Fairmont State University’s Department of Art attended the West Virginia Art Education Association conference in Morgantown in October. Faculty members Jeff Greenham and Jennifer Yerdon LeJeune staffed a mobile vendor cart and student Ty Collins presented a painting session. Yerdon LeJeune presented shaped canvas and silk screen printing sessions. At the awards dinner, Kylie Ford won the WVAEA Student Achievement in Art Education Award and Jennifer Yerdon LeJeune won the WVAEA Art Educator of the Year Award.

In Calhoun County, you don’t need special equipment to see billions of stars—just gaze up at the night sky. The West Virginia county is closer to maximizing a vital asset – darkness – through a partnership between Fairmont State University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The Second Annual Dark Sky Park Planning and Visioning Workshop and Star Party took place on Nov. 14 at Calhoun County Park in Grantsville. Members of the Calhoun County Commission, Grantsville Town Council, the Calhoun County Park Board and amateur astronomers, along with teams from FSU and UT, attended the event. The West Virginia University Extension Service is also a project partner.

Dr. Tim Ezzell, Research Scientist for the UT Master of Public Policy and Administration program based in the UT Department of Political Science, and Cat Wilt, UT researcher, gave a project status report and discussed recent developments.

“We have made a lot of progress in the past year, but we know we still have a long road ahead of us. We are encouraged, though, by the level of enthusiasm for this project. I think everyone involved sees the potential of this project and understands the need to protect and share this amazing resource,” Ezzell said.

The FSU Architecture Community Design Assistance Center team, comprised of students Shae Strait, Erin Taylor and T.J. Clegg, presented a master plan concept for the Dark Sky Park developed using a Lumion-created environment.

“The general reception was very positive. Everyone was excited to see that there was progress, excited to see some of the ideas and understanding the big picture that we were trying to create the biggest impact for Calhoun County as possible,” said Strait of Shinnston, an M.Arch. student.

Philip Freeman, FSU Associate Professor of Architecture, facilitated a brainstorming session to discuss the concept.

“This was the first time to introduce our team’s concept to the amateur astronomers and the community stakeholders to get feedback on the next step in refining the project,” Freeman said. “The astronomers had not seen the grand concept of bringing the constellations down to the earth. There’s a daytime element to astronomy, and there’s an element for casual stargazers. There was a positive review; people thought our concept was generally a pretty cool idea. The project will be refined so the park is good for the amateur astronomers and the casual stargazer. The park will become an overall economic development tool that is used year-round and not just a couple days a year.”

Freeman said the video, graphics and narrative generated by the FSU CDAC team will be used by the UT team to help find funding to build the park.

“Within a few years hopefully we will be breaking ground on some of these ideas and turning them into a reality,” Freeman said.

FSU, UT and amateur astronomers from the Mid-Atlantic region enjoyed stargazing with the public during the night.

“The stars in Calhoun County are incredible. Once you experience them, you really come to understand how much of the night sky most of us have lost. These are the skies our ancestors knew. People need to see this. We need to preserve it and make it accessible so they can,” Ezzell said.

Strait and the other FSU students had a competition to spot the greatest number of shooting stars. Twelve was the winning number.

“The Star Party was very exciting despite the cold. The astronomers were excited because there were people from the local community there who were unfamiliar with the project, and they were very engaged in sharing about it,” Strait said.

FSU offers an A.S. in Architectural Engineering, a B.S. of Architecture and West Virginia’s first Master of Architecture (M.Arch). The Dark Sky Park project fits with the Architecture program’s Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) and gives a team of graduate and undergraduate students hands-on, real-life design experience.

“The goal of the Community Design Assistance Center at Fairmont State University is to assist regional communities, neighborhood groups and non-profit organizations with improvements to the built environment through planning and design assistance,” Freeman said. “The CDAC is an outreach arm of the Architecture program at FSU, integrating the learning and working environments by linking students and faculty members to community projects that are unable to afford the services of professional consultants or are not ready to hire a consultant.”

