July 15, 2022
Update from the President
Dear Cardinal Community,
I am so very pleased to share with you that Bishop Brennan, after consultation with Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Jaya Raj Battula, H.G.N., and upon the recommendation of the Clergy Personnel Committee, has appointed Rev. Fr. Praveen Kumar, a Catholic Priest of the Society of the Heralds of Good News of St. John Paul II Province as Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry at Wheeling University. Fr. Praveen has been assigned responsibility for coordinating sacramental ministry to Wheeling’s actively enrolled students. Fr. Praveen will join our Cardinal Family on August 3rd and reside on campus at Campion Hall. In addition, Bishop Brennan has appointed Rev. Carlos Melocoton of St. Michaels Parish as his mentor during the initial transition period. (Read more about Fr. Praveen here)
We had a wonderful turnout for our second Employee & Family Picnic last Saturday. Employees and their families packed Munhall Library Plaza, where they shared in each other’s company while enjoying great food and a little healthy competition. It was a joy meeting and talking to family members of our employees – what a fantastic afternoon it was spending time with each of you. I loved all of the grandchildren being there! I also enjoyed watching how much the grandchildren enjoyed one another’s company and the sundae bar! Our second annual cornhole tournament, run by our Director of Residence Life, Dan Olack, was entertaining to watch. We had 10 very serious and very competitive teams compete for top honors. The winners were current student Miguel Martin and alumna Kelsi Chapman, with alumna and volunteer Softball Coach Mallory Chapman and Softball GA Riley LaBoe finishing in second place. Winning the prize for guessing the correct number of Wheeling University pins was Sports Information Director Zach Ziegler. The Cardinal community’s youngest members spent a lot of time inside the bounce house/slide, and they enjoyed the gift bags filled with bubbles and treats that my Executive Assistant Melissa Rose and her daughter Anna prepared for them. The joy a punch balloon brings to a child is priceless. To everyone who came, I hope you had a great day – even with the heat and humidity – I know that my husband, our new puppy Josie and I sure did! Kelly Klubert and Melissa Rose have already begun planning for next year’s picnic. I am excited to share we will be moving our Employee & Family Picnic off campus to Wheeling Park – so circle July 8, 2023, on your calendar and save that date! In addition to a great picnic, they’ve planned for wristbands for everyone that will include an all-day pass to miniature golf, swimming pool, waterslide, and pedal boats at Good Lake!
On Sunday, the OVAC All-Star Football Camp will invade the campus. Football players, coaches, band members, and Queen of Queen candidates from both sides of the Ohio River will spend the week at Wheeling University preparing for the Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Football Game. During a meeting this week with OVAC leadership, I learned that they have 130 high school students who will play in the All-Star band, a dramatic increase over the past few years. We are thrilled to partner with the OVAC to host this camp and allow our beautiful campus to be home to students from the 51 high schools that make up the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference for the week! Practices will be open for spectators, so stop by and catch practice if you have time.
Final preparations are underway for our last New Student Orientation, which will be held Monday, July 25th. Just like the three previous events, our Admissions and Student Services staff have organized a day to acclimate the incoming students and their families to all aspects of Wheeling University. In addition, faculty and staff will be on hand to answer questions and take care of any last-minute needs the students may have.
It is hard to believe that we are midway through July. This has been a busy Summer – one which has flown by too quickly. Yet, I am reminded of Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” So, as we head into the remaining weeks of Summer, may we decrease our speed to spend more time enjoying our families and the beauty this season brings.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ginny R. Favede
President, Wheeling University