News Type: Campus

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia  –  The West Virginia Wesleyan College Department of Theatre & Dance presents a murder mystery whodunnit that would baffle even the greatest detectives:

Three years ago, rising actor Derry Freefall was poisoned onstage during a performance, but her killer was never found. Now, auditions for roles at national theatres from across the nation are interrupted by a murder most ridiculous, and hysteria reigns as egos are unleashed and we see just how good bad actors can be at lying to their audiences! No one is safe as the clues bring us closer and closer to the truth. Oh, the humanity!  Oh, the drama! Oh, the overacting! There’s food, there’s music, there are laughs and zany antics galore as we try to solve one of the craziest mysteries to hit the stage!

The show is written and directed by Dr.  Greg Mach, associate professor, who explained that the show includes scripted and improvised segments so no two shows are the same.

“We started doing these dinner theatre mysteries 10 years ago, and we have such a blast every time,” he said. “It’s a great way to showcase our talent and the great food at these restaurants. The audience has so much fun because they are a part of the action- they have to figure out ‘whodunnit,’ or sit back and laugh while other people figure it all out. Either way, it’s two hours of fun, great food, and great music.”

“Doing these shows helps our students to learn the ins and outs of improvisational theatre. They never know what the audience will say or will ask them, so they have to figure out how to answer in character and in a way that will help their character get away with it, or implicate another character, or just move the plot along. And usually they’ll give us a good laugh along the way.”

Cast members include Makya Bradshaw ’28, of Summersville, West Virginia as ZaZa; Leigh Rice ’28, of Philippi, West Virginia as Mel; Sadie Huynh ’28, of Princeton, West Virginia, as Sam; Kostadena Matina Hartley ’27, of Buckhannon, as KC; Elijah W. Dickey ’27, of Chloe, West Virginia; as Ollie; Rhyan Sebring ’27, of Caldwell, Ohio, as Juice and WVWC’s Director of the MFA Program Dr. Doug Van Gundy as ChaCha.

Stage Manager is Emme Castellow and Hartley is the assistant stage manager and costumes.

Mach added,“Students learn how to build broad characters and play in a variety of spaces, adjusting the show each time they tour the show to a new venue. The Department of Theatre & Dance makes no profit from the shows, but uses them to help local businesses pull in new customers who might not have been to the venue before. It’s a lovely partnership between the C ollege and the local communities.”

Performances:

Nov. 10, 2 p.m.  The Lodge in Alpena, Bowden, WV

Menu:
Strychnine Salad with Fresh Bread
Petite Cyanide Filet
VX Mashed Potatoes
Arsenic Green Beans
Pineapple and Hemlock Upside Down Cake or Sarin Cheesecake
Price: $50

To make reservations, please call 304-636-1470

 

Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m., French See Dining Hall at WV Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV (College Community with ID only)

Menu:

Hemlock and Pasta Salad
Strychnine Garlic Bread Sticks
Lasagna (Beef, Cyanide, and Vegetarian)
Nightshade Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans Almondine (for nut allergies)
Tetrodotoxin Cupcakes and Amotoxin Brownies

Price: Free with meal plan, or $11.53 for Wesleyan Community, friends, and family

Phone number/email for reservations: 304-473-8037/theatreboxoffice@wvwc.edu

 

Nov. 15, 6 p.m., The Lunch Box, Elkins, WV

Menu:

Cyanide Salad Bar
Deadly Nightshade Baked Steak”
Tetrodotoxin Mashed Potatoes
Strychnine Green Beans
Arsenic Cobbler
Uranium Tea and Soft Drinks

Price: $35

Info and reservations at: (304) 642–6083

Nov. 16, 6:30pm, Lambert’s Winery, Weston, WV

Menu:
Fresh Strychnine Salad
Chardonnay and Mercury Baked Chicken Breast
Garlic and Cyanide Baby Baked Potatoes
Tetrodotoxin Green Beans
Hot Baked Arsenic Artisan Rolls
Assorted Amatoxins Gourmet Desserts
Pay bar with Domestic Beer and Six Lambert Wines to choose from

Price: $45

Website for reservations:  lambertswinery.com. and  (304) 269-4903

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Hannah Lively, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College, began the “Lunch Bunch” program at Buckhannon-Academy Elementary School to bridge the gap between students in 4th to 5th grade and adults with diverse backgrounds.