Whether it’s on the field or in a parade, you can hear Will Johnston’s trumpet.

Johnston, who has played trumpet since fifth grade, now plays trumpet for both the Fairmont State University marching band and jazz band. On the field, he is assisted by Nicole Davis, a volunteer who does not receive class credit for her actions.

Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone syndrome, Johnston uses a wheelchair.

But this hasn’t caused him to not dream big.

Having participated in marching band at University High School, Johnston knew he wanted to continue to perform. He wanted to pursue a ninth year of trumpet playing due to his love of music.

“I love music and playing trumpet,” Johnston said. “I couldn’t see myself giving that up. I’ve had too many great experiences playing trumpet with other musicians. I didn’t want to stop that just because I came to college.”

Before coming to FSU, Johnston spoke with the previous band director. An arrangement for Johnston to be on the field for the marching band was made. Davis stepped forward and helped Johnston get around during practices and performances.

Robert Hickey is in the midst of his first year as director of bands at FSU. His first official day of work was the first day of classes, though he did visit the marching band the Friday before classes.

“Right away, I noticed (Johnston) out on the field,” Hickey said. “I didn’t quite know his playing abilities, but I thought it was great to see him out on the field and interacting with the students. He was not allowing the wheelchair to limit his ability to participate, which I think is wonderful.”

During the first week of classes, Hickey noticed Johnston’s playing ability as it was the beginning of rehearsal. The last note in a song was a D, which Hickey knew.

“We got to the end of the song (and) I heard this (note) pop out,” Hickey said. “It had nice tone and it was strong. I looked down, and Will is standing right in front of me.”

Hickey said it was a “holy cow” moment.

“You don’t expect to hear that kind of sound come out of a trumpet out of somebody that small,” Hickey said. “He plays well, has a great attitude and it was just very refreshing to know that he was willing to put in the time and dedication to the best that he could do for himself and the band.”

Johnston also participated in jazz band this year.

“I like the fact that (jazz) is open to interpretation,” Johnston said. “There isn’t a strict guideline for how the music works. There’s freedom in the performer to play what he wants within a set of guidelines.”

Johnston enjoys the performances.

“It was the first time I had improvised solos to play, and it was a lot of fun, too,” Johnston said. “Playing improvised solos and lead trumpet was a new challenge and new experience. I really enjoyed it.”

Johnston just finished the first semester of his freshman year. He is also an Eagle Scout. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry followed by a stint in medical school to become an anesthesiologist.

“It’s a challenging field that doesn’t require a lot of physical strength,” Johnston said. “It’s more mentally demanding, and I’ve always been drawn to it.”

Johnston said he plans to participate in jazz and marching bands next year as well.

This story by Richard Babich was originally published in the Times West Virginian on Dec. 11, 2015, and is posted here with permission. Contact Babich at rbabich@timeswv.com or follow him on Twitter @rbabichTWV. Visit http://www.timeswv.com/.

A Fairmont State University Art student and two recent Art graduates have been selected to be part of the Tamarack Foundation show “Emerge,” featuring the artwork of 18 students and recent graduates from college and university art programs across the state of West Virginia.

“Emerging talent is one of our great assets in this state. West Virginia colleges and universities are doing the work of developing outstanding artists. It’s an essential part of our mission to take that work to the next level by assisting in developing exceptional - and sustainable - creative businesses around the work of those artists,” said Executive Director Alissa Novoselick.  

Visitors to "Emerge" will view works including paintings, photographs, drawings, sculptures and more. The exhibit is on view now through Feb. 29, 2016, on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, 300 Virginia St. East, Charleston. Visitors should be prepared to show photo ID for security purposes.

Kylie Ford’s sculpture and printmaking is part of the “Emerge” exhibit. She is currently an undergraduate Studio Art and Art Education student at FSU with a projected graduation date of May 2016. In addition to her coursework at FSU, Ford is also an alumna of the Chautauqua School of Art 2014 summer intensive residency. During her undergraduate studies, she exhibited work in West Virginia, New York, Maryland and Tennessee. With her work, she is interested in exploring the ideas of patterns and structures using influences from daily living.

