos Sendín, sophomore Hunter Moles and freshman Nestor Calzada were awarded all-tournament accolades.

Freshman Alex Pastor earned the honor of the tournament’s most valuable player. The team finished the season with an overall record of 17-1-1 in 2014 while ending 18-21 and USCAA National Champions in 2013.

Men’s swimming earned WVU Tech’s first ever Appalachian Swimming Conference (ASC) Championship with a team score of 427. For the first time in WVU Tech swimming history, the Golden Bears were represented by five women who competed in the NAIA National Championship meet along with 10 swimmers for the men’s squad. The men finished ninth in the Nation and the women 14th. All-American honors

Men’s basketball earned runners-up in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Championship this winter, ending their 2014-15 campaign with a 22-8 regular season record (23-10 including tournament play). The team received an at-large bid for the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship, where top-seeded Hope International (California) escaped with a 70-67 victory over unseeded WVU Tech.

The trip to Kansas City marked the first national tournament appearance for men’s basketball since 1988.

“The 2014-2015 season was one of great satisfaction and triumph for the Golden Bears.”

— Kenny Howell

were awarded to the top-three finishers in each event at the Men’s and Women’s Swimming National Championships held March 5-7. Freshman Kendra Monnin finished the 250 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:24.87 and placed third during NAIA Nationals to earn All-American status.

Former head coach Chris Rogers earned Coach of the Year for the season.

“The year was not without difficulty. Severe winter weather and a trail derailment relocated campus operations and displaced the campus for nearly a week.

With wrestlers preparing for nationals at a local farm, swim teams participating at the Beckley YMCA and basketball practicing in Beckley’s Van Meter gymnasium, winter athletic success took place in the face of adverse conditions,” said Howell.

Baseball defeated Central Pennsylvania College on April 19, 2015, 8-1, posting their 25th win of the season, marking the most wins in program history and surpassing the record set in 2013 when WVU Tech finished 24-28. The team entered the A.I.I. Conference Baseball Championships as the fifth seed, finishing 1-2 during tournament play. The team defeated the sixth seed, Ashford University (Iowa), 4-2. The Gold and Blue finished the season 30-25 in 2015.

WVU Tech officially became a member of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) on July 1. The KIAC is a part of the NAIA. In previous seasons, the Golden Bears have participated in events with the Mid-South Conference (MSC), the A.I.I., the USCAA and the ASC. The program is excited to announce the addition of men’s and women’s track and field beginning in 2015. The program will be phased-in over time, with the inaugural season focusing on sprints and distance running. Head cross country coach Bruce Cox will also serve as the men’s and women’s track and field coach.

“Building on the accomplishments of 2015, our programs have secured the foundation of the WVU Tech Athletic Department for years to come. Successful athletic teams aren’t just measured by wins and losses,” said Howell. “WVU Tech produces so many wonderful students who become productive citizens, and that is the real reward.”

The golf team finished sixth out of 25 teams in the 2014 USCAA National Championships in State College, Pennsylvania, gaining two second team All-Americans in senior Gerardo Flores and junior Steven Han. The Golden Bears climbed up five positions compared to 2013’s 13th place finish at the Penn State Blue Course.

WVU Tech wrestling was carried to the USCAA National Wrestling Invitational Championship with six individual champions this past season. The Gold and Blue were led by freshmen TJ Bean (125) and Curtis Cox (133), sophomores Robert McNeil (141), Terry Nance (197) and Wyatt Norfolk (235), and junior Conrad Lacey (157). At 235 lbs., Norfolk won his second USCAA Championship in as many years while scoring a fall at 3:40 in his final contest.

Tech finished with 157.5 team points to come out on top in a championship that saw individuals from 11 different schools.

Every WVU Tech wrestler in the tournament by came away with at least one victory.

