BEARTRACKS THE WVU TECH MAGAZINE
ISSUE 06 FALL 2017
GOLDEN BEARS
GIVE BACK
WVU Tech students are teaming up to tackle need in the community, and there’s strength in these numbers.
REMEMBERING DR. NELSON
On the life and life’s work of a beloved Golden Bear.
THE NEXT CHAPTER Our new campus and the people who live, work and learn here.
SUMMERTIME KIDS Even when school’s out for the summer, the learning doesn’t stop.
A Message from the President It’s that time of year again, and I’ve got to say that quite a lot has happened at Tech since our last issue. Perhaps the biggest and most exciting news is that we have completed our historic transition to the Beckley campus. August 16, 2017 was the first day of classes. That day also marked the beginning of our new chapter in our new home. With the support of our faculty and staff, current students, alumni, WVU in Morgantown and our extended WVU Tech community, I’m proud to share that we completed the move in the smoothest way possible. I’ve been nothing but impressed by how wonderfully these incredible people worked together to make this happen. As I walk down South Kanawha Street and see the activity and vitality of this new campus, I’m left in awe at what they have accomplished.
given their time and talents to this institution and its students. From funding scholarships to offering advice on how to land a job, they’re giving back to their alma mater and the students who will soon join their ranks as capable graduates. I’ve never been more proud to be a part of WVU Tech, and I know you’ll feel that pride when you read about all the spectacular Golden Bears in this magazine. I’d like to thank you, alumni and friends of WVU Tech. We’re so grateful for your support and for all the magnificent work you do. Most of all, we’re proud to call you Golden Bears. I hope you enjoy this issue of Bear Tracks and that you’ll continue to keep up with us as we work to show the world what WVU Tech can do.
Our more than 1,300 students are already building incredible things in Beckley. They’re earning degrees in 40 fields. They’re competing in athletic events all across the city. They’re putting together business plans with the help of our LaunchLab. They’re building new and interesting student organizations and they’re contributing thousands of hours to service projects to help their community and foster in themselves a lifelong desire to give back. WVU Tech’s alumni are continuing Tech’s tradition of excellence as well. You’ll read about a few in this issue who are making waves in their careers, and there are others who have
West Virginia University Institute of Technology ISSUE 06 FALL 2017 CAMPUS PRESIDENT Carolyn Long EDITORS Jen Wood Cunningham, ’01 Zac Carrier DESIGN Ryan Couch PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Meador Zac Carrier Ryan Couch
OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS 501 South Kanawha Street Beckley, WV 25801 wvutech.edu TechRelations@mail.wvu.edu CHANGE OF ADDRESS WVU Foundation PO Box 1650 Morgantown, WV 26504-1650 wvuf.org
CLASS NOTES WVU Tech Office of Alumni Relations 304.929.1254 Tech-Alumni@mail.wvu.edu alumni.wvutech.edu
West Virginia University Institute of Technology is governed by the West Virginia University Board of Governors and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. WVU Tech is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer.
CONTENTS FE AT U R ES 1 4 A Spirit of Service
WVU Tech students are logging more volunteer hours than ever before.
16
Putting the Camp in Campus
18
Remembering Leonard C. Nelson
In the summertime, campus becomes home to a much younger group of Golden Bears
A few words on the life and legacy of Dr. Leonard C. Nelson
Snapshot Dr. Leonard C. Nelson Dr. Nelson, circa 1979. Nelson was president at Tech for 25 years, and led the institution through five presidential administrations, the Vietnam War and one of Tech’s greatest periods of growth.
D EPA R TMENTS 12 2 Alumni News 8 10
Campus Update Viewfinder
20
Student News In Memoriam
ALUMNI NEWS Shelley Watkins Porter, P.E., ’06
A registered professional engineer in West Virginia and Kentucky, Shelley earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Tech before going on to to complete a master’s degree in engineering with a dual emphases in environmental engineering and engineering management. Shelley was active at Tech, balancing her life as an engineering student with playing tennis and Greek activities. She said that Tech is where she learned the importance of resilience, discovered the value of soft skills in engineering and established friendships that changed her life. “What I remember are experiences with the small knit community of students and staff. I met my husband Brandon at Tech and still maintain close friendships with my fellow civil engineering graduates and Alpha Sigma Tau sisters,” she said. After college, she began her career with an engineering firm in St. Albans, West Virginia, where she designed and managed water, sewer and storm water projects throughout the state. Now she works as an engineering project manager for West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of the largest publically traded water utility in the country. She oversees projects for the company’s distribution and treatment works, which serves more than a third of the state’s water customers. Shelley works with contractors and other engineers on capital improvement projects to automate treatment plants, build water storage tanks, replace and extend water mains and plan future improvements. She also manages the company’s geographical information systems (GIS) group.
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“I get to come to work every day to serve the public in providing the most valuable resource they use every day: water. Without it, modern civilization as we know it couldn’t exist,” she said. “I find my work important to public health and, like many civil engineers who work in transportation, utilities and development, our profession is essential to support a growing economy in West Virginia.” For her work in the field, Shelley has received a number of professional awards, including the 2012 West Virginia ASCE Young Civil Engineer of the Year Award; the American Water Works Association 2016 George Warren Fuller Award; the WV Water Environmental Association’s Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers’ Gold Shovel Award; and the Water Environment Federation’s 2017 Arthur Sidney Bedell Award in acknowledgement of extraordinary personal service to the WV Water Environment Association. She previously served in leadership roles at the American Society of Civil Engineers, the West Virginia Water Environment Association and the Engineers Club of Huntington. She is the incoming president of the West Virginia Chapter of the Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals and is actively involved in the American Water Works Association. She leads WV American Water efforts in raising funds to support Water For People, and is actively involved in the Putnam County Chamber, Habitat for Humanity and STEM outreach efforts. She’s also a graduate of the Putnam Leadership Program and the Charleston Citizen Police Academy. When she’s not putting her skills to work on projects throughout the state, Shelley also plays American Water’s mascot Puddles the Duck at festivals and library events.
