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Campus
Communicator
NOVEMBER • 2015
WVNCC Takes the 5 Star Challenge
tatives presented the presidents and
other campus leaders with a “5 Star
Challenge Coin.” Dr. Riley received
Northern’s coin during ceremonies
conducted earlier in November at the
annual conference in Charleston of
the West Virginia Community College
Association.
President Riley and Natalie McFeley pose
in front of the emblem of the “5 Star
Challenge” after pledging ceremonies in
Charleston.
West Virginia’s public two-year and
four-year colleges and universities,
including WVNCC, have pledged
increased support for student veterans
during events held through the state’s
“5 Star Challenge” initiative, which
launched earlier this fall. The Challenge, which calls on institutions to
adopt a set of exemplary standards for
supporting student veterans, is a tribute to the military tradition of issuing
“challenge coins” to service members
who embody the values and standards
of their military units.
College and university presidents
from throughout West Virginia, including Dr. Riley, WVNCC president,
participated in ceremonies pledging
their commitment to fulfilling the
goals of the Challenge. During each
ceremony, student veterans represen-
All public undergraduate institutions
in West Virginia have committed to
accepting the challenge, which calls
for 1) signed commitments from
college and university presidents to
adopt best practices and standards,
2) a focus on increasing access and
affordability to higher education for
student veterans and military service
members, 3) increased academic
support including priority registration for classes, 4) enhancing social
networks for veterans and military
service members on campus and 5)
greater collaboration with community
organizations working to meet the
needs of military service members. A
detailed outline of the Challenge and
a list of challenge coin ceremonies
can be found at www.cfwv.com, the
state’s free college and career-planning
website.
According to 2015 spring enrollment
data, more than 2,700 students are
enrolled using Veterans Affairs benefits within West Virginia’s two-year
and four-year public higher education
systems.
“We are proud to announce that all
From left, Joe Douglas, Natalie McFeley,
Michael Novotney, and Larry Tackett.
public four-year institutions in West
Virginia have accepted the ‘5 Star
Challenge,’” Dr. Paul Hill, chancellor
of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, said. “Their
participation in this effort not only
acknowledges a sincere commitment
to meeting the unique needs of our
student veterans but also results in
real policies that will provide tangible
benefits to military service members
who are pursuing higher education.
By providing student veterans with
services such as priority registration and building stronger support
networks on campus, we are honoring their service to our country and
equipping them with the resources
they need to succeed.”
“Our two-year public colleges are fully
committed to providing resources and
support to ensure the success of our
student veterans,” Dr. Sarah Tucker,
chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System,
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said. “Student veterans contribute so
much to our campus communities
through their service to our country
and their leadership in the classroom.
Accepting the ‘5 Star Challenge’ is
a way for us to acknowledge their
contributions and sacrifices — and
to assist them in balancing both their
educational pursuits and their unique
experiences as past or present military
service members.”
A Wheeling resident, Weisner received the accolade during the annual conference of the West Virginia
Community College Association held
Nov. 11-13 in Charleston. At Northern, Weisner’s expertise in all facets of
maintenance, combined with his positive attitude and willingness to work
collegially with all constituents, were
cited by those nominating him for the
distinction.
The 5 Star Challenge is an initiative of
the Office of Veterans Education and
Training Programs within the Division of Student Affairs at the Commission and WVCTCS. In addition to
issuing the challenge to campuses, the
Commission and WVCTCS are committing to providing more resources
to help student veterans navigate the
higher education system and find
support on campus and in the community.
“By effectively utilizing his time and
talents, Mr. Weisner’s efforts have led
to about $150,000 in cost savings for
the College,” his nominator said. “He
leads by example. He willingly assumes the role of mentor to his peers
in maintenance by sharing his knowledge and expertise in an unassuming,
professional and courteous manner.”
WVNCC Employee
Honored
Weisner “consistently exhibits a helpful, positive and caring attitude” and
is a “fine example of a person who
combines strong skills and a positive
attitude, both of which have enhanced
the maintenance efforts” at the College.
The WVNCC honoree’s first official
maintenance job began in 1988 at
West Liberty State College where he
spent the next 25 years in the Maintenance Department. While there he
obtained a Journeyman Electrician
License and several other certificates.
From left, Dr. Vicki L. Riley and Gary
Weisner.