Students, including many athletes from West Virginia Wesleyan College, have been visiting Buckhannon-Academy Elementary School to eat lunch and converse with students from diverse backgrounds. 

Raveena Navaglund ‘26, a captain of the Women’s Lacrosse team stated, “Attending the diversity luncheon reminded me how important it is to celebrate our differences and find common ground at a young age. Seeing the kids embrace each other’s cultures with curiosity and respect was truly inspiring. My favorite part was witnessing how open-minded and eager they were to learn from one another and us college students.”

Ella Gomez ‘26, a team captain of the Women’s Lacrosse team, as well, stated, “Attending the luncheon was a wonderful experience. I learned how important it is to provide positive diverse role models for kids at such a young age. 

“My favorite part was when we introduced ourselves and our backgrounds. I was proud to say I came from a biracial family, and relating to the other biracial kids brought a meaningful sense of belonging despite our age difference! I look forward to attending the next one.”

This program was started due to Lively’s vision to bring students with diverse backgrounds together in the community. Young students have the opportunity to engage in intentional, positive interactions. 

Lively, alongside West Virginia Wesleyan College, wants to ensure students are supported and have a safe space at all times. Many hands and hearts have been supporting this initiative within the walls of BAES. Adam White, Principal – BAES, William Squires, – Vice Principal – BAES, Kirsten Coit-Fetty, counselor at BAES, and Jaeneika Westfall, a Buckhannon-Upshur High School alumna, have each been a helpful source in bridging the gap in staff awareness and student support. 

Lively states, “Partnering with WVWC and sharing common goals, roles, and backgrounds can strengthen our community within the education system to prepare all students for successful futures.”

It is Lively’s goal to include topics such as unconscious bias, Diversity vs. Inclusion, and offer Q&A sessions for students. She also hopes to find funding for books that represent cultures and positive messages to include at the visits. This program has sparked parents’ attention which in turn has created a diversity committee at BAES. The committee includes parents and PTO representatives wishing to broaden the reach to all grade levels.

 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia  – West Virginia Wesleyan College welcomed six new trustees to the Board of Trustees during Friday’s Founders Day Convocation bringing  years of  experience across diverse fields including education, health care and law.

Sam Fox ’86 earned his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1980 and is a health care layer at Flaherty Sensabaugh and Bonasso PLLC in Charleston, specializing in medical malpractice, defense, risk management and health care licensing. He has served as chair of the West Virginia State Bar’s Law and Medicine Committee and teaches business law and sports law at the University of Charleston.

Stephen Ranjan ’01 earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from WVWC and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business. He is the Global Head of Digital Health for Roche Pharma personalized healthcare where he and his team are leading, co-creating and implementing the next generation of digital health concepts across the Roche Pharma functions and the Roche Group. With more than 20-plus years of experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device and health IT industry, Ranjan has extensive experience driving open innovation and establishing novel collaborations with customers and technology players such as Amazon, Verily and other digital health startups.

Danette Ifert Johnson ’90 is provost of Kalamazoo College in Michigan where she oversees academic vision, faculty development, curriculum and student access to experiential learning. Johnson also serves as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. Johnson earned her B.A. in speech communication and history from WVWC, a master’s in educational psychology from WVU and a master’s and doctorate in communication studies from Northwestern University.

The Rev. Debra Wallace-Padgett began her new role as Bishop of the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in September. She also continues as Bishop of the Holston Conference. Wallace-Padgett holds degrees from Berea College, Scarritt College, Lexington Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary. She was first elected a Bishop of the UMC at the 2012 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

Dr. Jesse Oldroyd serves as chair of the faculty senate at WVWC. He is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2010 and his Master of Science and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Idaho, specializing in applied harmonic analysis. He has been a member of the faculty at WVWC since 2016.