John Lester, P.E., ’82
A native of Charleston, West Virginia, John graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from WVU Tech in 1982. Now he uses what he learned at Tech as Director of Lifecycle Services for the East Region for the Power & Water Solutions business unit of Emerson Automation Solutions. In the years since graduation, John has built an incredible career, counting 15 years at AEP’s John Amos power plant and multiple positions at electrical construction and engineering firms. He joined Emerson in 2003 and now oversees the operations of more than 70 engineers in three regional offices for the Eastern US. In all of this, he has kept a relationship going with his alma mater. He’s hired more than a dozen Tech grads and set up internships for WVU Tech students. This summer, he traveled to the Beckley campus to speak with students enrolled in the popular Camp STEM program (see more on page 12). He shared his story and how his career led him down paths one might not expect of an engineer. He says that reaching out to young students about STEM is a no-brainer. “We need smart young people to learn how things work and come up with ways to make them better,” he said. “Our society has come to depend on many things to just ‘be there,’ like electricity, water and the internet, but without people who understand how all of that works and what it takes to maintain it, everything can go away.” Beyond reaching out to youngsters, John says one of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been watching young engineers build successful careers of their own.
“It’s very important for experienced engineering professionals to take the time to teach and share with the next generation because we had a lot of people do that for us as up-and-coming engineers,” he said.
Jim Estep, ’89
In 1986, he was awarded a military science scholarship from the United States Army and, upon graduation from WVU Tech in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, he went on active duty with the Army as a commissioned officer. He then pursued graduate studies at WVU where, in 1993, he received a master’s degree in computer science.
“I try to take some of the new ones under wing and keep an interest in them to get them past the initial shock of what it means to truly be an engineer. And as I’ve gotten older I like to see the people that I’ve helped develop advance in their jobs. There are several people that I’ve hired and helped along the way that have built really great careers,” he said. When John thinks back on his days at Tech, it’s the relationships he remembers most. “The sense of family that developed as you progressed with the other students and the faculty, even though I was a commuter, was something I always remember,” he said.
Although he’s marked a long career, there’s still work to be done in the field. What’s he excited about in the future? A way to store power not yet thought of. “Power storage is the Holy Grail in the power generation industry. The bright engineers who find a cheap, efficient, environmentally friendly way to store and recall power are the next big game changers,” he said. John spends his free time with Terri, his wife of more than 30 years, at their home in Huntersville, North Carolina. He’s an avid golfer and the go-to “project guy” for family, friends and the local golf course. He’s a licensed professional engineer in North Carolina and West Virginia.
Jim has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the High Technology Foundation since June of 2000, where he has led the organization through substantial growth and evolution. His love of technology has led the organization to develop various cutting-edge and innovative technologies for its research and development customers. As president, he has overseen the growth of the organization into a $200 million enterprise and the development of the I-79 Technology Park in Fairmont, West Virginia, which has been recognized as one of the premier technology parks in the MidAtlantic region. The I-79 Technology Park has become home to several nationally critical programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) including the NOAA Environmental Security Computing Center (NESCC), the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program and the NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). “When I graduated it really bothered me that there were virtually no opportunities in West Virginia to pursue a career in computer science,” he said. “So, when I was later presented with an opportunity to help change that reality, I felt compelled to take it. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to both participate in an effort that is making positive institutionalized changes to the state’s economy while having the opportunity to work in areas of advanced technology.”
“As I think back on my time at West Virginia Tech, I think of the incredible people I met along the way. I really believe they were unique, highquality individuals attracted to Tech by its strong reputation for science and engineering education because they strived for the best. I will always cherish the fact that I was able to be a part of it and that I have retained lifelong friendships,” he said. He’s active in several business and technology efforts around the state. He serves as Chairman of the MidAtlantic Aerospace Complex (MAAC) and is a member of the West Virginia NASA Space Grant Consortium and the West Virginia Roundtable. He is a former member of the Glenville State College Board of Governors and the Fairmont State University Board of Governors. He has also served as a board member for the Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research & Innovation Center (MATRIC), a member of the Advisory and Enterprise committee for WVU’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and as chairman of the Technology Committee for the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. In June 2005, he received a Congressional Achievement Award presented by former Congressman Alan B. Mollohan, U.S. House of Representatives, for the First District of West Virginia. A native of Braxton County, West Virginia, Jim currently resides in Morgantown with his wife Melissa and three children.
Want to know more about these notable alumni? Visit
wvutech.edu/magazine. FALL 2017
BEARTRACKS 3
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni of the Year
Stacey Fragile, ’96
Dr. Traci Acklin, ’94
Stacey earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations and human resources and an associate degree in general studies. She graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2000 and was admitted to practice law in West Virginia that year. She is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Ms. Fragile is an attorney with The Law Office of Stephen P. New, L.C. in Beckley, where she fights for those injured due to the wrongful actions of others. Her work experience includes four years with the West Virginia Office of Administrative Hearings, where she served as acting director of the agency, a position she was appointed to by former Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. She spent eight years with the Fragile Law Firm with her husband, Matthew in Beckley, where she focused on the needs of families and children in West Virginia. While at Tech, Ms. Fragile was a majorette and a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau National Sorority. She is the vice president of chapter development for the Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association. She serves on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Dance Company; as the cheer coach for St. Francis de Sales elementary and middle schools; as the chapter advisor for the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority; and as the troop leader for the St. Francis de Sales Junior Girl Scout Troop. She previously served as a member of the West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Executive Committee, the Saint Francis de Sales School Board and the Just For Kids, Inc. Board of Directors. Originally from Whitesville, West Virginia, she now lives in Beckley with her husband Matthew and their two daughters, Daniella and Alessandra.
