November 19, 2021

Update from the President

Dear Cardinal Community, 

“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can,” said George Bernard Shaw. Thursday morning, we held our Employee Giving Breakfast as a kick-off for the upcoming Day of Giving. In true Cardinal fashion, our employees showed that they live our mission and will ‘do whatever they can’ to help our University. Anyone who could not attend the breakfast but would like to make a gift, please email advancement@wheeling.edu. Thank you to all those who have chosen to participate in the giving campaign – your support is an example to others that you believe in this University. 

As mentioned, our first Annual Day of Giving is set for November 30. We have received $20,000 in matching funds, so all gifts made up to that amount will double in value. To make a gift on November 30, simply go to the giving page or the Wheeling homepage. The site will accept donations via Venmo, ApplePay, as well as credit cards. I encourage you to support our University and its students. The Annual Day of Giving is an opportunity for parents, alumni, community leaders, and friends to show how they support our University. Your gift will provide the resources that are crucial to Wheeling’s growth and success. 

Speaking of donations, Alumna Bethany Huff Schunn ’10, a friend from St. Mary’s, my former parish in St. Clairsville, gifted the University a piano and organ. The piano has been placed in the Troy Theater Reception area for students to use, while the organ is in the Chapel of Mary and Joseph. I am grateful for Bethany’s generosity in sharing these two musical instruments with us, and I hope our students will enjoy playing them.  I know it means a lot to her for others to have the opportunity to continue enjoying their beautiful music.  

Tomorrow Wheeling will host its first in-person Open House since COVID-19 began in early 2020. We are very excited for this excellent opportunity to welcome prospective students to our beautiful campus to meet faculty, staff, coaches, current students, and other students who are thinking about making Wheeling their college home.  

The Mountain East Conference announced post-season awards for football and volleyball – and 14 Wheeling student-athletes received recognition. Nine members of the Cardinal Football team were honored. Running back Sy Alli and defensive back Rich White III were MEC First-Team selections, while offensive lineman Cade Raudenbaugh and defensive back Josiah Wright received MEC Second-Team honors. Incidentally, Sy finished his outstanding career at Wheeling with more than 1,000 rushing yards – the first Cardinal to achieve this accomplishment. Five others were named All-MEC Honorable Mention winners – tight end Tristan Ballard, wide receiver Ryan LaFollette, defensive lineman Brandon Munoz, linebacker Ryan Gorman, and defensive lineman Jason Simon. Additionally, five members of the Cardinal Volleyball team received recognition. Named All-MEC First-Team members were libero Audrey Francis and outside hitter Lexi Reinert. Audrey was also named the MEC’s Libero of the Year Award – making history for both the MEC and Wheeling University history as she has now been named Libero of the Year five times!  Setter Karly Niesen was named a MEC Second-Team honoree, while middle blocker Lexi Smith and blocker Mady Winters were All-MEC Honorable Mention awardees. Smith also received the Freshman of the Year Award. Congratulations to all these young men and women on their awards! 

Congratulations to freshman swimmer Jade Miller, who was chosen the MEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week. Last week at Salem University, she placed first in three races while setting new personal records in the 100-meter backstroke, the 200-meter backstroke, and the 100-meter butterfly.  I have enjoyed watching Coach Murphy, Team Mascot Cooper, GA Cameron Gibson, and our talented swimming team successfully rebuild Wheeling’s swim program. They are an impressive group, and we will continue to see great things from them, I am sure! 

Kairos Retreat participants received support from a number of alumni last weekend. These graduates went out of their way to encourage the retreatants, and their outpouring of support made an impact on this year’s group. On behalf of all those who took part in the retreat, a special thank you goes out to alumni Matthew Martin, Makenna Hadrych, Trey Clark, Chris Smith, Troy McAuliff, Jonathan Haley, and Connor Buzzelli. 

With Thanksgiving falling next week, this will be my last update of November. My weekly update will resume on December 3. Thank you for all you do to help Wheeling University on its steady path of progress, and have an enjoyable, safe, and happy Thanksgiving holiday week.  

With thanks, 

Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University