Brenda Friend ’07 earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (Multicategorical Special Education and Specific Learning Disabilities K-5, 6-A) and went on to teach at Buckhannon-Upshur High School and write project-based learning, assessments and content standards for the West Virginia Department of Education. She has been the assistant controller at WVWC since March 2012 and is a professional income tax preparer and enrolled agent. Friend is staff council chair.

The six new trustees join Brian Brouillette ’82, Michael Bush ’10, Jason Fiegel ‘00, Jamion Wolford ’08, Bill Fahrner ’96 and MBA ’02; David Young ’87; Martha Ognibene ’79, Arria Foster-Hines ’95, Alan Letton, Rev. Dr. Ellis Conley ’73, Justin Raber ’08, Craig Welsh ’93, Kevin Spear ’16, Angel Riley ’99, Rev. Amy Shanholtzer ‘87, Curtis Wilkerson ’99, and Sadie Nichols ’25, as president of the Student Senate.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Building on a 134-year mission of academic excellence, service to others and equipping leaders, West Virginia Wesleyan College continues to rack up accolades in the prestigious college rankings programs. The College received the top 10 for Best Value in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges and is one of the Best Regional Colleges by The Princeton Review.

Under the U.S. News and World Report’s rankings, the College was ranked ninth for Best Value amongst Regional Colleges in the South, and 30th overall in the same area.  West Virginia Wesleyan College was the only West Virginia higher education institution to earn a Best Value Ranking.

West Virginia Wesleyan is also listed as one of the Top Performers on Social Mobility which measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. 

 Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing John Waltz ‘01 said, “We’ve experienced two consecutive years of overall growth, over 10% in that time.  With West Virginia freshman enrollment up 20% and a 40% growth in graduate enrollment, it is clear that students and families value a Wesleyan education and recognize it as the premiere education in our region.  West Virginia Wesleyan continues to provide critical solutions to market needs.”

In determining Best Value Schools, U.S. News & World Report considered academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. 

More than 95 percent of WVWC students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships. WVWC awards academic scholarships up to $18,000 per year, which can be combined with co-curricular scholarships (athletics, creative arts, community service), the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship, and all outside scholarships obtained by incoming students.

 

The U.S. News & World Report rankings follow the College’s listing in the ‘Best in the Mid-Atlantic’ section of The Princeton Review’s “2025 Best Colleges: Region by Region” publication in August.

College Raptor, a leading college planning platform, also selected West Virginia Wesleyan College as one of its Hidden Gem Colleges in the Southeast, based on graduation rates, retention, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student and other metrics via the National Center for Education Statistics.

West Virginia Wesleyan College will host Fall Open Houses Oct. 26 and Nov. 16, giving prospective students the opportunity to discover how they can find their place at their Home Among the Hills. For more information, visit www.wvwc.edu.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – An alum of West Virginia Wesleyan College who discovered his call for pastoral ministry after a 15-year law career will be the speaker at the annual Homecoming Chapel Service Sunday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m.

Monty Brown ’74 earned his Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Religion from West Virginia Wesleyan College and then attended law school. After being admitted to the WV State Bar in 1977, he practiced law for 15 years in Marion County,
including two terms as the elected prosecuting attorney.

In 1992, Monty quit running from a call to pastoral
ministry and attended The Methodist Theological School
in Ohio. He was ordained an elder in the United
Methodist Church, and served in active pastoral ministry
for 25 years before retiring.

Now an artist, represented by Gallery Eleven, Brown has many wondering if the lawyer turned pastor turned artist will ever decide what to be when he grows up.

Along the way he was blessed with 50 years with his late wife, Jane Wentz Brown, and with two children, Josh and Bethany, and five grandchildren. Since his retirement from active pastoral ministry, Monty is occasionally called upon to fill a pulpit. But, he is always clear that he is no longer a preacher. He is a storyteller.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – The lead of an agency that cultivates full participation of all people in the work, witness and life of The United Methodist Church will be the keynote speaker during West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Founders Day Convocation at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 in Wesley Chapel. The Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo is General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race.

