BUCKHANNON, West Virginia  –  A college journey that began at West Virginia Wesleyan College four decades ago is now complete for Patricia Murray ’25.

With hard work, perseverance and the desire to leave a legacy for her family, Murray earned her Bachelor’s in Educational Studies from WVWC, joining her husband, Patrick “Pat” Murray Jr. ‘88, on the Orange Line.

On a recent visit to campus, Murray was able to pose, complete with cap and gown, for that milestone photo and stroll the campus with Pat and her family in tow, sharing memories from her early days. 

“We remember the people here, the friendships made, the crazy uniqueness of the different people who entered our lives,” she said. “We had different names for friends we had that made them giggle. Each one was unique. Our friendships here were unique. Meeting the love of my life was my biggest joy and my biggest success.”

In 1984, Murray arrived on campus as a freshman and soon immersed herself in college life. An education major, Murray thought she would be a teacher, but life had other plans, and she would fall in love with Pat.

“She met a friend of mine who was also on the football team and in KA and started dating him, and I stole her away,” he joked.

Life happened.

“My Patrick came along soon after, and my goal in my life was to give him the best life I could,” Patti said. “I developed programs, educational, recreational programs and started writing. Ten years later came the other love of my life, Tommy.  My mission was motherhood and being the best mother that I could. Though I left without the degree, I had it in my heart, I understood what they needed and I did the best job I could.”

The Murrays love story began in West Virginia and continues now in their home about an hour outside Manhattan, New York.

And once their sons were grown and started having children of their own, Patti decided it was time to finish what she started for them.

“I wanted to leave a legacy,” she said. “Especially, I have three grandbabies right now, and I wanted to prove to them that you can do anything. Don’t leave anything unfinished. That was my purpose, to finish what I started.”

As an education major, Murray thought she had about a year left, but it turned out to be longer.

“What ended up happening is I created successful programs for Parks and Recreation called ‘Traveling Tots’, wrote a book and volunteered at St. Johns The Evangelist Church in Mahopac, N.Y. and a lot of that turned over into credits,” she said. “I’m grateful.”

Before returning to finish her degree, Patti also published, “I Love You An Armful,” a children’s book about “her babies.”

And now the published author can add college graduate to her resume.

Pat added, “I am so extremely proud of my wife. It’s probably one of the hardest things you can do is pick up where you left off, dust yourself off and finish something like that. I could not be prouder of her. “

Patti said, “I might have had the hope in my heart that I would have the opportunity, but if I wasn’t given the opportunity, I couldn’t have gotten this today. I’m leaving with gratitude for so many years before and now so many years after. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for  135 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2026 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2026  Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan second in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.