The OrangeLine Online

The OrangeLine Online, Vol. 3 Issue 7
November 1, 2006
An electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of West Virginia Wesleyan College
www.wvwc.edu

President Pamela Balch Keynote Speaker for Founders Day

President Pamela Balch, during her inauguration ceremonies, was the keynote speaker during the College’s Founders Day Celebration on Oct. 20. To read the President’s address, please click here.

President Pamela Balch A Look Back at Wesleyan’s 2006 Homecoming

Homecoming is West Virginia Wesleyan’s richest tradition, linking together the College, the alumni, and its current students. For five days during a beautiful fall setting on Wesleyan’s campus, alumni returned to their “Home Among the Hills.”

The Homecoming week started with an elegant Inauguration dinner for President Pamela Balch on Wednesday in Rockefeller Center and an Evening of Music Thursday in Wesley Chapel, featuring President Balch and her daughter Julie Samora and faculty, staff, student, and friends of the College.

Friday in Wesley Chapel as part of the Founders Day convocation, President Balch was inaugurated as the eighteenth President of the College. The convocation was opened by Joseph S. Beeson ’68, chairman of the board of trustees who remarked, “We want to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to President Balch and we all gather with an open heart. We elected you because we believe that you are the right person that the right time.”

After the oath was given, United States Democratic Senator and former Wesleyan president John D. Rockefeller introduced the new president, “It is my honor to introduce the 18th president of West Virginia Wesleyan College,” he remarked.

President Pamela Balch President Balch addressed the packed Chapel with her speech entitled “Just Imagine!”
She remarked during her speech that “Presidents do not change colleges; it is the people around them. There is no place like home, and I am deeply honored by all who came out today.”

Special guests in attendance were senator Rockefeller, Dr. Thomas B. Courtice, former president of Wesleyan and academic consultant, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton ’80, Ernest S. Lyght, resident bishop of the West Virginia Conference for the Methodist Church, Buckhannon mayor James W. Knorr III ’63, along with representatives from several other universities and colleges.

Wesleyan also welcomed three new board of trustees members, William “Bill” Grant ’75, Rev. David Myers ’70 and Rev. David Peters ’65. Dr. Jeremy Sibold, chairperson of the College’s exercise science department, was the recipient of the College’s Award for Exemplary Teaching, and Dr. Marvin Carr was named the Workman Chair of Religion.

With the rain and cold putting a damper on the James K. “Johnny” Myers Golf Classic, still over 40 brave Wesleyan alumni and friends took to the Stonewall Resort course for 18 holes of golf. Nightfall gave way to nine then class reunion dinners that evening. The classes of 1961, 1966, 1971, and 1976 celebrated their reunions with a reception and dinner at the Stonewall Resort. The Class of 1981 gathered at the 88 Restaurant & Lounge while the Class of 1986 convened at C. J. Maggie’s. On Saturday, the classes of 1991, 1996 and 2001 celebrated their reunions at the Young Alumni Reunion BBQ on the Haymond Hall Lawn.

Saturday morning, alumni were treated to the Strawberry Festival Autumn Classic/Wesleyan Homecoming Parade down Main Street featuring the West Virginia University Marching Band and over 15 Wesleyan organizations. During halftime of the Wesleyan-West Virginia State football contest, Jared Weller and Kristen Irvine were named the 2006 Homecoming King and Queen. Wesleyan inducted four individuals into its Athletic Hall of Fame during a Bobcat Pride reception prior to the football game. Inducted this year were Linda Bauer-John ’95, Kelly Rodriguez ’30, William “Bill” Smith, Jr. ’60, and James (Jim) Warner.

The Alumni Association was proud to recognize four Wesleyan graduates and friends of the College during the annual alumni banquet on Saturday night. The Alumni Association honored Francis R. Millar ‘71 and Clarence R. Robbins ’60 with the Alumni Achievement Award; Tamar “Tammy” Auber with the Young Alumni Achievement Award, and William O. Goodwin, Hon ’05 with the Extra Mile Award.

The weekend concluded with Dr. Frank T. Shomo ‘71 being the featured speaker at the Homecoming Chapel Service Sunday morning in Wesley Chapel.

What a great weekend,” remarked Tim Channell MBA ’03, director of alumni relations. “It was wonderful to welcome back hundreds of alumni to our "Home Among the Hills." The cooperation between the campus and community made this year's Homecoming and Inauguration truly a special event.”

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