Gary Weisner, a trades specialist II
on Northern’s Wheeling campus,
says he acquired a love for building
and repairing at a young age from his
grandfather, father and brothers. His
expertise and dedication has earned
him the designation of WVNCC’s
Outstanding Community College
Contributor for 2015-16.
In 1992 he became a West Virginia
Northern student and earned an associate degree in refrigeration, air conditioning and heating along with two
one-year certificates in maintenance
technology and appliance repair. He
transferred to West Liberty, ultimately
graduating with a bachelor’s degree
in 2002. Weisner became assistant
director of the physical plant at West
Liberty before joining WVNCC as an
electrician in the maintenance department.
Weisner also steadily volunteers for
community service, becoming active
in the Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Department where he held the assistant
fire chief position for more than 10
years. He has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity where he helped to
build a three-bedroom home from
the ground up in just seven months.
In addition, he was instrumental in
building of the Heritage Port Playground by the Junior League. He also
served as construction coordinator for
the Wheeling playground.
The Power of
Apprenticeships
From left, Michael A. Ferrari, Dr. Vicki
L. Riley, Kenneth W. Milnes, Dr. Carry
DeAtley; and Dr. Samuel W. White.
The worth of apprenticeship programs
in heightening skills in the workforce
is receiving new attention, both nationally and in the Wheeling area, and
West Virginia Northern and numerous partners are meeting to plan ways
to join forces to benefit employers and
their workers.
An Apprenticeship Core Group comprised of WVNCC officials; representatives of the Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor; and
individuals from various construction
trades, including plumbers and pipefitters, ironworkers, electricians and
roofers, have met several times at the
Wheeling campus.
Meeting most recently on Nov. 3,
the core group discussed further its
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initial plans to formulate an associate’s degree and a one-year certificate
program that would use educational
components of both the community
college and the apprenticeship programs already in place to result in an
academic degree or certification.
At that meeting, in addition, Northern
President Riley, said she was honored
to read a proclamation from Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie declaring
Nov. 2-8 “Apprenticeship Week” in the
city of Wheeling. President Obama
had proclaimed that week as the first
National Apprenticeship Week, with
plans for it to continue on an annual
basis. Dr. Riley expressed the group’s
appreciation for the mayor’s support.
Kenneth W. Milnes, the labor department’s Office of Apprenticeship state
director, of Charleston, told those
attending the session that this is a
“very exciting time” to be associated
with apprenticeship programs. “This
is the first time since the 1930s that
apprenticeships are receiving national
attention,” he said, adding, “Building
construction trades are the foundation, the cornerstone, for all apprenticeships; they are the models.”
Facilitator for the group is Michael A.
Ferrari, apprenticeship and training
representative of the labor department’s Martinsburg, W.Va., office. He
received thanks for his role from Dr.
Carry DeAtley, VPAA at Northern,
who noted the apprenticeship programs and the community college
both have the same goals, to assist
skilled workers to advance their careers for the benefit of employers.
Dr. DeAtley explained the group now
must put together a curriculum that
matches the apprenticeship programs
with academic standards so that the
result will be “something concrete
to begin debating.” To that end, Dr.
DeAtley will meet with Dr. Samuel D.
White, associate professor, Institute
for Labor Studies and Research at
West Virginia University, to process “a
plan on how to proceed both academically and professionally.”
White, who attended the Nov. 3 meeting, said the aim is to begin offering
the academic component for the fall
2016 semester which begins in August
at WVNCC. Also, Dr. DeAtley pointed out the need to have “a pathway to
go from an associate degree to a baccalaureate degree.”
Also discussed preliminarily was a
proposal to offer a pre-apprenticeship
program for youths in construction
along with seeking membership in
the Registered Apprenticeship College
Consortium, a program which helps
to facilitate the transfer of apprenticeship certificates towards college credit.
WVNCC Continues
Community Education
Opportunities
A 10-week class to prepare students
to become a certified Residential
Building Inspector will be held on the
Wheeling campus starting in January.
According to Dr. David Shahan, vice
president of economic and workforce
development at the College, the class
will meet from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays
and Thursdays, Jan. 12 to March 17, in
Room 405, B&O Building.
He said the class is designed to prepare students to successfully pass the
International Code Council examination to become a certified Residential
Building Inspector (one-two family
dwellings.)
Dr. Shahan said the class will include
lectures, laboratory training and field
trips and is a non-credit class offered
by the Continuing Education department at WVNCC.