Dr. Traci Acklin knew she’d be a physician from the time she was young. She grew up in Charlton Heights, West Virginia, and graduated from WVU Tech with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She chased her dream career to Morgantown, where she went on to earn her M.D. from the WVU School of Medicine and serve as a pediatric resident in the University’s Charleston Division. For 15 years, Dr. Acklin has worked as a pediatrician at Montgomery Pediatrics in Montgomery General Hospital. She is a solo practitioner at the only pediatric office in a multicounty area. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with an underserved population to improve their health, educational potential and lifestyle. A third-generation Tech graduate, Dr. Acklin chose the university because she wanted a small college feel with a strong undergraduate biology program. She looks back on her time in the biology department fondly. For her, Drs. Ferrara, Gaertner, Wellstead and Parks could not have been better role models. During her career, Dr. Acklin has instructed students at WVU, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Charleston. She has received numerous professional awards, including the West Virginia Academy of Pediatrics Pediatrician of the Year award on 2011 and the 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics Exemplary Service award. She is currently vice president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and will assume the presidency in April 2018. She is part of a leadership group within the National Academy that determines the direction of the Academy’s efforts and has been part of a working group that visited Capitol Hill to advocate for children’s health issues such as Zika, Medicaid funding and lead poisoning. Dr. Acklin lives in Charleston, West Virginia with Brian, her husband of 20 years. The two have three sons - Benjamin, Philip and Brady.
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Athletic Hall of Fame Michael A. Miller, ’76
Greg Saunders, ’88
Joseph Martin, ’00
A Sissonville, West Virginia native, Mike was a member of the National Honor Society and active in football, basketball, wrestling and track. He played high school football for two years under the legendary Sissonville coaches, Joe Sawyers and Bob Dawson. In his senior year, he was coached by West Virginia Tech Hall of Fame member, Forest Mann. In 1972, Mike enrolled at West Virginia Tech. He lettered in football for four years and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Accounting, becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree. Mike began his career at West VirginiaAmerican Water Company as a junior accountant. He retired 35 years later as Regional Vice-President and Treasurer of the Southeast Region of American Water Works Service Company. After retiring, Mike began a second career at the West Virginia Public Service Commission. He is a past member of the Tech Board of Advisors, past president of the Tech Foundation and past treasurer of the Golden Bear Athletic Club. In 1998, Mike was recognized as the Alumnus of the Year by the College of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences. He was involved in activities that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support academic and athletic scholarships, including organizing the Golden Bear Golf Classic for 13 years. In 1982, Mike married Renita Moore. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Greg grew up in Rand, West Virginia and played basketball at DuPont High for famed coach, Jim Fout. Greg started for DuPont his junior and senior years and was named to the All-KVC First Team in both. He was Top 10 in scoring, assists, steals and free throw percentage in the KVC and was Honorable Mention All-State both seasons. Greg was recruited to Tech in 1983 by the late coach Tom Sutherland. As point guard, he led Tech to the 1986 WVIAC Tournament Championship and was named WMON Most Improved Player. With a team record of 23-10, he led in assists, steals and free throw percentage. He only turned the ball over 47 times in 32 games while playing close to 37 minutes a game. As captain, Greg shot 49.6% from the field, 50% (50 of 100) from behind the three-point line and again led the team in assists and steals his senior year. He was MVP of The LenoirRhyne Tournament in Hickory, North Carolina, and won the 1987 George Springer Award, WVIAC’s Outstanding Sport and the 1987 Sparky Adams Competitors Award. He was voted Homecoming King in 1986. Greg earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and worked in the banking and finance industry for 28 years. He is an ordained minister and received a degree in theology in 2015. Greg and his wife Robin reside in Hurricane, West Virginia.
Joe attended high school in Yorktown, Virginia, where he was selected to the Virginia High School AA All-State team for football and baseball. At Tech, he earned an associate degree in printing technology and a bachelor’s degree in printing management. He played both football and baseball at Tech. During his four years as a football player, Joe was second all-time reception leader with 164 receptions; second all-time in receiving yards with 2205 yards; and first all-time in kickoff return yards, averaging 25.5 yards per attempt. Joe started every game in his four-year football career and was named a WVIAC All-Conference player. In baseball, Joe maintained a lifetime batting average of .314. He was a twotime WVIAC All-Conference player at centerfield and was awarded the 1998 Orndorff Award for most outstanding student-athlete at WVU Tech. Joe became an assistant WVU Tech football receivers coach after school. Joe was also the head coach for the women’s soccer team in their 2000 inaugural season. Joe is currently a press operator for Berkshire Hathaway Media Group Print Innovator/Freelance Star newspaper in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He and his brother formed the York River Renegades travel baseball organization and Joe created the Virginia Revo showcase baseball team for high school players. He resides in Yorktown, Virginia.
Learn more about our Alumni of the Year and Hall of Fame honorees at wvutech.edu/magazine. FALL 2017
BEARTRACKS 5
ALUMNI NEWS
A weekend for the bears. In early April, multiple Golden Bear generations
gathered at the Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels, West Virginia to celebrate WVU Tech and some of its notable alumni. The event was dubbed “Golden Bear Weekend,” and included family events and dinners honoring the 2017 Alumni of the Year and athletic Hall of Fame awardees.
UPC O MING EV ENTS WVU Tech alumni have a packed year ahead, so put these upcoming events on your calendar and don’t miss these opportunities to reconnect. Visit WVUTECH.EDU to see all upcoming events throughout the year. 6 BEARTRACKS FALL 2017 2016
GOLDEN BEAR AWARDS DINNER March 3 The Resort at Glade Springs
Join us for a weekend at The Resort at Glade Springs. We’ll celebrate our Golden Bear family, our alumni of the year and our athletic hall of fame inductees.