Erin McKown’s drawing was selected for the show. A recent graduate of FSU, McKown is an emerging wildlife artist with a specialty in realistic, colored pencil works. Born and raised in the hills of West Virginia, McKown established a deep fascination with nature and art at a young age. Over the years, her appreciation of these two subjects grew more intense as she spent much of her time developing her artistic talent and making frequent trips to the woods. Her work is characterized by vibrant colors and an emphasis on detail. Her work has been accepted into numerous juried exhibitions across the state. Her most notable awards and honors include: receiving first place (2013) and Best of Show (2014) at the Randolph County Community Art Center’s annual juried shows, being voted People’s Choice at the 2014 Best of West Virginia Juried Exhibition in Tamarack, and having her piece, titled “Deer at Dusk,” published in the November 2014 issue of Ann Kullburg’s Colored Pencil Magazine.

Christopher Schultz’s painting is featured in the exhibit. He graduated from Fairmont State and is currently living in the state of West Virginia. He works primarily as a painter, most often combining spray paint and oils. He sets brutal abstraction against areas of highly technical work.

The Foundation is currently developing a set of professional development opportunities created for students in state college and university programs, including funding, business skills training, networking with peers and an opportunity to take part in an emerging artist incubator to sell work at the largest art market in the state, Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia.

For more information about the Tamarack Foundation and the “Emerge” exhibit, visit http://www.tamarackfoundation.org/artp.php.

The Art Department at Fairmont State, as its mission, provides the understanding and application of skills, imagery, processes, techniques, and contextual information necessary for the development and discussion of visual forms and concepts as they apply to working in the field of Studio Art and/or Art Education. Additionally, the Art Department aims to contribute to the cultural life of the community. For more information about the Art  Department, contact Jeff Greenham, Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Art Department Coordinator, at jgreenham@fairmontstate.edu or visit https://www.fairmontstate.edu/schooloffinearts/academics/department-art.

Fairmont State University students excelled at the recent Appalachian Regional Model Arab League (ARMAL) competition at Hollins University in Roanoke, Va.

At the competition, the FSU team represented Iraq. The two delegates in the Joint Defense Council, Randall Stickley of Fairmont, a Political Science and National Security and Intelligence major, and Nakoma Connolly of Fairmont, a Criminal Justice major, were awarded Distinguished Delegate commendations for their exceptional work on draft resolutions with several other universities (delegations).

Other FSU team members were Connor Haberland of Pomona, N.J., a Political Science and National Security and Intelligence major; Tyler Wilson of Elkins, a Political Science and National Security and Intelligence major; Dakota Moore of Ravenswood, a Political Science and National Security and Intelligence major; Drew Edwards from Fairmont, a Political Science and National Security and Intelligence major; and Julian Pecora from Clarksburg, a Political Science major.

Although the competition at Hollins University was the first foray into the MAL for Fairmont State, the delegation has been extended an invitation to a regional conference in March 2016. The next regional conference will be March 11-13 at Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. Fairmont State will again be representing Iraq in the South East Regional Model Arab League (SERMAL). The delegation from Fairmont State will return to New York City in late March to compete in the Model United Nations representing the nation of Guinea Bissau.

The Visual Arts Department at Fairmont State University presents new work created by Associate Professor Jennifer Yerdon LeJeune, in her solo exhibition “aerial crossings,” located in the JD Brooks Gallery on the fourth floor of Wallman Hall.   

The exhibition will be open and on display from Tuesday, Jan. 19, to Friday, Feb. 19, with an artist lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at noon in the JD Brooks Gallery with a reception to follow. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call (304) 367-4219.

Yerdon, who completed her undergraduate work in two-dimensional studies at The College of St. Rose in New York and her MFA degree in painting at West Virginia University, believes that laying down material is a visceral act. It involves being physically present with a material that will accept manipulation and working that material to explore its potential, she says.

