March 25, 2022

Update from the President

Dear Cardinal Community, 

I know I often say that Wheeling University is a family that supports each of its members – but saying it and showing it are very different. This week, about 100 students, coaches, and employees gathered on Bishop Schmitt Field, donning blue and yellow for our baby Cardinal Kai Schoolcraft on National Down Syndrome Day. What an extraordinary outpouring of love and support for Kai and his mother, Head Athletic Trainer Christy Schoolcraft. Kai joined his mother in showing their sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to turn out, pose for photos and show support to Christy and Kai. As Kai grows older, I hope he looks at these photos in his keepsake book and knows how much the people of this University love him. 

The Admissions Team welcomed 25 students from Union Local (Ohio) Middle School to campus Thursday. The visit came at the request of the middle school, which wanted to introduce the eighth-grade students to what Wheeling University has to offer. The students and staff heard a presentation from the staff about everything Wheeling has to offer, took a campus tour, and had lunch in the Benedum Room. We always enjoy having visitors on campus, especially the younger ones that may someday be Cardinal students.   

Last week’s Career Fair has produced much excitement among the businesses and organizations that attended. In addition to students securing employment and internships, representatives have reached out to partner with the University to establish internship programs with several of our academic programs. Matthew Greenwood’s vision to hold such a fair solidifies how important Wheeling University is to the local community – how we can work together to connect our students with local companies so those businesses can better serve the region. 

The Athletic Department is hosting a golf scramble on Saturday, April 30, with the proceeds to support our efforts to resurface the outdoor track at Bishop Schmitt Field. This is a tremendous undertaking, but anyone on our campus over the past few years knows it is beyond necessary. Under the leadership of Coach Patrick Stanton ’15, our track and field team continues to impress. Last year, you will recall the women’s track, and field team captured its third straight Mountain East Conference title, Coach Stanton was named the Women’s Co-Coach of the Year, and the men’s track and field team finished as the runner-up for the MEC title. In addition, Jabez Reeves was named the MEC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCA Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the year – all without a proper track on their campus to train on! These kids need and deserve your support. Please consider putting together a foursome and entering the scramble if you like to golf. If you are not a golfer, you can support the outing by becoming a hole sponsor. More information is available on the Wheeling University Athletics homepage. You can also contact Assistant Athletic Director Zac Schnegg at zschnegg@wheeling.edu for more information or to sign up.  

This week we learned the Rugby team will be joining the newly created Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) in Fall 2022. The new conference will be part of National Collegiate Rugby with seven teams – Wheeling, Adrian College Aquinas College, Iowa Central Community College, Marian University, and Thomas More University – making up the BRRC. As a result, our Cardinals will now play a conference schedule that includes some of the top teams in Division I Rugby.  

As we enter the last week of March, the month of April is just a week away … and it is a busy one around campus! This month, we will host the Spring theater production, our annual student Research, and Scholarship Symposium, campus clean-up day – Laudato Si’- and numerous athletic events. Please pray for everyone at Wheeling University and ask God to give us strength as we head into the finals weeks of this academic year. 

With gratitude for your prayers and support, 

Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University