WEST VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN EXPO ENGINEERING ALUMNI RECEPTION March 20 Embassy Suites, Charleston, WV
We’re celebrating the state’s construction and design industry – and the Tech alumni who put their education to work making it so successful.
119TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY May 12
Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center The first commencement ceremony to be hosted in Beckley. We’ll honor graduates of the day, plus our Golden Alumni from the class of 1968.
A ceremony for the history books.
On Saturday, May 6, WVU Tech hosted the final commencement ceremony on the university’s Montgomery campus. The ceremony included remarks from Campus President Carolyn Long and graduating Student Government Association president Rob Leibel, who told students to embrace change both in their careers and as their alma mater starts its new journey in Beckley. “Despite all the various backgrounds we come from, we are united today, graduating together as part of a Golden bear family,” he said. “Being open to possibilities will help us with change in the future. Be open to the possibility that this change will lead to an even bigger Golden Bear family.” Graduating students also heard from Bruce Wiegmann, an alumnus of the WVU Tech class of 1981 and an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
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BEARTRACKS 7
CAMPUS UPDATE
Our new home in Beckley A campus built for Golden Bears In the months leading up to the first day of classes, the University outfitted campus buildings to suit the unique needs of WVU Tech’s student population. In the Physical Sciences and Life Sciences buildings, contractors installed state-of-the art laboratories with advanced safety features. In the library, new spaces were created to house the campus bookstore and the popular Student Success Center, which sees more than 10,000 visits each year. Student-athletes are already enjoying new locker rooms and upgraded training facilities, while students across campus now have access to the Benedum Events and Activities Room (The BEAR), a lounge for commuters and the Tech Spot, a grab-and-go café that serves quick meals and Starbucks coffee. Throughout campus, the facilities department has transitioned to LED lighting to boost energy efficiency and is adding extra lighting and sidewalks to enhance campus safety. A campuswide recycling program is also in the works to make campus more sustainable. The Golden Bear statue, which long stood outside of Old Main in Montgomery, has even been repaired and installed inside the LRC, the hub of activity on campus.
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Students The University has seen an increase in enrolled students for the 2017-2018 academic year. The Beckley campus is home to more than 1,500 Golden Bears, including more than 400 who live on campus. Our students come from 30 states and almost every West Virginia county. Our in-state students make up the bulk of the student body, and out-of-state students come from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. They also represent more than 20 countries, with students from countries such as Spain, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Rwanda, Kuwait and Nigeria.
Employees This year, more than 300 faculty and staff are working on the Beckley campus. More than 80 full-time faculty members teach courses and provide academic advisement, while WVU Tech staff are working on everything from facilities and dining to career services and success programs for students.
Student Organizations For students, the Beckley campus is incredibly active. We’ve seen an increase in student-run organizations and have more than 40 active groups on campus. With everything from professional and honor societies to outdoor expeditions and gaming clubs, WVU Tech students are taking extracurricular experiences to new levels.
Athletics Our 15 athletic teams have already become an active part of Beckley’s athletic community. Volleyball and wrestling hold matches on campus. Our swimmers compete at the local YMCA while baseball plays at the Linda K. Epling Stadium. Our cross country runners have partnered with the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, basketball faces the competition at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, golf shoots at The Resort at Glade Springs, softball plays at Woodrow Wilson High School and men’s and women’s soccer compete at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex.
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BEARTRACKS 9
VIEW FINDER
10 BEARTRACKS FALL 2017 2016
This city of 17,000 people is a close-knit community with a big heart and incredible opportunities for students to learn and work. They call it the “City of Champions.” They call it Beckley.
We call it home.
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BEARTRACKS 11
STUDENT NEWS
Career Services helps Tech students get to work Think of career services at any college
them see if it's right for them," she said.
get a haircut and buy an iron,” Stadler said.
and you’re bound to conjure up career
The department has seen a dramatic
“Those are the conversations that we have
readiness staples like resume help and
increase in activity. Beyond resume reviews
afternoon job fairs. And while those
and job fairs, Career Services is working
components are important to how students
one-on-one with students in a holistic
prepare for life after college, Candice
bid to make them more employable.
Stadler, who runs WVU Tech’s Career
They’re teaching students how to talk to
Services department, says that's just the tip
employers, how to network and how to
of the iceberg.
create online job profiles. They’re even
“We do everything from setting up internships to assisting students who are undecided in their major. Sometimes they don't have a clear-cut path, so we can help
providing tips on how to dress and the basics of interview etiquette. “I joke with parents that I'm probably going to be the one to tell their student to
Before, during and after The department held more than 700 student appointments in the 2016-2017 academic year alone, and while landing that dream job is typically the end goal, it’s not always the first priority. Sometimes it’s about grad school. Other times, it’s about earning real-world experience before the job hunt even begins. “That’s where internships come in,” said Stadler. “It gives students a chance to really explore a potential field to see if it’s right for them.” Stadler said the vast majority of students at Tech will undergo some kind of experiential learning. Even among programs that don’t require an internship, students will seek one out because they know the value of experience on the job hunt. Stadler said that traditional co-ops – where a student takes a year off to work with a company – are giving way to internships and shorter summer co-ops. “Very few students do that anymore because there’s a push to get the degree done and there are costs associated with taking time off,” she said. When a student is looking at an advanced degree, the department works with them to prepare graduate applications, review personal statements and help them apply for graduate assistant positions.
#HireWVUTech Want to hire a Golden Bear? Stadler said that finding a qualified candidate is easier than ever. The department works with the WVU System’s MountaineerTRAK program, where students and alumni can search for work and where employers can post their openings free of charge.
Visit careerservices.wvutech.edu to get started.
12 BEARTRACKS FALL 2017
beyond just looking at that resume.”