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CLASS NOTES

1980s

1950s JANE WOODY, ’57, has retired as a professor of social work after 39 years at the University of Nebraska at Omaha

GREGORY L. BOSO, ’80, was appointed to the 11th District of the West Virginia State Senate by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin

RONALD K. RICE, ’59, was posthumously inducted into the WVU Tech Athletic Hall of Fame

CHRISTOPHER T. AKERS, ’89, was appointed as the executive vice president and chief operating officer at Eureka Hunter in Huston, TX

1990s TIM O’NEAL, ’97, is the new vice-president of chapter development for the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association and recently reestablished the Charleston Alumni Chapter

1960s

ERIC SHERMAN, ’97, was promoted to partner at RGL Forensics

DONALD LEE PAGE, ’60, posthumously received the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments in the arts and his contributions to art in West Virginia MIKE MORRISON, ’64, was inducted into the WVU Tech Athletic Hall of Fame JACK NUCKOLS, ’64, was promoted to chief advancement officer at BridgeValley Community and Technical College

1970s PEGGY RICHMOND SHELTON, ’73, retired after teaching for 35 years in Kanawha County Schools SARAH “SALLY” SMITH, ’74, was named the College of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences 2014 Alumnae of the Year LARRY LITTON, ’76, is now a principle technical professional at KBR, Inc.

W. CHARLES PATRICK, ’80 (pictured above), has been named chancellor and chief academic officer of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus REBECCA MCKINNEY ZUPANICK, ’80, and her husband, JOSEPH ZUPANICK, ’80, opened a bistro called Dobra Zupas in Beckley, WV ELAINE DAVIS, ’81, is now serving as the vice-president of membership development for the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association

HEATHER WALKER, ’97 (pictured above), is the environmental health and safety manager at ICL Performance Products

ERNEST “RANDY” SPRADLING, ’81, was elected as the president of the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association

KENNON CHAMBERS, ’98, joined the Charleston office of Hatch Mott McDonald as a project manager

Our New Alumni by the Numbers Before the 2015 commencement ceremony, we polled graduates to find out their plans after graduation.

These new alumni shared some great news.

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FALL 2015

42%

of respondents were already employed full-time before graduation day

14%

of respondents were employed part-time on graduation day

10%

of these graduates are attending graduate school to further their education

WILDEN HARBOUR, ’99, was appointed as treasurer to the Tech Gold Bear Alumni Association

2000s WILLIAM WEISS, ’00, is now the business solutions manager at Ledgent

JOSH MOON, ’03, is the president at Stormy Hardwoods Outdoors LLC PATRICK SMITH, ’03, was elected to the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association Board of Directors DALLAS ENOCH, ’04, has a new job as a patient financial service analyst at Charleston Area Medical Center KELLI MCCARTY, ’06, was elected to the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association Board of Directors WHITNEY HAGER, ’07, was recognized with the 2014 James F. Trusley Employee of the Year Award at Boone Memorial Hospital

PATRICIA BAISI, ’12 (pictured above), married Shawn Petry on April 5, 2014 JOSH COOK, ’12, married Sydney Loftis on January 3, 2015 ROBIN DAVIS, ’13, is a field engineer at Gyrodata Incorporated in Houston, TX CARRIE HAMMOND MCGREW, ’13, received a position at the YMCA of Charleston as their membership coordinator

JEFF WOOD, ’00 (pictured above), is now the director of development and intergovernmental relations at the West Virginia National Guard AARON MORRIS, ’01, was named the Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering 2014 Alumnus of the Year

SHARE YOUR NEWS

DAMIEON D. MILLS, ’02, was inducted to the WVU Tech Athletic Hall of Fame

NATHAN STARK, ’07, and ANDREA ARD, ’08, (pictured above) were married on July 5, 2014 in Louisiana. The couple now resides in Charleston, WV

2010s

WVU Tech alumni are doing great things all over the world, and each year we receive many news items from our graduates. Maybe you’ve earned a promotion, gotten married or had a child — we want to hear from you! Please take a moment to share your news at wvutech.edu/magazine.

BRITTANY SHEARER, ’10, married Michael Kinder on July 14, 2014

JASON BLACKHURST, ’03 (pictured above), is now a Java consultant at ICC for McGraw-Hill Education

JEROME WAUCHOPE, ’11, married HANNAH JASKOT, ’12, in Jamaica on July 2014. The couple welcomed their first daughter in February

KACI FOSTER, ’03 and ’04, is now the secretary for the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association

