February 11, 2022
Update from the President
Dear Campus Community,
It has been an exciting week at the University – one filled with renewing partnerships, visits with dear friends, introducing the OVAC to the campus, national recognition, and athletic achievements.
Thursday, Director of Admissions, Jennifer Board, and I met with the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce President Kurt Zende about the organization’s annual college fair. I am delighted to report that the Chamber’s annual college fair will return to our campus this Fall as a result of this meeting. Wheeling University belongs to Wheeling, and renewing this relationship will allow us to work together to grow our community. Aside from the college fair, we talked about establishing an internship program for our students with businesses and the establishment of a business incubator. Kurt believes that the city’s business community, including Wheeling University, will flourish by our two entities working together. We look forward to welcoming hundreds of local high school seniors to our beautiful campus in October!
I had the great pleasure of meeting one of the co-founders of Wheeling College last weekend in Washington, D.C. Sr. Joanne Gonter from the class of 1959 read that I was attending a conference in D.C and invited me over to the Georgetown Visitation – her new home since she left Mount de Chantal. I had a lovely visit with Sr. Joanne and Sr. Mary Alicia, another former Mount community member. They told stories about how our University and the Mount were so closely intertwined. I am so very grateful I had the opportunity to spend time with these lovely women.
Tomorrow morning the Alumni Council will be meeting, and I will be talking to them about rebuilding our Alumni in Recruitment (AIR) program. AIR, which Alumni Council and Admissions developed about 15 years ago, is a wonderful way for alumni to serve Wheeling. Who better than our alumni to talk to prospective students and their parents about Wheeling University. Initially, we are looking for alumni volunteers to attend college fairs, when needed, in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, and Pittsburgh. Our admissions team will train volunteers and send them everything they need to represent the University. Anyone interested can contact Kelly Klubert at kklubert@wheeling.edu or 304-243-8165.
Wednesday night, our basketball teams picked up two exciting wins over Concord University. Our students and fans filled the gym with cheers, and our teams gave them two great games to watch. And the excitement wasn’t limited to just basketball that evening. During halftime of the men’s basketball game, we recognized the Rugby team for finishing in the Top 10 in the 2021 Division I national polls. For their efforts, the team was invited to play in the inaugural Rhino Rugby Bowl last December, where they defeated Iowa Central. As part of this ceremony, the team showed off their trophy, and each team member received their commemorative Rhino Bowl coin. Before the team left the floor, Chief Chipfumba, the Cardinals Rhino Bowl MVP, unveiled the team’s championship banner that hangs inside the Performance Gym.
Unfortunately, we were not able to process HEERF III emergency grant fund applications today. All students who have already applied must provide additional information so that their application can be processed. To complete your application, please submit an email to finaid@wheeling.edu providing an explanation of your exceptional need including the approximate dollar amount needed. Include “HEERF III Application Update” in the subject line of your email.
After nearly a year, the Wrestling team hosted its first dual match inside the McDonough Center, and it turned into an outstanding performance. The Cardinals welcomed Bluefield State to the Bird Cage and gave Head Coach Daniel Ownbey his first collegiate win as head coach! It was the team’s first win since 2018. It was an exciting night, and I applaud the team on this significant victory.
The Cardinal Track teams are turning heads, and this week their recent performances earned the men’s and women’s squads’ national recognition. This week, United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their weekly NCAA Division II Rankings, which had our teams among the best in the country. The men’s team is ranked fourth, while the women’s squad is 17th in the poll. Congratulations to Coach Stanton and the members of the team on this recognition.
Please note there is a change in Mass schedule for this Sunday, Feb. 13. The 8 p.m. Mass has been moved to 4 p.m., with reconciliation held at 3:20 p.m. The 11 a.m. Mass time on Sunday will not change. The regular Mass schedule will resume Sunday, Feb. 19.
Do not forget that Monday is St. Valentine’s Day. The church reminds us this is a day to ‘remember the love of God.’ The Bible says, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” So, Monday, may we all remember God’s unconditional love for us and take time to express our love to those around us.
With deep appreciation,
Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University