Of course, when students want to land a full or part-time position, there are services for that, too. The department helps students with the preparation process and hosts regular job fairs and on-campus recruitment events. More than 75 employers “That’s where from throughout the country visited campus internships come for fairs and other events last year, where in. It gives students they connected with around 580 students. a chance to really Career Services has also developed ongoing explore a potential relationships with employers such as the field to see if it’s FBI, Emerson, DuPont, Dow, MillCorp, right for them.” Chemours, CAMC, Toyota and LA Gates, -Candice Stadler who just this year hired four interns and one full-time employee. “That’s the difference with us,” said Stadler. “Students come here and, since we know a lot of employers well and we work with all our employers to find out what they truly need, we can prep them a little better.”
Student: Kimberly Coleman Background: Senior forensic investigation Next steps: Pursue a graduate degree in
forensic toxicology and, hopefully, a full-time job with the FBI.
The internship: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quantico, Virginia
ion course, it changed Kimberly started out as a pre-nursing major, but when she took a forensic investigat and with finding justice for families everything. Now she’s fascinated with figuring out how the criminal mind works impacted by crime. 300 hours on classified projects, This summer, she put that fascination to work for the FBI, where she spent nearly tell you more, but she can’t). rode in a helicopter and conducted firearms training alongside Bureau agents. (She’d learned so much about the FBI “It was an amazing experience, and one that I will cherish for a very long time. I was very rewarding,” she said. and what they do. I learned even more that it is what I want to do with my life. It ion part-time. She enjoyed the work so much, in fact, that she’s continuing to work for the organizat
ering major from
chanical engine Background: Senior me Salta, Argentina
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experience thr Next Steps: Gain work maybe grad school. rnational students, and program for inte
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had an aptitude for nd out very early that he fou tias Ma rk, wo gs for figuring out how thin Born with a penchant ing lives.” . al for society and improv mechanical engineering ating something benefici cre of a ide chapter e “th d, sai Mechanical Engineers “It fascinates me,” he the American Society of of t en sid pre m, tea n’s soccer He’s captain of the me chapter. for natural Pi Tau Sigma Delta Theta commissioning services and vice-president of the , where he helped with tes Ga LA t ltan nsu co eering ing plans. Matias worked for engin d created commission fted system drawings an dra , ites rks wo ective of ited vis ve me a different persp gas industry projects. He rstand everything. It ga de un to er ord in ties t my du “I had to go beyond jus real world,” he said. school are used in the at d rne lea ts ep nc co how their office in Beckley. h LA Gates part-time at wit rk wo his g uin ntin Matias is co FALL 2017
INTERN PROFILE
Student: Matias Gandulfo
INTERN PROFILE
major from Clay County, West Virginia
BEARTRACKS 13
GOLDEN BEARS
GIVE BACK
WVU Tech graduates have always been known for their work ethic, capability, breadth of knowledge and tenacity. They also have a reputation for using their time and talents to give back to the communities where they live and work. It’s with that civic-minded spirit that the University has renewed efforts to get students involved in the community in recent years. 14 BEARTRACKS FALL 2017
Associate Dean of Students Candice Stadler oversees the university’s department of Career Service and Cooperative Learning. She said that service has become an integral part of the WVU Tech experience. “It builds a sense of citizenship. It allows students to engage with the local community and to build those relationships we want students to have, not only
with Tech, but with the greater Beckley area. It can assist with career exploration and provide opportunities for students to see how they can use their skills to serve specific needs in the community,” she said.
AFTER THE FLOOD
In August of 2016, more than 80 new WVU Tech students from all over the world spent a day of service helping those impacted by devastating flooding in the southern part of the state. In White Sulphur Springs students participated in beautification projects, cleaned up greenspaces and restored community gardens to bring some normalcy back to the area. A hundred miles east in Belle, West Virginia, another group of newcomers worked in an old warehouse to put together family kits and assemble furniture for displaced families living in temporary FEMA housing.
A WEEK OF SERVICE (plus fun and games) In April of 2017, the University hosted the first-ever WVU Tech Service Week, where students engaged in nine days of community service in and around both the Montgomery and Beckley campuses. Students spent time at Spring Fling constructing dog toys to donate to local shelters. The next day, students hosted a “Day of Play” in Montgomery for area youngsters and families. That weekend, volunteers worked at Causeacon, Beckley’s first-ever pop culture convention. Their work helped the organization raise $28,000 for the Women’s Resource Center in Beckley. When they weren’t helping out at the convention, they spent time working with the local YMCA on a youth soccer clinic and with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central West Virginia on a Drive 4 Ur Community Ford test drive fundraiser.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
On August 15, 2017, more than 200 new WVU Tech students spent the day working on community service projects throughout the Beckley area. They cleaned up litter along roadways in Raleigh County, painted walls and furniture in a church nursery, cleaned and organized for local nonprofits, worked on a mural in Uptown and helped straighten up at the Summit Bechtel Reserve after the National Boy Scout Jamboree. In all, the group logged more than 800 hours of community service.
Scotty Stone, a WVU Tech grad and an AmeriCorps VISTA, organized the event. For these new students, he said, the day was also a warm introduction to the community. “The orientation experience is all about getting students to feel like the college is home for them, so in order to do that, they need to feel that the city is their home, too. When a student gives back to the community, they also feel that they are part of that community,” he said.
SERVE EVERY DAY
While big service events are great for capturing the interest of new students and volunteers, service and learning is happening on campus every day. WVU Tech is a member of the WVU Collaborative; a system of AmeriCorps VISTAs that assist organizations within the WVU System with community building and poverty alleviation. As part of that project, the WVU Tech office is working to boost volunteer opportunities and incorporate service into the curriculum by adding service components to courses and highlighting educational aspects of service opportunities. “One of the things that we’re going to be working on this year is trying to assist faculty and programs on campus who are using service as a component of a class,” said Stadler. “For example, accounting students who help lowincome families prepare their taxes will also study the educational piece behind poverty. If it’s a project with the Piney Creek Watershed Association, they’ll have to dig deeper into what factors can put a watershed in danger. It’s that educational piece behind why we’re completing this service.” There are also ongoing needs that students are meeting on the day-to-day. Between the big events, students volunteer at hospitals, assist the United Way Kid Zone program, help Active Southern West Virginia with volunteer needs and work for WVU Accessibility Services as peer note takers.