A native of Puerto Rico, Arroyo migrated to New York City as a young boy where he recognized and answered his call into ministry at Knickerbocker United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York. Beginning his ministry 

In the New York Annual Conference, Arroyo was one of three chaplains at Bellevue Hospital in New York City during the Sept. 11 attacks. 

Arroyo was recruited to the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church to help in a new Latino church start in 2004. Currently, he is an Elder of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference where he chairs the conference Hispanic/Latino ministries and is an advisor to the Racial Advocacy team, Call to Action Team and Intercultural Competency team. 

In 2019, Arroyo was invited to join The General Commission on Religion and Race where he is the team leader for program ministries responsible for overseeing all the programmatic initiatives and resources of the agency worldwide. Arroyo has developed training and curriculum around intercultural competence, conversations on race and institutional equity. He facilitates groups using different methodologies across the globe and relates to the ongoing development of GCORR work in the Central Conferences. Over the last eight years, Arroyo has administered 80 projects as the agency grant administrator for the CORR Action Fund. 

Arroyo holds a Master’s of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, Master of Science in Management from the University of Maryland, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health from the University of the Cumberlands, Doctor of Ministry on Transformational Leadership in the Wesleyan Perspective from Wesley Theological Seminary in partnership with Cambridge University: Methodist House of Studies in Cambridge, United Kingdom and a Pastoral Care Skills certificate from Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute of Mental Health and Religion.

Founders Day Convocation is part of Homecoming Weekend. For the full schedule, visit www.wvwc.edu/homecoming 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Two West Virginia Wesleyan College School of Nursing juniors have been accepted into the Aspiring Nurses Program through WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital and have agreed to start their nursing careers with WVU Medicine upon graduation.

Hailey Pugh ’26, of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, and Emily Tackett ’26 of Cassidy, West Virginia, will receive up to $25,000 over the next two years. Upon completion of nursing school they will then become employed by WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The Aspiring Nurse Program is a program with a formal partnership between hospitals within WVU Health System and students at partnering schools of nursing.  Unlike a scholarship, students in the program receive financial assistance to help with life expenses while in nursing school. The money is intended to be used to support student needs throughout nursing school, which could include school expenses or other life expenses. Each student’s needs will vary, and the student will utilize discretion upon how best to handle the financial support provided by the Aspiring Nurse Program.

In addition to financial assistance, students are paired with a WVU Medicine local liaison to mentor them throughout nursing school and help during their transition to practice as a new RN. The Aspiring Nurse Program is not based on individual financial aid status, but applicants are required to go through an application and interview process. For more information, go to wvumedicine.org/aspiring-nurse-program.

The two WVWC juniors were recognized along with Davis and Elkins senior Madisyn McDaniel.

Pugh said she chose nursing as a way to help others after having positive experiences with those in the health care field.

“I have always had a soft spot in my heart for helping other people,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a fixer of all the boo-boos. I really look up to health care professionals who I work with and who I have been taken care of by personally.”

Pugh is completing a nursing externship in obstetrics at St. Joseph’s Hospital and has decided that is where she wants to continue her nursing career.

“It is a big opportunity for me and it’s a big honor,” she said of being selected for the Aspiring Nurses program. “I really appreciate everyone who I have interviewed with and talked with about the program.”

Tackett was inspired to become a nurse both by her grandmother and her love of science in high school.

“My grandma was an in-home care nurse,” she said. “I would listen to her talk about taking care of people and that sparked my interest. I grew up in a really big family, so I was always taking care of a little sibling or cousin.”

Tackett said she wants to become a labor and delivery nurse and the Aspiring Nurses Program will help her achieve her goals.

“It is an honor,” she said. “I’m blessed to have it because it is setting me up to succeed.”

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College will recognize alumni who have contributed to their communities and alma mater during Homecoming 2024. Awards will be presented during the Founder’s Day Ceremony on Oct. 11 in Wesley Chapel.

