January 27, 2023
Update from the President
Dear Wheeling University Community,
The mission at Wheeling University calls on this community to be men and women in service to others. We talk often about the many ways our students and employees give back and help others both on and off campus. On April 15th Wheeling University will partner with Cross Catholic Outreach and the West Virginia Knights of Columbus No. 504 to pack 60,000 meals. Members of the Wheeling University family will join local volunteers inside the Wheeling University Auxiliary Gym to assemble nutrient-rich meals to feed hungry children and families in developing countries. This has been a project that WV Knights of Columbus (K Of C ) have participated in for several years and the completion of this year’s meal assembly will mark a milestone for the group – coordinating the packaging of 500,000 meals. This Catholic fraternal organization is dedicated to promoting and conducting education, and charitable, religious, and social work within the community. I encourage students, employees, and alumni to get involved in this service project, either by volunteering that day or making a monetary donation. To learn more on how you can make a difference, please reach out to the local Knights of Columbus contact Tom Burke at 304-281-6640 or tburke1038@aol.com.
Last Saturday’s atmosphere inside the McDonough Center was electrifying! Men’s and women’s basketball alumni returned to watch our current teams battle West Liberty, while parents and students packed the natatorium for the swim meet. All those watching our athletic teams, witnessed the basketball teams’ thrilling wins over the Hilltoppers and the women’s swim team defeat Fairmont. The men’s basketball alumni were so excited about the win, they high-fived the Cardinals as they left the court, and joined them in the locker room for a post-game celebration. The alumni and friends of the University in attendance never took their eyes off the action on the court – cheering and celebrating the wins over the Hilltoppers. The men’s win over the nationally ranked Hilltoppers was its first win against West Liberty since 2018 and it was the first time both teams swept West Liberty since 2017. Senior John Korte played an outstanding game, scoring 40 points, earning him the Mountain East Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award. Lauren Calhoun who scored 16 points in the women’s basketball win over West Liberty, and women’s swimmer Jade Miller who grabbed wins in two events. Congratulations to these athletes who make us so proud!
Recent graduate and basketball alumni Jarett Haines has been turning heads in Ireland where he is playing professionally for the University of Galway Maree basketball team. The former Cardinal and his team recently won its first InsureMyHouse Pat Duffy Cup Senior Men’s National Championship. In the championship game, Jarett scored 35 points and was named the tournament MVP. He set his sights on playing professionally as a member of the Cardinal basketball squad and we are proud to watch him excel at this level. We wish him continued success in his professional career and hope Jarett will come back to share his experiences with our current players someday soon.
At noon today, members of the University community, including students, were invited to attend West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s town hall inside the historic WV Independence Hall. The Governor is traveling the state to discuss a bill he has before the state legislature that would cut the WV personal income tax by 50% over a three-year period. Attending the town hall was a great opportunity for our students to learn how government works. And it is not often that university students have the chance to see, hear, and meet a governor. Governor Justice was quick to talk about his relationship and personal commitment to Wheeling University. We were thrilled when Governor Justice pointed out our students and recognized them. After the town hall Governor Justice along with Babydog were kind enough to pose for photos with our students.
Alumni Council and the University are working on the final details for Alumni Weekend 2023, scheduled for June 23-25. A full schedule of events is posted on the University’s Alumni website, and online registration will be open soon. We cannot wait to welcome everyone back to campus – especially those classes celebrating anniversaries!
The end of a busy week is here! May you find time this weekend to relax and recharge.
With gratitude,
Ginny R. Favede
President, Wheeling University