News Type: Faculty

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia –  The West Virginia Wesleyan College Class of 2023 joined the Orange Line Saturday during the 132nd Commencement Ceremony that celebrated their perseverance and resilience.

President James Moore encouraged graduates to continue to pursue truth and knowledge, learn from mistakes, but find joy in the journey.

“You are about to embark on a journey – the next chapter of your life; a journey of unknown possibilities,” Moore said.  “Find the joy in as many things as you possibly can. Never miss an opportunity to celebrate a win for yourselves, for your friends and family. Learn from your failures as you have during your time here. Remember what you have learned. There is a great big world out there that needs you. It is a world that is waiting for you. Never lose the joy.”

Caroline Rapking ’79, outgoing chair of the board of trustees, led the trustees during the Covid-19 pandemic that sent the Class of 2023 (and all students) home in mid-March 2020. Rapking spoke of the class’s adaption to online Zoom and Google Meet for classes and clubs and the return to on-campus life in Spring 2021 with Covid-19 protocols in place.

“After months of separation, the Community had to adjust to being together in person after so many months of a lot more solitary existence,” Rapking said. “I know that as students you were happy to be back, and you began to stitch your Community and the Wesleyan Community back together. Resilience, collaboration, and creativity were at the forefront.”

The Class of 2023 continued to be resilient throughout their College experiences.

“You persisted, you adapted, and you will now take these life experiences as you move forward, and may even, someday, be grateful for them,” Rapking said.

Rapking received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the ceremony.

Caroline Fulks ‘23, president of the Senior Class, presented Dr. Tamara Bailey, professor of history and international studies, with the Outstanding Faculty award voted on by the class.

Fulks asked her fellow graduates to remember their tight-knit connections made at the College.

“Wesleyan has given us the tools to make this memory and it is our job now to keep them alive,” she said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me this life-changing experience. Wesleyan will forever be my Home Among the Hills.”

Tara Steed ’87, president of the Alumni Council, said, “You have a lifelong bond to your Home Among the Hills. You may leave this place, but this place will never leave you.”

She encouraged the graduates to wear the title of alumni as a badge of honor and to find ways to give back to the College.

“We are the Orange Line,” she said. “Congratulations.”

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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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—The West Virginia Wesleyan College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) conducted its 60th annual induction on April 13, 2023, in the Meditation Chapel.  The circle inducted three seniors, five juniors, six sophomores, one graduate student, one faculty and two staff members.

The Wesleyan Circle of ODK was established in 1963 and has inducted over 1,100 students, faculty, and staff.  Student eligibility is based on the top 35 percent of each class in scholarship, as well as participation in one of the following:  athletics, music, arts, journalism, and community service.

Newly inducted members include:  graduate student Debra Tysor ‘23, Elkins, West Virginia.  Seniors Payton Hefner ‘23, Bridgeport, West Virginia; Rebekah Sikora ‘23, Morgantown, West Virginia;  Hope Wyatt ‘23, Tornado, West Virginia.  Juniors Alienor Dalle ‘24, Belgium; Stephen Groves ‘24, Bridgeport, West Virginia, Jillian Morgan ‘24, Dailey, West Virginia, Madison Rowe ‘24, Nashua, New Hampshire, and Hannah Walters ‘24, Cabins, West Virginia.  Sophomores Katherine Caldwell ‘25, Buckhannon, West Virginia, Brooklyn Farley ‘25, Kermit, West Virginia, Elizabeth Mazzariello ‘25, Somerset, Pennsylvania, Bree Moll ‘25, Craigsville, West Virginia, Danica Propst ‘25, Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Eden Reynolds ‘25, Cross Lanes, West Virginia .

Also inducted were Dr. R. Daniel Martin, professor and director athletic training, Anita Dib, director of the learning center, and Elisabeth Rogers ‘97, director of library services.

Participating in the ceremony were Dr. Thomas Smith, faculty advisor,  Dean of Students Alisa Lively, and Alison Whitehair, vice president for student affairs.  Officers participating included Mari-Jane McLeod ‘23, president, and Kevin Shrewsbury ‘23,  vice president.  Student officers for the 2023-2024 academic year include Bree Moll, president, Alienor Dalle, vice president, and Stephen Groves, treasurer. 

Omicron Delta Kappa was founded on December 3, 1914, on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.  The Society was founded by a group of 15 students and faculty who believed that leadership at the collegiate level should be recognized and encouraged across all phases of campus life.  The motives which guided the founders sprang from the desire to bring together one body for the general good of the institution, leaders from all parts of the college or university community.  The success of the ODK idea, an essential part of which is its inter-generational nature and a determination to maintain a consistent and high standards of leadership recognition, led to the establishment of chapters, which are called circles, at other colleges.