To register for the class, visit the
student services center in Wheeling,
Weirton or New Martinsville. Cost
is $400 and payment must be made
when registering.
Dominion Awards Grant
From left, Dr. David Shahan, Rana Spurlock, Dr. Vicki L. Riley, Christine Mitchell, Robert J. Krall, Curtis Hippensteel,
and Karri Mulhern.
Dominion Resources has awarded a
grant of $18,250 to Northern that will
be used for computer software to aid
classroom instruction in the Petroleum Technology program.
WVNCC was one of 40 higher education institutions in 11 states to receive
an educational grant this year from
Dominion, one of the nation’s largest
producers and transporters of energy,
headquartered in Richmond, Va. The
grant was issued by the Dominion
Foundation to the WVNCC Foundation.
According to Curtis Hippensteel, petroleum technology instructional specialist at Northern, the funds will be
used “to purchase a computer based
simulator/tutorial from GSE Systems
that will enable students to learn gas
processing fundamentals.”
He explained, “The software will
include basic process control tutorial
and simulation models that include
gas-liquid flow, single phase heat
exchange, reciprocating compressor
operations, three phase separation,
ratio and cascade control and a glycol
contactor dehydrator simulation. This
software will allow our students to
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learn field related systems and processes interactively.”
A check for the funds was presented
to Northern officials by Christine
Mitchell, external affairs representative II, West Virginia state and local
area, for Dominion. President Riley
said, “Our Petroleum Technology pro-
gram continues to grow and become
more vibrant because of help from
industry leaders such as Dominion
Resources. We are most thankful for
that support which directly affects our
students.”
Robert J. Krall, president of the
WVNCC Foundation board of trust-
ees, said, “Northern’s Foundation is
acutely aware of our area’s importance
to the gas and oil industry and is
gratified the college’s effort to provide
workforce development in the energy
field has been recognized by Dominion.”
2016 Military Approved
WVNCC has been designated a 2016 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media, the leader
in successfully connecting the military and civilian worlds. Now in its seventh year, the
original, premier Military Friendly® Schools designation provides service members
and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.
Northern has received the designation for a number of years and competed this
year for the elite Military Friendly® School title by completing a survey of more
than 100 questions covering 10 categories, including military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes and military spouse policies. Survey
responses were scored against benchmarks across these key indicators of success.
In addition, data was independently tested by EY (Ernst & Young) based upon the
weightings and methodology established by Victory Media with guidance from an
independent Advisory Board of higher education and recruiting professionals. A full
list of board members can be found at MilitaryFriendly.com/advisory-board.
The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges
and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate
resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. The methodology used for
making the Military Friendly® Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more
transparent, and has played a significant role during the past seven years in capturing and advancing best
practices to support military students across the country.
Natalie McFeley, counselor for veterans at West Virginia Northern, said the designation “validates the college’s significant efforts to assist military veterans in entering or returning to higher education. We understand the challenges they face and are pledged to their success.” McFeley can be contacted at WVNCC by
calling 304-214-8849.
Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly® School award have exceptionally strong
programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory
Media and Navy Reserve veteran, said. “Our Military Friendly® Schools are truly aligning their military
programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into
successful careers after graduation.”
For more information about WVNCC’s commitment to attracting and supporting military students, visit
www.wvncc.edu.
Northern will be showcased along with other 2016 Military Friendly® Schools in the annual “Guide to Military Friendly® Schools,” special education issues of “G.I. Jobs®” and “Military Spouse Magazine” and on
MilitaryFriendly.com.
Haunted History Day
Delilah Ryan as Abraham Lincoln.
The students in Delilah Ryan’s history class, HIST 110 United States to
1865, were treated to a special guest
appearance by “Abe Lincoln.” Students watched a film from the History
Channel on the ghosts of Washington,
D.C., and completed a quiz/handout
with the film. They also were able to
watch a portion of the “Eyes of the
Mothman” on the historical section
concerning Cornstalk. “Abe” stated
that, “We had treats but no tricks.”
West Virginia Appalachian
Subculture
Mary Jo Childers and her community
band.
Mary Jo Childers, a student in Darcey
Ferrell’s West Virginia & Appalachian
Subculture class in New Martinsville,
put together a band of community
members to help with her presenta-
tion on the life of Hazel Dickens.
