July 30, 2021

Update from the President

Dear Wheeling Family, 

Our mission calls each of us to be men and women in service to others, and this week, I witnessed our employees living the mission by giving of themselves to help our students.  This Fall, we are reopening Sara Tracy Hall to house freshman female students, and the building needed quite a bit of cosmetic improvements. When a call went out to employees to lend a hand, faculty, and staff from across campus turned out Wednesday and Thursday evening to paint trim in the doorways of every room. I was genuinely overwhelmed with the generosity of the members of this Cardinal family who came to help out – after hours – to help our hardworking maintenance and housekeeping crews who have been in Sara Tracy painting all 81 rooms, stripping and waxing floors and hallways since early summer. The two evenings brought our employees together to accomplish a goal, and at the same time, they even had some fun. Day in and day out, this Cardinal family comes to work and asks, “how can I help?” When the students of Sara Tracy arrive next month, they will find a freshly painted residence hall.  This is just one more example of what makes this University so very special. I thank everyone for their tireless work in support of our students and this University and I appreciate their commitment to providing our students a positive student living environment. 

Our student-athletes continue to be recognized for achieving success in the classroom. Four Wheeling University’s Rugby Team members were selected Scholastic All-Americans by National Collegiate Rugby (NCR). Colton Boyle, Elijah Byrd, and Brian Gannon, who recently graduated and rising sophomore Jose Oltra-Ferrer, are among the 113 rugby players nationwide to receive this prestigious honor. Each of them carried a grade point average higher than 3.5 during the 2020-21 academic year. This is the first year NCR honored players. I am incredibly proud of these young men for earning this honor – it proves that their hard work in the classroom pays dividends.  

Recent baseball graduate, Luis Dominquez, was named a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Baseball Third-Team Academic All-American this week. The third baseman is the first Wheeling baseball player ever to receive this recognition. In addition, Luis is just the eighth student-athlete in Wheeling University history to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-American. He graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and carried a 3.76-grade point average. Luis embodies what it means to be a student-athlete at Wheeling University – excelling academically and athletically. 

Michael Finlan will take over leadership of the Men’s Golf Team following the retirement of Joe Key. Coach Finlan is no stranger to our Athletic Department, as he came to Wheeling last year as the pitching coach for the Cardinal Baseball team. He will continue to assist the baseball team and serve as the men’s golf coach. Coach Finlan is an avid golfer and student of the game.  He had planned initially to golf at Marietta College as an undergrad. I know he is excited to get started working with his team and growing the program. We are looking forward to watching the program grow under his leadership. 

As we begin the weekend, let us not forget that tomorrow – July 31 – is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. In celebration of this special day, please pray for the members of our Jesuit community – Frs. Conroy, McCouch, and Sasmita – who continue to instill the Jesuit virtues at Wheeling University. In remembrance of St. Ignatius, may all of us follow what he asked of the early Jesuits – to go out and ‘find God in all things.’  

Luceat Lux Vestra! 

Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University