MAY 2015 given the WVNCC 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award at the conclusion of her address to the graduates. Commencement ceremonies were held May 8 for 417 graduates of the Class of 2015 at West Virginia Northern Community College. A total of 450 degrees were awarded, with some graduates earning more than one degree, during the event held at WesBanco Arena in downtown Wheeling. Valedictorian for the class of 2015 is Julie Skedel, of Wheeling, who received an associate in applied science degree in psychology/social work. The honors student and member of Phi Theta Kappa hopes to continue her academic career by earning a baccalaureate degree at West Liberty University. Prior to her valedictory remarks, Skedel was presented the Donald D. Nemanich and Sarah O. Bodkin Academic Excellence Award. The award is given by the faculty at Northern to honor the memory of two of their colleagues who died at early ages, leaving a legacy of classroom excellence. Keynote speaker for the evening was Gail Adams, a Wheeling Park High School teacher who started her college career at WVNCC, who is serving as the 2015 West Virginia Teacher of the Year. In addition, Adams was Other speakers included Ina Jo Masteller, of Wheeling, Student Government Association president, who offered greetings on behalf of students, and Kathy Herrington, professor of psychology, Commencement 2015 sociology and human services, and president of the Faculty Assembly, who brought greetings on behalf of faculty. Dr. Vicki L. Riley, president of Northern, provided the welcome and introductions. Dr. Carry DeAtley, interim vice president of academic affairs, and the Rev. Dr. Darrell Cummings, president of the WVNCC Board of Governors, conferred degrees and certificates. continued next page...
Representing the WVNCC Foundation at the ceremonies was Robert J. Krall, Wheeling attorney who is president of the board of trustees. Faculty member Jeremy Doolin opened the event by singing the National Anthem and, later, Bob Dylan s Forever Young. Providing music was wellknown area musician Millard Neal. Classified Staff representative to the Board of Governors, Margaret DeCola, announced student names as they were individually awarded degrees. Other faculty members on the dais included Marian Grubor, division chair for business and liberal arts; Ralph Lucki, division chair for health and sciences; and Frank DeCaria, faculty representative to the Board of Governors. Culinary Arts students and chefs provided refreshments for a reception held in the arena s Health Plan Pavilion after the ceremonies concluded.
2015 PTK Induction Seventeen students from the Weirton, Wheeling and New Martinsville campuses at West Virginia Northern Community College have been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the academic honorary society at two-year institutions. The induction ceremony was held April 17 in the B&O Building auditorium on the Wheeling campus. Phi Theta Kappa has recognized academic excellence at the two year college since 1918. The society is comprised of more than 1,200 chapters at community, technical and junior colleges in all 50 states, Canada, Germany, Japan and U.S. territories abroad, making it the largest and most prestigious honor society serving two year colleges internationally. Wheeling campus inductees, front row, from left, with Dr. Pam Sharma, Wheeling faculty advisor, are Maria Regas; Brooke Drane, PTK treasurer; Renee Hindman, president; Richard Kozlowski; and Courtney O Connor, secretary. Back row, from left, are Carolyn Emery, Ashley Bennett, Andrea Ferrera, Sydney Hanket, Heather Chaplin, Caitlin Sheldon, Brittany Sitar and Lindsey Waterhouse. The Weirton campus inductee, Joy Mullins, meets with Jeremy Doolin, at left, Weirton PTK faculty advisor. New Martinsville campus inductees, from left, Stacey Durig, Caylianna Miller, who is PTK vice president, and Patricia Wright meet with Mark Goldstein, New Martinsville PTK faculty advisor.