Members along with Mary Jo were
Ron Hoskinson, Ray Ebert, and Vicki
Glasscock and granddaughter. The
following is an excerpt from Mary Jo’s
handout for the class.
Hazel was a protest and folksinger
who grew up as the eighth of 11
children in a poor mining family in
West Virginia. She used elements of
country and bluegrass to spread truth
about two causes that were close to
her heart: the plight of non-unionized
mineworkers and feminism. Dickens was born June 1, 1935, in Mercer
County. She learned about music
from her father, an occasional banjo
player and Baptist minister who drove
trucks for a mining company to make
a living. When she was 19, her family’s dire poverty forced her to move
to Baltimore where she worked in
the factories with her sister and two
brothers.
She used these experiences to inspire
her songwriting. During her solo
career, she recorded four songs for the
soundtrack to the Academy Award
winning documentary about coal
mining, “Harlan County, USA.” She
was a recipient of a National Heritage
Award from the National Endowment
for the Arts in 2008 and was widely
recognized as a pioneer in bluegrass
music and women’s music overall. She
died at the age of 75 because of complications from pneumonia in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2011.
Mr. and Mrs. Bills
A Music Lesson
Did you know there’s a difference between Bluegrass and Old Time String
Band Music? Mr. and Mrs. Dennis
Bills from Huntington visited the New
Martinsville campus to explain the
difference. They gave an interesting
history of Old Time String Band Music and brought their fine collection
of musical instruments to give the
students a hands-on experience.
They are the parents of Dennis Bills of
the New Martinsville Campus Tutoring Center.
Recycled Tree
Debbie Bennett, at right, and Kim
Whiteman, a work-study student,
recycled the decorations from the
New Martinsville Campus Friends of
the College Dinner and used them to
decorate a tree for the Wetzel County
Chamber of Commerce Festival of
Trees. This was a new Chamber event
to raise money for a variety of local
charities in the area. The Chamber
provided trees for local businesses and
organizations to decorate. The trees
were displayed in the lobby of the
New Martinsville City Building for a
week so that the public could “vote”
for its favorite. The theme of the trees
ranged from “home for the holidays”
to “snowman” to “a lady dressed for a
special evening” to “Grinch hiding in
SCARSI Club Gives Back
the tree.” The event concluded Nov. 20
when the trees were then sold by auction. The Northern tree was sold for
$100 but the “Grinch” had everyone
waving their auction paddles until the
final bid “stole” it at $500. Debbie even
won the “Ugly Christmas Sweater”
contest. They are still tallying the
money, but the trees raised more than
$3,000.
SCARSI Club (Students Caring About Regional Social
Issues) sponsored a popcorn day on Oct. 27 and held
a blanket drive from Oct. 19-Nov. 20 for the Wheeling Homeless Coalition and the Youth Services Winter
Freeze Shelter programs. A total of $75 in proceeds
from the popcorn day were donated to the Greater
Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless’ Community Outreach Program to purchase personal care items for the
homeless, while 32 new blankets were also collected to
be divided between the Wheeling Homeless Coalition
and the Youth Services System’s Winter Freeze Shelter.
From left, SCARSI members Carrie Plants, Kelsey Renzella,
Rosemary Ketchum, Lela Smith and club advisor Joyce Britt
show off their collection of donated blankets.
From left, Joyce Britt and Ida Williams
present Wheeling Homeless Coalition’s
Jordan Harris a check while Youth Services
System’s Tammy Kruse looks on.
It was another successful dinner-theater event sponsored by
the WVNCC Foundation and
the New Martinsville Campus
Friends of the College. This year’s
event, held on Oct. 24, again featured a performance by Mystery
Theatre Unlimited of Wheeling.
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In “Johnny B. Dead” a group of
high school students in 1957 face
scrutiny from a federal government investigator who is on the
trail of top secret information that
is being leaked to the Soviet Union.
This musical parody also had some
assistance from several of the audience members.
The guests began their 1950s experi-e n c e
when they walked up to the “sock hop” and
saw a ’56 Chevy (provided by local owners,
George and Diane Meeks) parked just outside. Once inside, the atmosphere continued
with the sound of rock n’ roll music coming from the nearby jukebox (provided by
Bill and Charleen Stokes) and saw the photographer (Marie Hass) ready to snap their
photo in front of the checkerboard backdrop
(created by Miranda Stokes Rogers, Bill and
Charleen.)
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