Alumni Service:

Adena D. Barnette-Miller ‘03

Adena Barnette-Miller graduated from Ripley High School in 1999 and earned her undergraduate degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2003. Barnette-Miller was named the 2011 WV James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellow which funded this degree and provided her graduate-level instruction in American constitutionalism. She has won awards including  the 2021 Gilder-Lehrman Institute’s West Virginia History Teacher of the Year, the 2016 WV Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding Teacher of American History, and third place in the 2016 National DAR Outstanding Teacher of American History contest. In 2023, the DAR presented Barnette-Miller with the Woman in American History Award. She also teaches AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics for the WV Department of Education’s Virtual School program. She is married to David W. Miller. Their shared passions include watching Cincinnati sports and working together to create a place-based YouTube Channel entitled “WV History with Mrs. B.” where they share stories about the Mountain State of West Virginia, its people, and its history. She is an ambassador for WVWC wherever she goes.

Dr. Benedict Tantillo III ‘74

Dr. Tantillo graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1974. His post-college endeavors were initiated as a NJ secondary-school English, Social Studies, and Phys Ed teacher which also included the start of his football and baseball student coaching passion. In addition to all of his professional achievements that would follow, this sideline extracurricular effort resulted in him being named NJ’s 1983 Baseball Coach of the Year. That tribute occurred the year he resumed his NJ teaching career after a three-year interim return to Wesleyan with his college- sweetheart wife Barbara (Liske, ’75). Here they were again part of the Wesleyan community, this time on the faculty side, Barb in the Counseling Department, Ben as Wesleyan’s assistant football coach while attaining his master’s degree. Following his first retirement in 2010, an opportunity led to five additional years as Superintendent of Schools in Duxbury, Massachusetts where his revered direction led to Duxbury High School being designated as one of the top three public high schools in the state (out of 405) by The Boston Globe, the Massachusetts Department of Education commending Duxbury Public Schools for their high state-testing status, and the National Association of Music Merchants acclaimed Tantillo’s Massachusetts region as one of the country’s best music programs.

Within three years of his term at Duxbury, he was the recipient of the 2013 Administrator Award presented by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and the Massachusetts Technology Committee. His lifelong advocacy of the value of education also includes all four of his children receiving their Bachelor’s Degrees, all from different universities.

Alumni Achievement:

Rhonda Holyfield Mangieri ‘74

Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri, a Cincinnati, Ohio resident is a 1974 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College. Rhonda was named the 94th President of The Cincinnatus Association. For Cincinnatus, she served as VP, Treasurer, and co-chair of the prestigious Donald and Marian Spencer “Spirit of America” Awards. Cincinnatus is a 104-year-old nonpartisan and non-profit organization located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mangieri also served on the Board of Directors of the FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy Alumni Association. She also volunteers for the International Friendship Inc., AARP and provides pro bono resume and career support for individuals and leadership development training to nonprofit organizations. Over the years she has been recognized for her outstanding service. She received an Outstanding Pittsburgh Society of Association Executives Award and Slippery Rock University’s President Award for Outstanding Service. In 2021, she received AARP’s Ohio’s 2021 Andrus Award for Community Service. She has been an AARP volunteer since 2014 and has been featured in several AARP articles. For the past 36 years, she has been active in her churches; teaching Sunday school, developing curriculum, serving as a youth and missions’ leader, and teaching adult Bible Studies. She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and moderator for various non-profit and civic organizations.

Lance M. Lindauer ‘06, MBA ‘07

Lance graduated from WVWC with his BS in both International Business and Economics in 2006 (minor in Spanish) and MBA in 2007, where he was the Graduate Assistant for the Housing & Residence Life Department. While an undergraduate, he received the undergraduate International Business Student of the Year; an Outstanding Senior; and the Rao Global Awareness Award winner, amongst other academic accolades, and participated in two study abroad programs. Lance Lindauer has spent his career working across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, all of which involved roles and initiatives related to public policy, innovation, and emerging-technology, notably AI. Lindauer is presently the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology (PART), a Pittsburgh-based non-governmental organization dedicated to integrating responsible and ethical technology and innovation into solving global problems via research, education, and consultation. Along with co-founding PART, He worked at the RAND Corporation for 10 years, holding roles in National Security (Director of Operations for the National Defense Research Institute) and Innovation Architecture (Principal Consultant). Lindauer is also Founder and CEO of Lindauer Holdings where he advises clients in areas such as AI, finance, healthcare, and defense manufacturing.