FALL 2015

BEARTRACKS

17

IN MEMORIAM

1940s

ROBERT A. GIACOMO, ’63, of Port Charlotte, FL, March 14, 2014

1980s

JOHN R. ERVIN, ’40, of Kenton, OH, April 8, 2014

WILLIAM J. LEWIS, ’63, of King George, VA, March 17, 2015

JOHNNY L. HILL, ’81, of Seth, WV, July 19, 2014

GERALD M. FITZWATER, ’43, of Munford, TN, February 2, 2015

GROVER H. PAXTON, ’63, of Saint Albans, WV, March 17, 2014

CHARLES R. OSBURN, ’83, of Huntington, WV, September 4, 2014

BETTY EVANS RILEY, ’65, of Sissonville, WV, October 26, 2014

JAMES M. FLOYD, ’85, of Lewisburg, WV, August 29, 2014

JAMES R. HAMMOND, ’50, of Danville, CA, July 6, 2014

ARTHENIA L. SCOTT, ’65, of London, WV, March 28, 2014

RUTH E. BLAIR, ’86, of Riversville, WV, July 13, 2014

HOWARD K. NUNLEY, ’50, of Montgomery, WV, April 15, 2014

LARRY E. LOSCH, ’67, of Nettie, WV, September 20, 2014

CAROL BOSTIC, ’89, of Virginia Beach, VA, May 17, 2014

1950s

WILLIAM F. PALMER, ’52, of Las Vegas, NV, March 8, 2014

1970s

1990s

JOHN T. GROSSI, ’53, of Weirton, WV, March 19, 2014

RONALD P. LINDSEY, ’72, of Lookout, WV, August 12, 2014

GREGORY W. RADER, ’91, of Oak Hill, WV, January 29, 2015

HELEN LODGE, ’56, of Charleston, WV, May 23, 2015

ROBERT K. HOLLIDAY, ’73, of Fayetteville, WV, February 28, 2014

LINDA C. JORDAN, ’94, of Fredericksburg, VA, March 29, 2014

MARSHALL K. WEBB, ’56, of Smithers, WV, August 15, 2014

LOWELL R. HODGES, ’74, of Columbus, OH, March 18, 2015

JUDY K. NICHOLAS, ’95, of Montgomery, WV, July 26, 2014

PERRY R. MERRITT, ’57, of Ripley, WV, August 31, 2014

LAWRENCE R. SAMPSON, ’74, of Beckley, WV, March 24, 2014

WILLIAM E. ASBURY, ’98, of Charleston, WV, November 23, 2014

RICHARD HAMMAN, ’59, of Peachtree City, GA, September 20, 2014

TERRY L. GREEN, ’75, of Belle, WV, September 30, 2014

JOHNNY J. LOREA, ’59, of Boomer, WV, May 13, 2015

ALVIS K. WAGNER, ’75, of Iaeger, WV, September 15, 2014

TOMMY D. MCCOMAS, ’59, of Huntington, WV, November 21, 2014

CAMILLA J. HIVELY, ’76, of Charleston, WV, July 14, 2014

1960s

MARK E. BUMGARDNER, ’77, of Mount Clare, WV, March 17, 2014

JOHN C. BRIGHTWELL, ’60, of Wilmington, DE, September 24, 2014

ROBERTA ANN DURRETT CARTE, ’77, of Fayetteville, WV, August 10, 2014

LARRY E. MORTON, ’60, of Charleston, WV, August 28, 2014

FRANK MUNOZ, ’77, of Las Vegas, NV, March 20, 2014

MORRIS E. BRADSHAW, ’61, of Pennsburg, PA, January 6, 2015

MILDRED M. HAZELWOOD, ’78, of Montgomery, WV, May 30, 2014

ALFRED H. PERRY, ’61, of Manning, SC, March 23, 2015

MARILYN E. TURLEY, ’78, of Montgomery, WV, August 11, 2014

CHARLES O. RANDOLPH, ’62, of Ripley, WV, June 1, 2014

RICKY A. HELMICK, ’79, of Oak Hill, WV, February 17, 2015

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2000s AMY L. BEARD, ’00, of Cowen, WV, April 8, 2015

Donors, Faculty and Staff ROBERT “BOB” BURKE, former Campus Service Worker and Landscape Worker, May 4, 2015 WILLIAM “BILL” KEENEY, Academic Lab Manager in the Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering and Sciences, April 8, 2015 DR. JOHN “PHIL” RANEY, former Professor of Mechanical Engineering, February 23, 2015 LOUIS R. TABIT, longtime supporter, December 2, 2014 DR. JAY WIEDEMANN, professor in the Physical Science department, July 28, 2014

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Membership is extended to all dues-paying alumni of New River State College, West Virginia Institute of Technology, the Community and 405 Fayette Pike Montgomery, WV 25136

Technical College of West Virginia Institute of Technology and West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

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