April 2011 Volume 2 Issue 4

What’s InsidePage 2

~Faculty Projects: Environmental Psychology Trip~ Student & Alumni Activities:

Career Services

Page 3~ Donor Profile: Eldon Miller

~ Scholarship Recipient Profile: Susie Gunnels

Page 4~ Campus Projects: Theatre Renovation

~ Calendar of Events

Kim Jones Executive Director

Molly FlodingOffice Administrator

Katie FlorenceCommunications Assistant

WVU at Parkersburg Foundation304-424-8340

www.wvup.edu/foundation

Alumni AnnouncementsCheck out WVU at Parkersburg’s New Ways to Engage Alumni!

Become a Fan on Facebook!

Join the WVU Parkersburg Alumni Group on LinkedIn

SPRING 2011• Coldwater Creek Lecture Series• Gambit Publication• Partnerships Project ~ Children’s Author Visit• Book Give Away (50th anniversary logos in books going to public schools)

MAY• Plaza dedication• May 6 ~ Student Awards Banquet• May 7 ~ Children’s Champions Mad Hatter Tea in Multi-Purpose room• May 14 ~ Commencement ~ Honorary Degrees in observance of 50th Anniversary

50th AnniversAry CAlendAr of events

April 2011 ~ Page 2

Faculty Projects: Environmental Psychology

Student & Alumni Activities: Career Services

Now seeking donations of items of value to be auctioned during a fall online auction.

Help us reach our goal of 50 items in celebration of 50 years of

being your community’s college!

All Proceeds benefit the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation

WVU Parkersburg offers a very help-ful service that may not be widely known among students and alumni. The career services office can provide both current students and alumni with the necessary skills to improve chances at obtaining a po-sition in today’s fast-paced workforce. The career services office is located in room 1407 and offers many tools for stu-dents and alumni to utilize. Many items are also available through the career services website that can be found on the student services section of the main website. There students and alumni can search for local jobs, take career aptitude assess-ments, and even create resumes and e-port-folios. Sandy Swisher, director of career service, feels that e-portfolios are becom-ing increasingly necessary for those in to-day’s job market. For some areas of the site, a login in is required. Those interested may contact Sandy and she can acquire them a login. Once login information is acquired, it will always be available for use.

Another valuable asset that the website offers are its webinars. These webinars are offered in two series, one in the fall and one in the spring. Currently, all of the fall we-binars are available on the career services site. The spring series began on Wednes-day, March 23, and will continue every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. through May 18. Those interested in par-ticipating in the webinars live may attend on those days in room 2212 on the main campus. Presenters are top career authors and experts from around the nation. Topics for webinars range form career exploration and interviewing to networking and social media. Career Services officials also coordi-nate a career fair twice a year to be held at the college. These fairs are open to stu-dents and alumni. The fair for this spring will be held on April 13 from 10:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose room. Many local businesses will be present in-cluding area banks, military services, the

Wood County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police, as well as many others. For more information on the career fair or career services for students and alumni, contact Sandy Swisher at 304-424-8340. She is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m.

Each May, two very special faculty members take a group of students on a life changing journey throughout the state of West Virginia. Denise and Phil McClung spend a week at the beginning of the sum-mer with a group of students and travel the state to not only discuss, but also view en-vironmental issues in West Virginia. Psychology 410 or Applied Environ-mental Psychology is a course in which students travel to different locations and view how the environment affects people and how people affect the environment. Students get a chance to see and study such hot topic environmental issues as mountain top removal, hydropower, and wind farms right here in their own backyard. Profes-sor and Social Science and Languages Di-vision Chair Denise McClung feels very strongly about the trip and the way students view the environment around them. “When you go to see your state, you take owner-ship of it.” During the trip, students will visit many state parks and study how humans affect these different areas, but many more activities are included in the trip. Students will participate not only in environmental activities, but also in team building and leadership exercises as well. The trip is de-signed to raise environmental awareness, as well as instill self confidence in students. Students’ personalities are tested as they do everything together. They sleep in tents, cook together, clean together; every-thing they do, they do as a group on the