Dr. Rebekah Reed Honce ‘16

Honce graduated Summa cum Laude in 2016 as a biology major with a concentration in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. She immediately entered the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences: Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, in the laboratory of Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry at the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She earned her PhD in 2020, defending her dissertation entitled “Attenuation of Interferon Responses in the Obese Host and Ramifications for Influenza Virus Evolution.” students. In 2021, Rebekah received the Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Immunology. In 2020, Rebekah was interviewed with Dr. Katherine Wu in The New York Times “Studies Begin to Untangle Obesity’s Role in Covid-19,” and again in 2021 in The Atlantic in “Why No One is Sure If Delta is Deadlier.” Honce is also an accomplished artist. She has contributed cover art for the Jan 15, 2019 issue of the Journal of Virology. Honce also wrote and illustrated the children’s coloring book, “Connie has CoronaVirus.” Through her professional affiliations with the American Society for Virology and as coordinator of the Burlington, Vermont chapter of Science on Tap, she is involved in communicating and clarifying scientific findings to the public and policymakers. Outside of the laboratory, you can find her hiking with her rescue dog Maple, trying to teach tricks to her two tabby cats, or concert-going with her partner Chris (who is also a WVWC grad!)

Phyllis J. Smith ‘13

While at Wesleyan, Phyllis Smith  interned at WDTV in Bridgeport, West Virginia. She was hired as a weekend reporter in her junior year at Wesleyan. She continued to work there for two years, eventually becoming a full-time reporter and anchor. Phyllis learned the ropes at WDTV and met some of her closest friends. During her time at WTAP, Phyllis won four Ohio Associated Press awards, one West Virginia Broadcasters Association Excellence in Broadcasting award and one Virginias Associated Press award. Other awards include: Best Anchor Small Market West Virginia Broadcasters Association 2024 first place, Best Producer Ohio APME 2022 second place, Best Broadcast Writing Ohio APME 2022 second place, Best Anchor Ohio APME 2021 second place, Best Producer Ohio APME 2021 second place, and Best Producer Virginia’s AP Broadcasters 2021 second place. She has been at WTAP for nine years and enjoys being the 6 and 11 p.m. anchor and producer in her hometown of Parkersburg. Smith has been the emcee for several charitable organization events. Smith represents Wesleyan wherever she goes in a positive light. 

  

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh 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 clinical mental health counseling; 21 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.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Today, representatives from West Virginia Wesleyan College and Battlers Knob LLC have announced plans for educational offerings at the former campus of Alderson Broaddus University.   West Virginia Wesleyan plans to explore offering courses, degree programs, and training opportunities in allied health fields and a variety of other areas most immediately needed in the State and region.

President of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Dr. James Moore, said, “We are excited to take the step of becoming an educational partner for our friends at Battlers Knob, the former ABU campus. While we have several steps to complete with accreditors to be cleared to fully pursue these initiatives, Wesleyan recognizes that the strong tradition of allied health education that existed at Alderson Broaddus University is a rich history on which to build for the future. We are excited about the potential of having a presence in this community, because community for us isn’t just local — it’s statewide.” 

This partnership will allow West Virginia Wesleyan to develop programs and faculty resources at the Battlers Knob facility, backed by the College’s strong academic reputation, creating an immediate impact on north-central West Virginia and the Philippi community.   

Craig Phillips, owner of Battlers Knob LLC, said, “Battlers Knob is excited to collaborate with West Virginia Wesleyan College to introduce a much-needed allied health program on Battlers Knob’s campus. This initiative increases the number of health care providers in West Virginia while stimulating economic growth in the Philippi and Barbour County region. Since acquiring the former AB campus, Battlers Knob has been committed to finding a partner that aligns with our mission of fostering continuous economic, educational and community development. We firmly believe that this partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College perfectly fulfills that vision.”