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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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 – Tickets are on sale now for West Virginia Wesleyan College Department of Theatre and Dance’s new murder mystery dinner theatre, “The Case of the Unwanted Ghost.”

Written and directed by Associate Professor Gregory Mach, this silly and spooky murder mystery dinner theatre show concerns four psychics who have gathered on the 10^th anniversary of the murder of the greatest psychic of them all, Yanna Bloodlord, to summon her spirit and reveal her murdered her. Can their otherworldly energies combine to bring her back, and is hers the only murder concerning the group on this special night? Music, laughs great food and a ghostly presence or two guarantee a night of howling good fun!

“The Theatre and Dance Department at WVWC puts on a murder mystery at regional venues every other year, and these are always a lot of fun, for the actors and the audiences,” Mach said. “Actors learn how to play broad, villainous characters practice their comic timing and hone their improvisation skills. Audiences get a great meal, listen to fun music and get to use their wits to unravel the lies from the truth to solve a goofy murder. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

For Mach, the fun is in writing the play.

“I really enjoy a good mystery, and writing these plays is so much fun – leading the audience astray with red herrings, making up despicable characters for them to enjoy, and finding that right balance between too complex and too easy in creating the storyline.”

“I always try to add an element or two to my new scripts that I’ve never seen in a murder mystery before,” he said. “This show has a character that doesn’t speak English, so that makes questioning this suspect a lot harder and adds a lot of laughs as the characters – and audience – get frustrated by all the mix-ups in communication and understanding.”

Performances run Friday and Saturday, March 31 and April 1 at 6 p.m. at the Buckhannon Opera House. Call 304-472-8369 for info and reservations. The ticket price is $30 and includes a dinner menu of stuffed chicken breast, salad, homestyle green beans, mashed potatoes with peppercorn gravy, artisan rolls, strawberry shortcake and water, soda and coffee. A cash bar is extra.

An additional performance runs Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m. at the Gandy Dancer Theatre in Elkins. Call 304-636-4935 for information and reservations. Tickets are $35 and include a dinner menu of chicken cordon blue, hamburger steak with gravy, green beans, coleslaw, rolls and dessert.

A Saturday, April 8 dinner theatre production at The Lodge in Alpena is already sold out.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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 – Dr. Lynn M. Linder was officially named Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at West Virginia Wesleyan College by President James Moore on Monday.  

“Dr. Linder has been a stellar leader on this campus, and I’m very grateful for her drive, passion and thoughtful approach to the work,” Moore said. “I look forward to many years of Dr. Linder’s leadership.”

Linder came to West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2014 and has taught British literature, literary theory, and gender studies as an Associate Professor in the English Department. She co-chaired the committee that revamped the college’s First Year Experience Program and served as its Director. In her role as interim dean over the last year, Linder steered multiple projects including the recent announcement of a master’s degree in mental health counseling, a partnership between Community Care of West Virginia, Aetna, and WVWC.

Prior to coming to West Virginia Wesleyan College, Linder taught at Saint Louis University where she also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature and her Master of Arts in English. She graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 one of its 2022 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan a “Top 20” Best Value – Regional Universities (South) and one of the “Top 75” Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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 is announcing a new interdisciplinary major of Public Service to prepare students for leadership careers in government, non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, education, public policy and social advocacy.

Students majoring in Public Service must choose a concentration in either public administration or community engagement. A minor in Public Service is also offered.

“Public Service is an interdisciplinary major that promotes civic engagement, public leadership and community empowerment with a focus on ethical decision-making,” Dr. Molly Clever, Chair of the Department of Social Science and Associate Professor of Sociology, said.  “Students learn critical thinking, empirical analysis and program implementation and evaluation skills to serve diverse communities at the local, national and global levels.”

The major, to begin with the 2023-2024 school year, will lead graduates to jobs or to a graduate education which will provide further opportunities. Career options in business, public sector and non-profits abound. Federal government occupations in these fields such as statistical analysis, management analysts, data scientists and operations research analysts are projected to grow in the next 10 years.

For more information, visit https://www.wvwc.edu/programs/socialsciences/

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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.

West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Theatre and Dance Department is proud to present She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen.

The play will run Thursday, February 23 through Sunday, February 26 at the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. Shows will be at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, while Sunday is a 2 p.m. matinee. The comedic play contains simulated violence, mature language and themes and may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

Set in 1995 in Athens, Ohio, the play revolves around Agnes Evans, a high school teacher who attempts to get to know her late sister Tilly by playing a Dungeons and Dragons-esque game that Tilly designed prior to her death. Throughout the game, Agnes must deal with violent faeries, evil succubi cheerleaders, and lazy demons as she goes on a quest to save the Lost Soul of Athens, and, in doing so, confront her own personal demons and grief.