New Martinsville On the Go New Martinsville campus personnel have been traveling again during the past six weeks. It has been interesting and informative as the campus moves into other avenues to increase enrollment. March 10-11 Dean Tackett and Counselor Ina visited the Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute in St. Marys and the board of education offices for Tyler and Wetzel County to gather input for the Chemical Operators program. Everyone involved indicated a great interest in this program and, especially, MOV- TI, as it currently is establishing a program for high school students. Dennis Bills and Ina traveled to Tyler Consolidated High School on March 12 where about 70 students were tested; on March 16 at Valley High School 30 students who are interested in registering for early entrance classes were tested. March 23 had Ina heading to Ritchie County Schools in West Virginia. She met with several students and parents interested in early entrance as well. The follow up from this visit is that she has one student signed up for summer and fall early entrance, with more to follow. March 25 was a very busy day for all on the New Martinsville campus as President Riley spent the day meeting various groups in New Martinsville area communities. During lunch, Dr. Riley spoke to the Wetzel County Rotary and then returned to the campus for an afternoon tea with the county superintendents, counselors, and principals where she, Ina, Larry and Janet Fike discussed better ways to include the area schools with post-secondary education. Earlier in the day, Ina participated in the New Martinsville Middle School Career Day. April 2 brought a whirl-wind trip for the counselor as she hand delivered Open House posters to area high schools including Paden City, St. Marys, and MOVTI in WV; Frontier Local, Beallsville, Monroe Central, Swiss Hills, and River high schools in Ohio. She traveled 125 miles in one-day round- trip. Saturday April 11 the campus participated in the college-wide Open House. April 15, Hundred High School saw another visit from Dennis Bills, Ina Robinson, and Howard Clark as students were encouraged to become more involved with early entrance. Interest peaked as Mr. Clark stated his organization would pay for their classes. A great discussion was had on subjects offered, test scores required, and cost of attendance. After the assembly several students were Asset tested. On April 17, the counselor met with Tammy Holbert-Wells, director of secondary and vocational education, student assessment and strategic planning at Wetzel County, discussing the possibility of dual credit for high school students. This day also included the New Martinsville campus student luncheon and spring PTK inductions. April 30 the campus held its annual Dean s BBQ. There was a great turn out for the food and Melanie Baker and Natalie Taylor were holding a student focus group and got some great input from our students. Taking advantage of this situation, Ina did immediate registrations New Martinsville Campus for summer and fall of returning students from 9:30 a.m. until well after 5 p.m. It proved to be a very successful day for all involved. On May 5, Debbie Bennett and Janet Fike represented Northern at the local Career Day in Wetzel County. Debbie Bennett representing WVNCC at the Wetzel County Career Day. Where s Ina? Ina played, Where s Ina? with her mobile immediate registration table and computer in the hallway. Once again it proved to be wildly successful in getting returning students to register. On May 13 Ina met with Kathi Schmaltz and Rebecca McClain with the sole purpose of getting dual credits for several classes with early entrance. Early entrance was a hot topic at Paden City High School as Ina spoke to Principal Jay Salva and Counselor Chad West about dual credit classes.
Ina Robinson and Katelyn Dimmerling, scholarship recipient for Monroe Central High School. On Friday May 15 Ina traveled to Monroe Central in Woodsfield to present Katelyn Dimmerling a scholarship to WVNCC. She then stopped at Swiss Hills Vocational School for an awards day; however, the recipient wasn t at school that day but Brooke Carmen received a scholarship as well. Weirton Ca mpus Ina Robinson and Valley High School recipients Rebecca Rose and Townsend Midcap. Monday, May 18, Ina presented scholarships to two Tyler Consolidated students. Wednesday, May 20, she presented Valley High School recipients Rebecca Rose and Townsend Midcap with Northern scholarships. Thursday the 21st was a busy day: Bob Gibb presented scholarships at Magnolia High School while Ina went to St. Mary s High School in the morning to present two scholarships (Ariel Burris and Kayla Lloyd) and then in the afternoon to Paden City to present awards to Kayla Dahms. Amazing Raise, which is a nationwide fundraiser through the Community Foundation. Discussion on each campus during the special end of the year barbecues. The idea was to speak to students and get their ideas on What s Working, Challenges and Suggestions on each campus. Personnel who oversaw the effort said they had a great turnout and learned a lot from our students. They were very receptive to us and expressed their thoughts and experiences thoroughly. Shelley DeLuca and Jenna Derrico worked the board on the Wheeling campus while Natalie Taylor and Melanie Baker, pictured below, worked on the Weirton and New Martinsville campuses. The Foundation works to support the College in a variety of ways, including grants to faculty and staff and scholarships and emergency assistance to students. Rana Spurlock serves her first giver, Carry DeAtley. Giving is a Piece of Cake Monday, May 4, the WVNCC Foundation hosted Giving is a Piece of Cake fundraiser in order to increase the percentage of gifts made by faculty and staff. Employees made a gift of $1 or more to the Foundation and were gifted back with a piece of cake! Debbie Bennett served cake in New Martinsville, Lisa Soly in Weirton and Rana in Wheeling. The fundraiser coincided with the Ina Robinson and Paden City student recipient Kayla Dahms. Frank DeCaria got first dibs on the Weirton campus. Students Speak Based on initiatives from the WVNCC Enrollments Management Council, the Institutional Research department administered a Student