HELP A GOLDEN BEAR GIVE BACK
If you’re part of a nonprofit organization that would like to work with WVU Tech students, the first step is to contact the Career Service and Cooperative Learning office at 304.929.1247. Don’t have a project but still want to help? The department is always looking for in-kind donations of essentials like gloves, hand tools, first aid kits, hand sanitizer and sunscreen for their volunteer closet. Donors and organizations can also provide food and drinks for volunteers during specific events. Read more about WVU Tech’s community service efforts at wvutech.edu/magazine.
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The Golden Bears of summer After the tassels of May have been moved from right to left and the last students have trickled out of the residence halls with pillows and knickknacks in tow, one could expect campus to feel like a ghost town. At Tech, campus springs to life in summer. The students are younger – much younger in some cases – but the learning never stops. These are the Golden Bears of summer; campers and K-12 students from throughout the state and beyond who make WVU Tech their home in the summertime.
Camp STEM
WVU Tech’s popular Camp STEM program has been in operation for more than a decade. The co-ed, weeklong experience puts students in touch with faculty, college students and professionals who work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The idea? Introduce students to STEM concepts and careers before they start the college search. Whether or not students ultimately go into STEM fields isn’t the measure of success for Camp STEM. It’s about opening their eyes to something they may never have thought to consider otherwise. To do that, campers work in teams to tackle projects and experiments in everything from engineering and robotics to chemistry and biology. They also live on campus, attend classes and even eat in the dining hall like they would in college.
Tomorrow is Mine Summer 2017 also marked the launch of the Tomorrow is Mine camp, which was hosted on the Beckley campus in June. The camp worked with 10-12 year-olds from Boone, Logan, Mingo, Lincoln, Wyoming and Raleigh counties to provide a traditional summer camp experience in a drug-free environment focused on healthy lifestyle choices and career exploration. Campers learned how to sculpt, cooked in a Dutch oven, learned basic CPR and first aid, participated in a STEM construction challenge and took field trips to Lake Stephens, the National Guard Armory and the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. TIM plans to return to campus in 2018 and is a partnership between the WVU Health Sciences Center, the WVU School of Medicine, CAMC, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Marshall University, WVU Charleston Division and WVU Tech.
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Upward Bound WVU Tech’s Upward Bound is a federally funded TRIO program that helps high school students prepare for college and explore career options. Tech’s program is one of the oldest in the nation and has been in operation for more than 50 years. While the program works with students throughout the year, its flagship experience is the summer session where students live on campus for six weeks. They get a true college experience, living in residence halls and attending college-style courses on everything from public speaking and foreign language to mathematics and general fitness. Students also tour colleges and universities throughout the session and attend an out-ofstate, weeklong field trip. This year, the crew visited Baltimore.
Forensic Investigation Summer Camp
Last summer, WVU Tech hosted it’s first-ever day camp for students interested in forensic investigation and criminal justice. Hosted over two session in June, the camp drew in more than 100 middle and high school students from West Virginia, Ohio and Virginia. Campers spent their days inspecting tire tread impressions, learning how much blood stains can reveal about how a crime happened and exploring the science behind fingerprinting alongside FBI fingerprinting expert, Melissa Halpenny. At the end of the camp, students put the skills they learned to the test as they investigated multiple mock crime scenes in the WVU Tech crime scene house.
WVU Tech STEM Summer Academy for Girls The Academy is an all-girls camp where high school students from throughout the region spend a week exploring STEM concepts and careers in an environment built just for them. At the Academy, campers take classes in everything from nursing and biology to computer programming and engineering. They conduct experiments, program robots to perform simple tasks and learn about everyday engineering as they construct and show off – or hilariously fail to show off – their own shoe creations. Students are also exposed to professionals in STEM fields. They work alongside faculty and students in these majors and meet with women who have built successful careers in STEM businesses and industries.
Learn more about WVU Tech’s summer
programming at wvutech.edu/magazine. FALL 2017
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This was Dr. Leonard C. Nelson.
This was a Golden Bear.