trip. While this may be trying for some, many, such as Jerry Rowley, form bonds that last forever. Jerry went on the trip in 2010 for the last credits that he required for his degree. He is now an instructor at the college where he teaches electricity and instrumentation technology. Jerry bonded with a young student on the way up to the top of Sen-eca Rocks. He said that about half-way up, they paired and encouraged each other the rest of the way. They were the second people to the top. “I had about thirty years seniority on most of the people when I went up there. It was very rewarding.” Jerry felt that the whole experi-ence was amaz-ing. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more aware of my en-vironment and what we are do-ing to it. It has been a growing awareness over the past 10 or 15 years.” He continued, “It

seemed like something that I would really enjoy so I signed up, was accepted, and re-ally enjoyed myself. It was very self-sat-isfying. I thought that the experience was great and would do it again in a heartbeat.” The class is set up as a 12-week sum-mer course. Students go on the trip and, upon returning, have projects to complete that are beneficial to the campus and com-munity that deal with environmental is-sues.

Jerry Rowley at Cranberry Glades - Jerry poses for a photo at one of the many stops on the environmental psychology trip around West Virginia.

Our Fall Fundraiser - Online Auction

April 2011 ~ Page 3

Donor Profile: Eldon Miller

Scholarship Recipient Profile: Susie Gunnels

Cut Line

Susie Gunnels moved to the United States from Manitoba, Canada, in March of 2001. Susie and her soon to be husband were dating online for two years previously and they were married in April 2001. She joked “That was when online dating was still scary.” But it worked out for Susie and her husband Steve, who have been together for 10 years and have four children. With three boys and a little girl, Susie and Steve are very busy, but she found the determination and drive to go back to school. After moving from Manitoba, they lived in Kansas City, Missouri. While there, She attended Maple Woods Community College and completed all of her prerequi-sites for a nursing degree. She was the first in her family to attend college and the first to earn a degree. About two years ago, Steve, who worked in the computer industry, lost his job. Financially burdened, the Gunnels moved to Parkersburg to live with his sister. Susie’s dream was to get her nursing degree. She always enjoyed helping others and thought that nursing was a perfect fit. “I always had a love of helping people, serving people, and I guess that making people bet-ter was the way to go.” Even with financial concerns, Susie was determined to acquire her degree and applied to the Nursing program at WVU Parkersburg. She was accepted and began seeking aid through grants and scholarships.

Among others, Susie received the Eldon Miller Scholarship. The funding that she received made it possible for her to graduate as a Registered Nurse in December 2010. Through her determination, she felt that it was exceptionally necessary for her to complete her degree, not only for her, but for her children. She let them know what perseverance can gain an individual. “It proves to be a good example for my kids, there’s no point in having dreams if you’re not going to go through with it.” Susie now works in Charleston, WV, at Thomas Memorial Hospital. She works in the Telemetry Unit where she does most of her work with post-op heart surgery and stroke patients. Though still living in Park-ersburg now, Susie is planning on moving her family to the Charleston area once her kids finish the school year. Susie says that the drive is not bad, but when she works shifts back to back, the hos-pital offers them discount rates on area lodg-ing. If she works late one night and early the next morning, Susie can stay at a hotel in Charleston for $20 a night “which with gas prices, is more affordable than driving.” While Susie really enjoys Telemetry, she would also one day like to work in ICU or the ER. “What appeals to me about the ER and ICU is the intensity of the working environment. From my experience, it’s fair-ly fast paced and keeps you on your toes.” Susie does have her doubts about rush-ing into one of these positions before she is

ready. She wants to acquire the necessary experience first. “I know that I definitely need experience so that I can start to think like a nurse when I need to. This includes quick thinking with vast knowledge of the any of the situations at hand. I’m still a newborn nurse and I know that I just don’t have the skills to succeed in those depart-ments right now.”

The Eldon Miller endowment fund was created in March of 2000 to assist WVU at Parkersburg students. Preference is given to those who are first in their families to attend college.