She Kills Monsters is directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Thomas Schoffler and assistant-directed by theatre arts major Derek Hess ’23, who is also the sound designer for the show. Dance choreography was done by Lesa Dencklau, with scenic and lighting design by Keith Saine. The show is stage managed by theatre majors Elizabeth Tweel ’23 and Kotone Sakamura ’23. Tweel also handles costume design with Heather Bokey ’23. 

The show features spectacular stage combat by guest fight choreographer Millie M. Omps, with assistance from fight captain Anthony Damcott ’23. 

“She Kills Monsters has so much to offer audiences,” said Omps. “The use of fantasy as a catalyst for a very real human experience of handling grief makes for an honest yet thrilling ride. If you love the 90s, come. If you like Dungeons and Dragons, or are curious, come. If you like laughter and fantastical fighting, She Kills Monsters is the place to be.”

Freshman cast member and musical theater/communication double major Ashton Nardella remarked, “A lot of people can relate to losing a loved one, and the way She Kills Monsters handles its themes of loss is nothing short of masterful. The play is a great mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and heartfelt emotion, as many of the best shows are.” 

The cast of She Kills Monsters includes Allison Blankenship ’25, music education major from Camden on Gauley, West Virginia, as Agnes Evans; Ellery Brown ’24, theatre arts/history double major from Bay City, Michigan, as Tilly Evans; Julius Pretlow ’26, technical theatre/communication double major from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, as Chuck Biggs; Ben Long ’25, musical theatre major from Buckhannon, West Virginia, as Miles; Chelyan Smith ’23, musical theatre major from Nitro, West Virginia, as Lillith Morningstar/Lilly; Wesleyan alum Sinead Pechon as Kaliope Darkwater/Kelly; Damcott, media communication/theatre arts double major from Akron, Ohio, as Orcus/Ronnie; Sydney Stewart ’25, musical theatre major from Barboursville, West Virginia, as Vera Martin; Loren Keene ’23, theatre arts major from Bluefield, West Virginia, as Evil Tina; Alexis de Coning, assistant professor of Wesleyan’s Communication Department, as Evil Gabbi/Narrator; Ashton Cork ’23, educational studies major from Salem, West Virginia, as Farrah the Faerie; and Ashton Nardella ’26, musical theatre/communication double major from Bridgeport, West Virginia, as Steve. The show’s ensemble of monsters includes Jason Coping-Smith ’25, criminal justice/theatre arts double major from Charleston, West Virginia; Cordell Winters ’23, health science major from French Creek, West Virginia; Owen Hess ’25, biochemistry major from Bridgeport, West Virginia; Dalton Harris ’25, applied physics major from Belmont, North Carolina; and Alan Stephens, Buckhannon resident last seen as Professor Plum in Clue at Buckhannon Community Theatre.

Tickets cannot be reserved in advance, but will be available at the door beginning one hour before curtain. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, and $5 for WVWC students with a student ID.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Mister Bee Potato Chips, the only potato chip maker in West Virginia, hosted Professor Kim Conrad, Ph.D., and 15 students in her West Virginia Wesleyan College MBA class at its production facility February 7 as part of a real-world business teaching experience.

The MBA students, who have divided into five teams of three students each, are addressing different business development and marketing challenges facing the small, woman-owned business. At the end of the semester, the teams will present to Mister Bee leaders their findings and recommendations.

“We thought after our initial briefing with Dr. Conrad, it would be helpful if the students saw firsthand the manufacturing facility and our state-of-the-art fryer and processing facility,” said Mary Anne Ketelsen, president of Mister Bee Potato Chips. “They can see the process – from start to finish – and meet the people who make it all happen.”

Professor Conrad said having an existing company to focus on is far greater experience than a simulation in the classroom.

“Our students and our institution are very grateful that an iconic West Virginia brand like Mister Bee would enthusiastically open their doors to graduate students who want to make a difference,” Conrad said. 

Ketelsen added, “No matter how long you’ve has been in business, there are challenges that keep you up at night. Mister Bee enjoys working with students of all ages and the talented public school and higher education faculty in the state. I am looking forward to hearing the insights and observations the MBA students share with us after their plant tour, research and collaboration.”