On August 23, 2017, the WVU Tech family lost one of its most beloved Golden Bears with the passing of Dr. Leonard C. Nelson. The longest-serving president in WVU Tech’s more than 120-year history, Nelson spent 25 years at the helm of the institution and is the namesake for the College of Engineering and Sciences. Nelson earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University in 1943. He later went on to receive his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University. He was originally hired as the dean of engineering at then West Virginia Tech in 1956. He rose to the position of president and, under his leadership, Tech experienced one of its greatest periods of change and growth. His tenure saw the institution increase in both physical size – with eleven new buildings constructed in under two decades – and in enrollment. He was also instrumental in gaining accreditation for a number of programs, which helped to solidify the reputation of Tech’s engineering efforts. Beyond his work to bolster the academic stature and reputation of Tech, Nelson was an educator at heart. Deep into his presidency, when rapidly growing engineering programs were in need of instructors, he returned to the classroom to help. In a 1981 interview, he said he was looking forward to his return to one-on-one instruction. “I find the classroom extremely stimulating and rewarding,” he said. “There is no greater reward than to have a student say, ‘Yes, I understand that now,’ after you’ve explained a difficult concept.” Dr. Zeljko Torbica, dean of the Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering and Sciences, said that Nelson’s leadership set a tone for the college that faculty and staff still follow. “Dr. Nelson was the embodiment of what it means to be a Golden Bear. He was a champion of higher education, lifelong learning and service to one’s community. He understood the importance of a holistic college experience, and supported students in their extracurricular and athletic endeavors. He worked tirelessly to make sure the name and the capability of WVU Tech
was known the world over,” he said. Campus President Carolyn Long, in a letter to the WVU Tech community, shared that today’s students are still impacted by Nelson’s work. “Dr. Nelson was a legend and will be remembered for his dedication to serving students and his passion for engineering and higher education. He will be known by future generations as they pursue the disciplines he loved the most. His legacy lives on,” she said. Among his many accomplishments, he held the distinguished honor of professor emeritus at WVU Tech. He was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society and Sigma Xi Science Honor Society. He was a registered professional engineer in the State of West Virginia and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education. In 1975, he was inducted into the “Who’s Who in the United States” Honorary Society of America. Nelson supported WVU Tech well after his retirement and kept in regular contact with the school. His hope for the future of WVU Tech is perhaps best captured in a story published in the 1980 WVU Tech yearbook: “As for the future, Dr. Nelson says he has to be optimistic. We have a good foundation upon which to build and we’re an Institute of Technology in an age of technology.” Never were those words more true. It’s not likely that he knew it at the time, but Dr. Nelson was – and always will be – a most cherished part of that foundation. Nelson was the husband of Dr. Rita Wicks-Nelson, professor emerita of psychology, who resides in New York. He was the father of Sherri McLean, Laurie Adams, Lise Poulos, Nicholas Poulos, Randall Nelson and David Nelson. He has 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
IN MEMORIAM
Remembering those Golden Bears we lost between June 2016 and July 2017.
1940s
JOHN T. ARRINGTON, ’60, of Beaumont, TX, April 18, 2017
JAMES E. HOLLIDAY, ’68, of Laguna Niguel, CA, September 2, 2016
KERMIT S. HYRE, ’42, of Atlanta, GA, July 16, 2017
THOMAS S. LANDON, ’60, of Wheeling, WV, June 24, 2017
SAMUEL A. MCVEY, ’68, of Ansted, WV, December 16, 2016
ROSABELL D. ABSALOM, ’47, of Durham, NC, December 27, 2016
ELMER S. CONNER, ’61, of Pell City, AL, November 6, 2016
GERALD P. SIMMONS, ’69, of Madison, WV, June 14, 2016
WALTER C. HARPOLD, ’47, of Saint Albans, WV, April 28, 2017
FREDERICK HARRISON, ’62, of Nellis, WV, November 13, 2016
WILLIAM J. BARBERA, ’69, of Delray Beach, FL, June 26, 2017
JAMES A. DAVIDSON, ’48, of Saint Albans, WV, October 25, 2016
MELVIN M. MCNEER, ’63, of Loudon, TN, June 28, 2016
WILLIAM A. WHITE, ’48, of Madison, WV, November 18, 2016
GENE P. STEPP, ’63, of Williamson, WV, July 25, 2016
MARIAN E. LIGHT, ’49, of Dunbar, WV, March 2, 2017
CARL D. ALBERCHINSKI, ’63, of Quincy, IL, August 13, 2016
ABRAHAM F. KHURI, ’49, of Richwood, WV, March 6, 2017
MICKEY W. YOUNG, ’63, of Cocoa, FL, October 17, 2016
1950s MIKE BSHARAH, ’50, of Redford, MI, November 13, 2016 REON J. LAMBERT, ’50, of Mechanicsvlle, VA, December 22, 2016 FRANCIS H. WELCH, ’50, of Old Bridge, NJ, May 10, 2017 HENRIETTA R. MARTIN, ’51, of Smithers, WV, July 12, 2017 CHARLES M. JOHNSON, ’53, of Charleston, WV, November 12, 2016 KENNETH K. KNICELEY, ’58, of Dayton, OH, November 10, 2016 JAMES S. INGRAM, ’58, of New Martinsville, WV, July 2, 2017 THOMAS P. BARRON, ’59, of Hurricane, WV, June 11, 2017
1960s DELBERT F. ADKINS, ’60, of Mount Hope, WV, December 27, 2016 DORA F. SMITH, ’60, of Saint Albans, WV, March 10, 2017