“I am both physically and mentally connected to each piece during its making through the layering and removal of materials,” Yerdon says.

For the artist, mark making is an inherent way to stay connected to all processes that move a surface away from being expected. It exists in layers of information that are cyclically added, removed, added again and asked to be analogous to one another.

“Most recently I have been thinking about the moving of earth through excavation, digging, clearing, burning and exploding. Landscapes are literally altered by digging through layers of leaves, grass and soil for the purpose of exposure and removal. In some ways this could be linked to images of clear cutting land, dredging streams, harvesting crops, mountainous cross sections or otherwise altered landscapes. What once was pastoral and seemingly untouched might become scarred and pocked--forever altered. And, removed from their original lay, they must be renegotiated or relearned,” Yerdon says.

For more information on Yerdon and her work, visit the Fairmont State University Visual Arts Facebook page.

A total of 1,208 students have been honored for their academic achievement at Fairmont State University after completing the fall 2015 semester.

Dr. Christina Lavorata, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, has released the Dean’s List and the President’s List to recognize high-achieving students for their academic distinction. Full-time students who earned a 3.4 or better grade point average are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time students achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average are named to the President’s List.

School of Graduate Studies: President’s List

Stacie Aliff, Brandon Brown, Megan Carpenter, Michael Carpenter, Shannon DeWitt, Philip Dent, Michael Gallimore, Sean Harwell, Teya Henthorn, Stephanie Henthorne, Laura Hoggard, Jeremy Horvat, Rebecca Hutchinson, Brenda Lamkin, Heather Leep, Tiffany Martin, Angela Murray, Rochelle Nestor, Corey Orban, Courtney Phillips, Christopher Pratt, Kiley Radeski, Michelle Raines, Marshal Sherry, Amanda Smith, Shae Strait, Alyssa Swiger, Renee Ullery, Alisha Vincent, Alexander Voldeck, Karl Weidhaas.

School of Graduate Studies: Dean’s List

Nicole Allison, Amy Bess, Hannah Brown, Mollee Brown, Paige Buckhalter, Julia Campbell, Jennifer Cook, Leslie Gonzalez, Jayson Hamrick, Somi Jeong, Tammy Lacaria, Sarah Landis, Trent Moats, Brittany Morgan, Jacob Murphy, Teresa Sestito, Christopher Shreves, Elizabeth Snyder, Tyler Withee.

