November 12, 2021
Update from the President
Dear Cardinal Family,
Thursday, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Student Government invited former and current military members to an honorary breakfast to thank them for their service to our country. Among the veterans attending the breakfast was Wheeling Alumnus Mike Davidson ’71, a retired Navy captain. Capt. Davidson shared information about his 28 years as a Navy pilot and offered advice to one student who is considering military service after graduation. Thank you to our service personnel, past and present. We are grateful for your service and sacrifice to our country.
Information about the Day of Giving, set for Tuesday, November 30th, is now posted on the Wheeling University website cardinalsgive.wheeling.edu. There you will find videos and testimonials from students, faculty, and staff sharing how gifts to the University make a difference in the lives of our students. Two generous donors have agreed to match all donations made up to $20,000 – so any gift you make on our Day of Giving will be matched dollar for dollar until $20,000 has been matched! To donate the giving site accepts ApplePay and Venmo, as well as credit cards – giving our alumni and friends additional ways to make a donation. Also, gifts can be mailed to the Advancement Office at 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Advancement Office at 304-243-8141. Through your support, I know we can reach and exceed our goal to raise $40,000 on November 30th. Together, we can help Wheeling University soar to new heights!
To kick off this campaign, I will host an Employee Day of Giving Breakfast at 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 18 in Troy Theater. This breakfast is an opportunity for employees to learn about the Day of Giving, listen to the caring stories of members of our Cardinal Family who currently support the Annual Fund, and consider making a donation. Every gift helps to ensure that future students have even more opportunities to learn, succeed, develop, and grow at Wheeling University. Employees planning to attend are asked to make a reservation by emailing advancement@wheeling.edu no later than 3 p.m., Tuesday, November 16.
Under the direction of Dave Henderson from Oglebay Institute, the Wheeling University Theatre Guild will perform the one-act comedy, Laundry and Bourbon, Monday and Tuesday, November 15 and 16 inside Troy Theater. The curtain goes up each night at 8 p.m. The cast includes Eva Tolliver as Elizabeth; Jenay Soumahro as Hattie; and Mikayla Petrisco as Amy Lee. The production is free and open to the public. I encourage members of our Cardinal family to support our students when they take center stage. I look forward to seeing everyone there!
I am pleased to share with you an exciting new addition to the Aladdin Campus Dining team, Executive Chef, Mr. Carl Tesi. Chef Tesi comes to Wheeling from Howard University bringing culinary expertise and knowledge of cultural and international cuisine. We are thrilled to have Chef Tesi as part of our community and look forward to exciting new menu options.
Members of our women’s and men’s soccer teams received recognition from the Mountain East Conference this week. For the second time this year, Mikayla Yarwood, women’s soccer team goalie, was named the MEC Defensive Player of the Week. She received the recognition this week after recording shutouts against WV Wesleyan and West Liberty. She stopped 10 shots in the Cardinals tie against Wesleyan and turned back seven shots in the team’s win over the Hilltoppers. Yarwood’s teammates, Senior Kenadee Burgoyne and Freshman Mary DiFonzo, received All-Conference honors. Kenadee was selected to the All-MEC Second-Team, while Mary was named to the All-Freshman team. The Men’s Soccer Team had one member, Richard Afolyanka, named an All-MEC Honorable Mention award winner. Congratulations to Mikayla, Kenadee, Mary, and Richard on their accolades!
Finally, please keep the students and team leaders who are participating in the Fall Kairos Retreat in your prayers this weekend. This marks the first Kairos Retreat at Lantz Farm since the pandemic began. The retreat allows each participant the chance to deepen their relationships with God and with one another through reflection, discussion, and prayer. Your prayers will be a great support to the retreatants and the team, as well as a true expression of the Kairos spirit.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University