Representatives shared that programs are currently moving swiftly in development and that updates will be shared regularly.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
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 more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh 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 clinical mental health counseling; 20 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.

 

ABOUT BATTLERS KNOB LLC
Established in 2024, Battlers Knob LLC emerged from the acquisition of the former Alderson Broadus University campus in Philippi. Since then, Battlers Knob has embraced the mission of revitalizing the campus by fostering community economic development in partnership with local and state businesses and civic organizations. Battlers Knob is rapidly transforming into a sought-after destination for both public and private events, serving as a corporate venue and housing several local enterprises. By collaborating with regional organizations, Battlers Knob aims to create ongoing opportunities for economic, educational and community advancement. 

 

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College’s esports program under the direction of head coach Ethan Hayes is working with middle and high school programs to foster the growth of esports across the Mountain State.

Hayes was hired as the head coach of West Virginia Wesleyan College’s esports program in time for the start of year two in August 2020. The program was celebrated as being the first varsity esports program in the state of West Virginia as well as the first program in the nation to offer a varsity scholarship for the game of Fortnite.

Reflecting on four years of growth with the College’s program, Hayes said, “I am proud to look where we have grown. From the initial class of 11 students to a roster of 30-plus scholarship and walk-on athletes, Wesleyan continues to be an institution proud to offer opportunities for West Virginia students with a passion for gaming to leverage their abilities to provide themselves with a brighter future through a degree.

“One thing that was brought to my attention when I began working at Wesleyan was the College’s desire to not just be a place where students could come for esports, but act as an organization that could extend a helping hand to anyone who may be interested in fostering esports for students within their counties and towns,” Hayes said.

“This has culminated in the combined efforts of a team of teachers who have formed an organization dubbed the West Virginia Scholastic Esports League or WVSEL for short. This cohort of high school and middle school staff came together to solve some of the accessibility issues we as a state were facing in the esports world,” Hayes continued.

“As of last semester, the WVSEL has successfully launched their first free to play esports league for students, providing an alternative for any school that may find national leagues too expensive or schools that were looking for more familiar opponents than faceless schools at the national level,” Hayes said.

“These coaches serve as a shining example of the efforts Wesleyan is proud to help champion and as such we wanted to thank some of these coaches so that they may know that their hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed by the college and by our communities.”

Thank you to Chase Jarrell, Ravenswood High School; William Cottrell, Wirt County High School; Emily Eskew, Elkview Middle School; Robert May, Cabell County Career Tech; Martin Nicolay, George Washington High School; Anita Lambert, Braxton County Middle School; Abbigale Wells, Brooke High School; Scott Vogelsong, Greenbriar East High School; Judy Pitzer, Tucker County High School; Jeremy Hubbard, Hedgesville High School; Jordan O’Dell, John Adams Middle School; Brody Potter, Saint Albans High School; Will Totten, Spring Valley High School; Corey Mease, Spring Mills High School; Tim Wine, Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center; Gerad Hunter, Ripley High School; Oscar Lopez, Doddridge County Middle School; Chris McGrew, Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute; Missy Taylor, St. Mary’s High School; Janelle Gamoe, West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind; Thomas Akers, Robert L. Bland Middle School; Brigette Barlow, Monongalia County School District; Deon Jones, Martinsburg High School; Karen Dawson and Trevor Hutchinson, Spring Mills Middle School.

“These coaches were the original faculty from schools who decided to take up the cause of providing more opportunity for their students to have access to esports and the scholarship and lifestyle opportunities it could provide,” Hayes said. “Without their hard work, this state would not be seeing the growth at the rate that it does and Wesleyan is deeply honored to be trusted to assist and advise the growth of the league alongside them.

“As we look forward to esports in the state, Wesleyan looks to continue our efforts of supporting schools and the WVSEL. We are excited to continue to provide a home for West Virginia students interested in esports after graduation as well as assisting the schools as they grow and create new opportunities for competition through the leagues they oversee.”

Those interested in bringing esports to their West Virginia school or in sponsoring these programs should contact Hayes at hayes.e@wvwc.edu.