President’s List

Mariah Ack, Chase Alonso, Mackenzie Arthur, Emir Atilgan, Deanna Bailey, Jacqueline Baker, Rachel Ball, Crystal Barlow, Christan Barnard, Sarah Barr, Amber Basnett, Christina Batelli, Timothy Bayne, Daphne Beckwith, Kazelyn Bennett, Sean Berry, Mathew Bingaya, Benjamin Blair, Nicole Bland, Sarah Blosser, Zachary Bodkin, Ethan Bolton, Tammy Bolyard, Taya Bolyard, Harley Boyd, Taylor Bragg, Kendra Bright, Jennah Brinegar, James Britton, Jodi Brock, Morgan Brooks, Chloe Brown, James Buchanan, Jacob Buckland, Kasie Buckley, Zachary Burch, Timothy Burget, Whitney Burnside, Franklinn Carder, Cassandra Carley, Emily Carnell, Devin Carpenter, Alexis Cartagena, Kaitlyn Carter, Amber Cinalli, Natalie Clelland, Matthew Clemens, Molly Clingan, Anna Coffin, Samantha Cole, Kayla Coleman, Chelsea Collins, Megan Collins, Chase Connor, Amanda Corley, Sarah Cory, Ben Costello, Kevin Costello, Cecilia Cotton, Bradley Cox, Marissa Cox, Curtis Crabtree, Gregory Crickard, Eamonn Cronin, Holly Cunningham, Jochebed Danby-Cobbina, Yen Dang, Velicia Darquenne, Caitlyn Davis, Kaitlynn Davis, Amanda Dawson, Haley DeBerry, Josandra DeFazio, Justin Debusca, Brooklyn Defenbaugh, Samantha Delauder, John Dent, Antonio DiDomenico, Dustin Dilley, Jason Dingeldein, Krista Dixon, Sean Doherty, Colleen Dorsey, Victoria Dorsey, Sally Dotson, Katelin Dunlop, Larry Eakle, Kelsy Eaton, Evangeline Eden, Rachel Ellis, Jordan Ethier, Olivia Eubanks, Brianna Evans, Harold Fair, Canon Fancher, Trevor Fancher, Sarah Ferguson, Kristen Fetty, Julianna Findley, Sirena Flesher, Amber Fluharty, Hailee Foley, Michael Fountain, Jason Frazer, Christopher Ganoe, Michael Garrison, Christian Ghilani, Hannah Gilbert, Jordan Gray, Gage Gregory, Abigail Griffith, Curtis Griffith, Tyler Gross, Tyler Groves, Kira Guier, Madeline Gulan, Connor Haberland, Hannah Haller, Madeline Hamilton, Krista Hanshew, Shelby Harman, Sean Harris, Donna Haught, Dakota Hawkins, Haley Hefner, Alexander Henderson, Kelly Hernandez, Jennifer Herron, Daniel Hevener, Lakin Higgins, Savannah Hill, Robert Hinerman, Nicholas Hinkle, Vanessa Hissam, Casey Hittel, Grant Holbert, Thairon Holler, Joseph Holt, James Hotaling, Kelsi Hoult, Anna Hukill, Kelly Humphreys, Brandon Jackson, Kaitlynn Jackson, Amy Jeffrey, Kyle Jenkins, James Jesmer, Robert Jesmer, Crystal Johnson, Shawn Johnson, Jodie Jones, Presley Jordan, Katelynn Kabiru, Alexander Keefover, Chelsea Keith, Dominique Kelley, Kayla Kerns, Seungha Kim, Kaylee Kirkpatrick, Travis Kirtner, Jamie Knight, Nathan Kolar, Peyton Konchesky, Liana Kopelov, Tessa Krantz, Ashley Krause, Jordan Lacy, Chelsi Latocha, Michael Lemley, Todd Levitan, Taylor Long, Phillip Longnecker, Lindsey Losh, Leonard Lucas, Hannah Ludwick, Megan Lura, Brannon Lynch, Dale Lyons, Victoria Lyons, Andrew Maltba, Melissa Mann, Justin Marple, Preston Marsh, Taylor Marsh, Amanda Marshall, Ashley Martin, LeeAnn Martin, Tyler Martin, Hillary Martinez, Sharman Martinez, Blake Massie, Sienna Maunton, Wendy Maxwell, Laura Mayhew, Joshua Mayle, Halley McCarty, Jason McCleary, Savanna McCrobie, Garrett McCurdy, Jennifer McDaniel, Hailey McDonough, Derrick McElroy, Mark McKee, Nicole McLeod, Corey McMillen, Caleb Merisier, Makayla Metzger, Jena Michael, Daniel Miller, Hanif Mirza, Jonathan Mitchell, Damien Monell, Saige Mongold, Allison Moore, Tricia Moore, Virginia Moratti, Brian Morgan, Devin Morgan, Megan Moyer, Jasmine Murillo, Kalee Murphey, Macie Myers, Dominic Myhalsky, Nathan Napier, Haley Nelson, Adam Newlon, Taylor Nichols, Tina Nichols, Bernard Northrop, Olivia Ooten, Abigail Palmer, Bayley Palmer, Sung Hee Park, Cheyanne Parks, Laiken Paugh, Julian Pecora, Rebecca Pendry, Myranda Penrose, Sierra Perry, Lindsay Peters, Lacey Peterson, Melissa Phillips, Paige Phillips, Tyler Poff, