Current Newsletter

Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association
Newsletter Spring 2009

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Greetings fellow Mountaineers!  I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as your new chapter president and welcome you to join us as we celebrate everything that is West Virginia University.  Along with the board, I have many goals to accomplish but the largest is increasing membership.   To help reach this goal, we have recently enhanced our online identity with a Facebook group, Google calendar and our website.  These tools along with your support will help make this chapter great.    I am looking forward to our upcoming golf outing and the annual summer Pirates game and hope you can join as these events.  We always appreciate your support and I hope to continue to build and enhance the chapter in the next year.  On a personal note I would like to thank James Strother for his 3 years of dedication to the chapter as President.  During his time we have established a new scholarship fund, a signature golf outing which is envied by many chapters, our annual Pirates game and much more.  Finally, the chapter would also like to extend a welcome to our newest Mountaineer James P. Clements as he takes the role of WVU’s 23rd president.  Once again thank you for your support and as Pat White so eloquently stated: “Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer”.

BB   

BECOME AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE GREATER PITTSBURGH CHAPTER OF THE WVU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Growth of membership and events are primary goals for 2009 for the chapter. There are two levels of membership – annual and lifetime. Please visit the chapter website (www.wvu-eers.org) for membership information.  We welcome you contact any of us to tell us how you can contribute your talents and ideas to the chapter for the success of these goals and to enhance the chapter’s future.

In building a stronger chapter, we are reaching out to alumni in the Greater Pittsburgh area in many ways.  Send your email address to wvualumnipgh@gmail.com to ensure we have your current information.  We have opportunities to attend events, schedule meetings, and pass along timely information.  The best way to communicate this information is by email.  As we have made some recent changes, we fear some email addresses have been lost. We don’t want to go on without you!

We are also now on Facebook! The Facebook group for the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association   is:   http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42620863181

Keep us as a favorite – the website is www.wvu-eers.org. Visit it often for chapter events – on the Google Calendar.

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HIGHLIGHTED BY WVU

WVU Regional Recruiter for Western Pennsylvania Kim McCarty is energized and enthusiastic for western Pennsylvania high school students. Recently, an Admitted Student Event was sponsored by WVU and hosted by Kim at PNC Park.  Kim keeps college bound high school students and their parents aware of the benefits of an education at WVU.  Various activities sponsored by WVU and hosted by Kim would be greatly benefited with WVU Alumni participation. Training for volunteers who are interested in recruitment event sand high school college fairs is available.  Kim can be contacted at kim.mccarty@mail.wvu.edu.

SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

The Greater Pittsburgh WVU Alumni Association sponsors scholarship for WVU students from Western Pennsylvania. The David J. Seruga Memorial Scholarship is an endowed fund.  Recent recipients each received a generous $1500.00 scholarship.  The chapter is working toward the endowment of a second scholarship. Currently, this scholarship is within $1500.00 of endowment status.  It is the goal of this chapter to endow this scholarship in 2009, and offer a scholarship from it in 2010.   Scholarship information and the application can be found on this chapter’s website, www.wvu-eers.org. The 2009 scholarship application deadline is May 30, 2009.

THANK YOU, ONE MORE TIME

The success of the 2008 Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association annual golf outing is due in part to the generous contributions of the event’s sponsors.  We want to express our gratitude to them.  Their investment in us allows us to invest in the students of WVU – an investment in the future that is priceless.

                                                Tyson Foods
                                                Billman Geologic Consultants, Inc
                                                Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc
                                                PSLI Training
                                                Hayward Natural Resources, Inc.
                                                Liberty Mutual

SOUTHPOINTE COUNTRY CLUB HOSTS ANNUAL GOLF OUTING

The Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association Annual Golf Outing will be Monday, July 20th at Southpointe Country Club in Canonsburg. This golf outing supports the Chapter scholarship fund.  Volunteers, event sponsors and prize donations are being requested in an effort to increase the funds raised for the scholarship. Cash and in-kind donations are considered tax-deductible donations to the WVU Foundation.  Last year, over 135 golfers enjoyed a great day on the course. The goal this year is to have the golf outing filled - 144 golfers. The golf outing information is attached to this newsletter. Be sure to return yours early to reserve your place with a great day of golf.  The outing chair is Adam Smith, who can be contacted at adamsmith459@hotmail.com.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

WVU Alumni and friends can meet for a great evening of baseball at PNC Park on Saturday, June 27th at 7:05pm to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Kansas City Royals.  WVU Night at the Ball Park seating options are Pirates Beer Passport (includes a two hour beer tasting before the game) or Pirates “Hats Off” Tickets (includes a Pirates baseball cap).  The night will feature a post-game Zambelli Fireworks display.  Ticket ordering information is at the end of this newsletter.

