September 1, 2023
Update from the President
Dear Wheeling University Family,
The first week of classes has come and gone, and I am happy to report our students are settling into campus life. Throughout the week, we had a number of activities to welcome them back including an ice cream social and an outdoor movie on Donahue Lawn. Thursday, the grandstands were packed at Bishop Schmitt Field for the Women’s Soccer game against Liberty where our Cardinals won 2-0. What a way for Coach E and his squad to open the 2023 campaign with a shut-out win! Thursday evening, students and fans once again packed the stands – dressed in red – where the Football team staged a second half come back to defeat Seton Hill by a score of 35-24. It was wonderful to see our student body and members of the local community who came out to cheer on both our teams! Best of luck to all of our athletic teams who are in action this weekend – may they have great success!
The University will officially open the newly updated Challenger Learning Center next month. Thanks to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the CLC received $3 million to renovate the Center. On October 10th at 10 a.m., the Senator will join members of the Challenger staff, as well as University officials for a grand opening ceremony. Thanks to federal funding, the CLC now has a state-of-the-art Blue Origin space station where students can come to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in an interactive space simulation. We are grateful to Senator Capito for awarding the CLC this funding and investing in Wheeling University. Her commitment to the people of West Virginia and its future is immensely appreciated.
Our very own Jennifer Board, Director of Admissions, received the 2023 Rick Snow Distinguished Young Professional Award at the West Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (WVACRAO) conference this week. This award is given annually to recognize one’s service and commitment to the organization. WVACRAO is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to increase access to higher education and other post-secondary opportunities for the students of West Virginia and beyond.
Dylan Nowakowski, has been promoted to Assistant Director of Financial Aid. Dylan has done an outstanding job assisting our students. Daily he works to be sure that our students are being packaged in a timely manner. He takes a sincere approach to helping our students as they navigate the sometimes very challenging route through financing their education. Dylan is local, having graduated from Bridgeport High School and Waynesburg University. He gives back to his community as a volunteer for the Bridgeport Bulldogs football team. Moving into this new position shows Dylan that his hard work and service to our students is appreciated.
Two Cardinal basketball standouts – Jarett Haines and Jordan Reid – are back at their alma mater serving as assistant coaches for men’s basketball. It is wonderful to have these two young men back on campus helping a new group of Cardinals achieve success on the court.
Recently we learned Dr. Paul Orr, Professor Emeritus of English at Wheeling passed on August 8 in Cuernavaca, Mexico where he was living with one of his daughters. Dr. Orr served in the English department from 1956 until his retirement in 1996. Visitation for Dr. Orr will be held at the Altmeyer Funeral Home, 1400 Eoff Street, in Wheeling on Friday, September 15th. Please keep Dr. Orr’s family in your prayers and may God grant him eternal rest.
This week has been a wonderful start to the academic year. May all of our students and faculty have a successful semester!
Ginny R. Favede
President, Wheeling University