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FLAVIUS F. HANNA, ’63, of Elyria, OH, January 22, 2017 FRANK CATERISONO, ’63, of Parkersburg, WV, March 13, 2017 RONALD R. ALEXANDER, ’64, of Glen Ferris, WV, September 14, 2016 DARRELL R. MOON, ’64, of Dayton, OH, January 2, 2017 JERRY D. GOOD, ’64, of Winfield, WV, April 17, 2017 WILLIAM G. MCCUNE, ’65, of East Bank, WV, October 21, 2016 CHARLEY WAITKUS, ’65, of Beckley, WV, January 22, 2017 RICHARD L. HARRIS, ’65, of Grassy Meadows, WV, April 6, 2017 PAUL R. GRIFFITH, ’60 & ’66, of Bentleyville, PA, June 26, 2016 KENNETH D. FITZWATER, ’66, of Murfreesboro, TN, November 29, 2016 THOMAS E. TILLEY, ’67, of North Chesterfield, VA, January 13, 2017 JERRY L. ARMENTROUT, ’67, of Huntington, WV, May 14, 2017 JAMES L. RIGGS, ’68, of Charleston, WV, June 28, 2016
1970s DENNIS L. KINDER, ’71, of Marietta, GA, December 17, 2016 RANDOLPH PENNINGTON, ’71, of Germantown, MD, April 2, 2017 RHONDA R. KESSLER, ’72, of Richwood, WV, July 1, 2016 STEPHEN E. SOULSBY, ’72, of Charleston, WV, February 25, 2017 THOMAS L. LEMLEY, ’72, of Ravenswood, WV, March 14, 2017 RANDALL P. CLARK, ’73, of Mount Hope, WV, September 7, 2016 GREGORY G. SOUTHERS, ’71 & ’73, of Princeton, WV, September 15, 2016 GARY A. WASKEY, ’73, of Ripley, WV, February 19, 2017 DAVID F. MCLAUGHLIN, ’73, of Charleston, WV, June 8, 2017 WILLIAM M. ALEXANDER, ’74, of South Bend, IN, March 5, 2017 CLARA M. TRUMP, ’76, of Stanaford, WV, June 9, 2016 JOHN W. MASSEY, ’76, of Seth, WV, August 8, 2016 JOHN L. VANDELL, ’76, of Bastian, VA, January 15, 2017 JANET C. WATKINS, ’76, of Medina, OH, July 15, 2017 LOU H. VIEWEG, ’77, of Charleston, WV, October 11, 2016
BETTY L. RICHMOND, ’77, of Shady Spring, WV, March 31, 2017
1990s
NANCY L. JONES, ’77, of South Charleston, WV, June 25, 2017
LARRY A. TUCKER, ’92, of Summersville, WV, November 16, 2016
JAMES J. SUESLI, ’78, of Hambleton, WV, November 2, 2016
MICHAEL K. BIVENS, ’92, of Blacksburg, SC, February 28, 2017
CYNTHIA J. CROWDER, ’78, of Charleston, WV, November 18, 2016
GLENN F. LOUGH, ’92, of Fraziers Bottom, WV, June 27, 2017
MARK H. TRAYLOR, ’78 & ’79, of Princeton, WV, March 2, 2017
THOMAS P. HANNON, ’94, of Staunton, VA, January 23, 2017
JEFFREY M. BRABHAM, ’79, of Spencer, WV, June 15, 2017
DIANA M. MILLER, ’96, of Saint Albans, WV, April 3, 2017
1980s BRENDA J. BUZZARD, ’81, of Seth, WV, March 26, 2017 JERRY L. WHITE, ’75 & ’81, of Smithers, WV, July 1, 2017 WILLIAM C. MCMELLON, ’78 & ’82, of Hamlin, WV, May 13, 2017 BRUCE A. TAYLOR, ’81 & ’83, of Swannanoa, NC, August 10, 2016 CRYSTAL A. ELLISON, ’83, of Fayetteville, WV, September 23, 2016 TERRI A. SCHOOLFIELD, ’83, of Culloden, WV, December 9, 2016 DENNIS H. BOGGS, ’83, of Charleston, WV, July 20, 2017 WALTER L. HORNSBY, ’81 & ’84, of Summersville, WV, February 16, 2017 HAROLD W. WEHRLE, ’84, of Dublin, OH, May 28, 2017 JAMES R. WADE, ’80 & ’84, of Hillsboro, WV, June 29, 2017 ROY G. CRIST, ’86, of Ansted, WV, June 23, 2017
1964
AMY M. MIDDLETON-SAMPLES, ’98, of Victor, WV, August 12, 2016 DONNA G. BURK, ’98, of Scarbro, WV, November 27, 2016 CZARINA J. CLYBURN, ’99, of Durham, NC, August 31, 2016
2000s ALISHIA K. PHILLIPS, ’01, of Smithers, WV, July 8, 2016 BILLIE F. BLEVINS, ’01, of Oak Hill, WV, February 17, 2017
1987 RON ALEXANDER
MARY ANN DODRILL, ’02, of Charleston, WV, October 31, 2016
– the Golden Bear who wrote the book on Golden Bears
MICHAEL D. ELKINS, ’03, of Chapmanville, WV, February 2, 2017
In 2016, WVU Tech lost a cherished Golden Bear with the passing of Dr. Ronald R. Alexander, ’64. The talented historian and author served as chair of the history department at Tech and taught students at the institution for 35 years. He is the author of “West Virginia Tech: A History,” which expertly chronicles nearly a century of Tech’s tale from its founding in 1895 through 1992.
ADAM C. GARTON, ’04, of Charleston, WV, September 30, 2016 JAMES F. OPAUSKI, ’06, of North Matewan, WV, July 24, 2016 PHILIP L. PARLIER, ’08, of Oak Hill, WV, December 5, 2016
2010s
DAVID L. EVICK, ’89, of Bridgewater, VA, July 12, 2016
AMBER L. HARVEY, ’10, of Jodie, WV, February 16, 2017
DANNY L. MCMILLION, ’89, of Beckley, WV, February 17, 2017
JOANN E. FLEMING, ’12, of Cross Lanes, WV, May 4, 2017
410 Neville Street | Beckley, WV 25801-4511 1.888.554.TECH | wvutech.edu
Pay it forward, make an impact and help a Golden Bear.
This is a big year for WVU Tech, and we wouldn’t have made it here without you. The Golden Bears in this issue of Bear Tracks are still working toward big things, and they can use your continued support.
If you would like to contribute to scholarships, campus projects or the WVU Tech mission, you can make a donation online at give.wvu.edu/wvutech. If you would prefer to mail a check, please include the fund number in the memo line and send to:
WVU Foundation | One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor | P.O. Box 1650 | Morgantown, WV 26507
For major gifts or to establish an endowment, contact our development office at 304.929.1403. Thank you, alumni and friends of WVU Tech, for all that you do.
Contribute to the fund of your choice. WVU Tech President’s Office Fund – Fund number: 2U196 Funds that help where there is greatest need, from scholarships and campus initiatives to campus facilities. WVU Tech General Scholarship Fund – Fund number: 2S432 Funds used to fill in financial aid gaps for students who show great promise and financial need. Tech Golden Bear Alumni Association Alumni Scholarship Fund – Fund number: 2S576 A scholarship fund that helps West Virginia students who are relatives of Tech alumni.