SHOW YOUR WVU PRIDE WITH WVU ALUMNI CHAPTER SHIRTS

Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association polo and tee shirts are available for purchase.  The link for the order forms is on the home page of the chapter website (www.wvu-eers.org).  These are great to have for chapter events or chance meetings with alumni at any social gathering.

PITTSBURGH AREA MOUNTAINEER PARENTS CLUB EARNS
OUTSTANDING CLUB HONOR

The Pittsburgh Area Mountaineer Parents Club was honored as the Outstanding Out of State Club during Fall Family Weekend in October 2008.   The Club was reenergized in early 2006. The core group of parents who were actively involved included WVU alumni Joanne (’77, ’78) and Tracy Hough (’77, ’04, ’05), Sue Canterbury (’77), and Martha Hochendoner (’82). In the past three years, the club has sponsored Parent Club activities of Summer Send-off and Winter Fest where students and parents from the Pittsburgh area were introduced to each other and to the benefits of an education at WVU.   The Club keeps area parents connected with newsletters, opportunities for student support packages, and an annual spring meeting.  Leadership for the future of the club is enhanced at Parent Club University, a one day workshop in Morgantown for all Parent Club members.  The current club chair is Evelyn Kurianowicz, who can be reached at evelynk57@comcast.net.

BOARD LEADERSHIP CHANGES FOR 2009-2010

We would like to welcome our new board members and officers. The current leadership for the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association is

President - Bryan Bond, Class of 2000, B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. Computer Engineering. Bryan is a Technical Sales Manager for Konica Minolta Sensing Americas 3D measurement division.  Bryan can be reached at (bryan.bond@gmail.com)

Past President – James Strother Class of 1993, BS; 1994, MS.  James is the Executive Director of SMACNA of Western Pennsylvania.  James can be reached at (jstrother@pghmail.com)

Vice President – Sean Herbster, Class of 2000 BA in Political Science. Sean is an Assistant Manager with Walgreen’s Pharmacy. Sean can be reached at (herbshark@hotmail.com)

Secretary – Kim Kisner, Class of 1993 BA in Political Science.  Kim is the principal attorney and owner of Kisner Law Firm. Kim can be reached at (kim@kisnerlawfirm.com)

Treasurer – Matt Thompson, Class of 1992, BA in History Matt is an Assistant Vice President and Check Processing Manager at PNC Bank. Matt can be reached at (tourney21@verizon.net)

Board Member – Megan Revak Amster, Class of 2000, BS in Business Administration and Finance.  Megan can be reached at (revak1@yahoo.com)

Board Member – Noah Farberow, Class of 98, BSBA Finance.  Noah can be reached at (noahfarbs@yahoo.com)

Board Member – Martha Hochendoner, Class of 1982, BSN.  Martha is the Patient Safety Officer and Risk Management Specialist at UPMC Braddock.  Martha can be reached at  (mahochendoner@verizon.net )

Board Member – Dan Billman, Class of 1989, MS Geology.  Dan is a petroleum geologist and the owner of Billman Geologic Consultants.   Dan can be reached at (danaret@zoominternet.net)

Golf Outing Chair – Adam Smith, Class of 2002, MS Journalism. Adam is a Nonprofit and Human Service Insurance Specialist for Allied Insurance Brokers.  Adam can be reached at (adamsmith459@hotmail.com)

Scholarship Chair – Doug Clark, Class of 1990, BS Civil Engineering. Doug is a Senior Project Manager with Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. Doug can be reached at (dclark@cecinc.com)

Interested in becoming a board member?  Feel free to contact us with your interest.

LET’S GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!!