Wishing you a very Happy New Year as we enter 2005! As West Virginia Wesleyan College exits 2004, much has occurred during the past year due to the efforts of many alumni who continue to give back to Wesleyan. Alumni continue to play a pivotal role in the College’s success both present and future.

Throughout the year, many alumni from across the country worked to recruit and introduce Wesleyan to prospective students. One of the greatest and most important connections alumni can make is through the recruitment of Wesleyan students. Several alumni visited campus and spent time connecting with students through classroom and personal conversations. Sharing career information and internship opportunities is a vital element of the Wesleyan connection.

With the awarding of 250 degrees during commencement on May 2nd, we welcomed our newest alumni to the association. The class of 2004 made history with 30% of its members making a gift to the Annual Wesleyan Fund. A great challenge for future classes to emulate or exceed. By July, many of you helped Wesleyan set its highest alumni participation rate, 23%, by giving to the Annual Wesleyan Fund.

During Homecoming weekend, many witnessed a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. This new performance center, with construction beginning this spring, will house a proscenium arch theatre with full stage, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, rehearsal hall, scene-building shop, dressing rooms, costume shop, faculty offices and public reception areas. This much needed facility will enhance the many performing arts majors on campus.

In late November, West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd secured a $4 million grant for Christopher Hall of Science facility improvements. This grant will enable the construction of new laboratories that will strengthen the College’s teaching and research efforts. This award, combined with an earlier federal grant of $2.7 million and other private gifts, will allow Wesleyan to move forward with the construction of the expanded science facility. The college’s science programs that are housed in Christopher Hall include biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, mathematics, physics, and psychology.

December concluded our “Enduring Values...Transforming Lives,” capital campaign. This campaign has far exceeded its original goal of $32 million through the generous commitments of over 6,500 donors. The past year demonstrated the commitment and involvement of many alumni who believe in Wesleyan’s future. For that we are extremely grateful and it is my hope that supporting West Virginia Wesleyan College is one of your New Year’s Resolutions for 2005.

Warm Regards,

Kevin W. Bruny ‘84
President, Alumni Association