Eldon Miller became the fourth president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg (formerly Parkersburg Community College) in April of 1982. During the time Dr. Miller was president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg, the institution changed its name and become a regional campus of WVU, re-ceived accreditation to offer baccalaureate degrees, increased the number of its full-time students by more than 20 percent, and devel-oped a unique higher education center con-cept to make educational opportunities more accessible to area residents. In addition to his role as President, he also was appointed in 1999 to serve as a Regional Vice-President for West Virginia University. Dr. Miller was past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Community Col-leges of Appalachia, was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Community College Association, and was the Past President of the Council of North Cen-tral Two-Year Colleges. He was a member of the Advisory Council to the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative, Advisory Council to the WV Rural Development Council, Ad-visory Council on West Virginia Grants, and

was a member of the Commission on Work-force and Community Development of the American Association of Community Col-leges. Locally, he was a member of the Advi-sory Council to the Sheltered Workshop of Wood County and Parkersburg Rotary Club and previously served as a member of the Parkersburg Division Advisory Board for Huntington Banks. He also served as past chairman of the Mid-Ohio Valley Symphony Society Board of Directors, past chairman of the Mid-Ohio Valley United Fund Campaign, and past chairman of the Greater Parkersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Direc-tors. A native of Gettysburg, Ohio, Dr. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in physical educa-tion from Manchester College and a master’s degree in zoology from Miami University. He earned specialist and doctoral degrees in educational administration from New Mex-ico State University. Dr. Miller retired as Campus President of WVU Parkersburg and Regional Vice President for West Virginia University in June, 2000. He and his wife Mary Lou currently reside in Florida.

April 2011 ~ Page 4

WVU at Parkersburg Foundation300 Campus Drive

Parkersburg, WV 26104

April 2011Volume 2 Issue 4

Calendar of Events: MayMay 5 ~ 2:00 p.m. ~ Commencement in Multi-Purpose room

May 7 ~ 2:00 p.m. ~ Children’s Champions Mad Hatter Tea in Multi-Purpose room

save the DateMay 7, 2011 - Mad Hatters Tea

Aug. 5 & 6, 2011 - Legacy Weekend

Sept. 16 & 17, 2011 - Alumni Weekend

Sept. 17, 2011 - Founders Day Gala

Campus Projects: Theatre Renovation The WVU at Parkersburg theatre will soon receive a face lift. The theatre, which has basically been the same since it was built in the 1970s, will be renovated by the beginning of the Fall 2011 semester. It is one of the few areas of the main campus that has never been renovated. A 90 percent review of the design will occur on April 12 and bids will be issued to the contractors on April 22. Construction should begin on May 20th and be complete by August 5. In such a short amount of time, the theatre will undergo many chang-es. While the theatre will have the same seating capacity, many other aspects will be changing. Dave White, director of facilities does intend to gain more fund-

ing to use in the future to reupholster the theater seating to better match the new de-cor. The flooring will be updated from the carpet that it currently has to a type of floor-ing made from completely recycled mate-rial that has a 40-year life. The stage will receive new hardwood flooring as well. A new acoustic ceiling will be con-structed. This will allow for the maximiza-tion of house lighting with a minimization of reflection on the audience. The outer walls, which are currently bare brick, will be built out and receive a new acoustic finish. This will allow for new recess running lights underneath. Also, with the walls being built out, elegant sconces will grace the walls where once ba-

sic lights jutted out. Speakers that once sat out will also be built back into the wall. Looking at the theatre room from the hall where the bulletin board is located a “ticket booth” will be installed. The bul-letin board will be taken down and two flat screen monitors will replace it. One of these screens will have the regular an-nouncements that scroll on the other moni-tors with general information. The second monitor will have upcoming plays and events. Out from the wall in front of the the-atre, there will be a counter to sell tickets from when necessary. It will have the same finish as the inside of the theatre and a gran-ite counter top. This will create an inviting entrance to the beautiful, newly-renovated theatre.

Theatre Renovation - Renderings of the theatre before and after the renovation.