Mister Bee is also working with West Virginia University at Parkersburg and West Virginia University Potomac State College in Keyser on strategies to grow more in-state potatoes for production at the company. Ketelsen also said educational partnerships with the West Virginia Manufacturers Association are in the works.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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 MISTER BEE POTATO CHIP COMPANY
Mister Bee Potato Chip Company was founded in 1951 by Leo and Sara Klein and had its first offices on Mary Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia. At that time, the chips would be made in the morning and then Mr. Klein would distribute the fresh product in the afternoon. In November 1962, the company was moved to West Virginia Avenue, where the chips are still made today. Leo Klein operated the business until 1979, when he passed away at the age of 73. The company remained with the Klein family until incurring financial difficulties in 2010. Mister Bee now operates as West Virginia Potato Chip Company and was purchased in 2015 by new owners Mary Anne (Welch) Ketelsen, Douglas Ketelsen, James Richard Barton, Gregory Barton, and Gregory Reed, along with Mary Maxine Welch participating in financing. Website:  https://misterbee.com/

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Dr. Joshua Beck, a business professor of West Virginia Wesleyan College, has won Best Paper at the National Association of Business, Economics, and Technology (NABET) conference. 

NABET hosts conferences for faculty of colleges and universities to share their peer-reviewed work and each piece of work is eligible to be published. 

Beck, received a plaque for Best Paper on his “Management and Leaders Understanding Communication Dynamics: The Impact of Internal Communication on Satisfaction, Performance, and Motivation.” His work focuses on internal communication preferences of employees in the workforce and measures the impact on communication preferences to employees. He found that communicating purpose and task assignments were a highly valued desire for employees from their manager of organization. 

He states that, “The respondents indicated that this concept positively impacted motivation, satisfaction, and performance,” and, “I would encourage managers and leaders within organizations or business owners to read the paper and to see if implementing the simple but potentially effective concept is worthwhile.”

Beck was humbled and honored to receive his award.

“I respect the work of my colleagues, and that recognition from them means a lot to me, especially as many of them have incredible research,” he said.  “To get recognized for something I have worked hard at for years is very rewarding and fulfilling.”

Beck’s work will be published in the 2022 NABET conference proceedings.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 one of its 2022 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan a “Top 20” Best Value – Regional Universities (South) and one of the “Top 75” Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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 West Virginia Wesleyan College Department of Theatre and Dance presents the classic Sam Shepard play, “True West.”

“True West” will run October 6, 7, and 8  at 8pm in the Atkinson Black Box Theater located in the Administration Building. Performances are free, but seating is limited. 

A 1983 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this American classic explores what might spring from the demented terrain of the California landscape when sons of a desert-dwelling alcoholic and a suburban wanderer clash over a film script. Set in the Western United States in the early 1980s, “True West” tells the story of two estranged brothers, Austin and Lee. With Mom taking a trip to Alaska, it’s up to Austin to take care of her house. However, not everything goes to plan when his older brother, Lee, makes a surprise appearance. The intimate intensity is met with frequent comedic moments that are sure to demonstrate Sam Shepard’s brilliance in his telling of this broken family dynamic.

“True West” is directed by Derek Hess, Jackson Johnson, and Timmy Walker, who will all also act in the production as part of their senior project, with advising by Thomas Schoffler. Additionally, fight choreography is by Millie Omps, with scenic and lighting design by Keith Saine, and costume design by Technical Theatre Major Elizabeth Tweel ’23. The show is also stage managed by Tweel, with Theatre Arts and Media Communication Double-Major Anthony Damcott ‘23 as assistant stage manager, who is also serving as assistant director and fight captain. 

The cast of “True West” includes Derek Hess ’23, Theatre Arts Major, as Austin and Lee; Theatre Arts Major, Jackson Johnson ‘23, as Austin; Timmy Walker ‘23, Musical Theatre and Media Communication Double-Major, as Lee; Ellery Brown, Theatre Arts Major, as Mom; and Thomas Schoffler, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, as Saul Kimmer.

“True West” contains themes including violence, alcohol use, drug use, as well as adult language.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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 is ranked in the top 10 for Best Value in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s 2022-2023 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 seventh for Best Value amongst Regional Colleges in the South, and 12th overall in the same category.  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. 

“West Virginia Wesleyan College’s latest rankings by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review demonstrate the strong tradition of excellence that our College has built over the past 132 years,” interim president Dr. James Moore said. 

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 Southeast’ section of The Princeton Review’s “2023 Best Colleges: Region by Region” publication in August.

WVWC was also recognized in the recently released Washington Monthly Rankings in the Best Bang for the Buck Southeast Division, based on students attaining marketable degrees at affordable prices.

The College earned another mention as one of the top five higher education institutions in West Virginia producing the most high-earning female residents in the Mid-Atlantic and South regions. The data from Steppingblocks  analyzed post-graduate outcomes for high earning female students in those regions. 

West Virginia Wesleyan College will host Fall Open House Events Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and Dec. 5, giving prospective students a chance to explore all the College has to offer. For more information on these Visit Days and the College, log on to www.wvwc.edu.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts 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 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 more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 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.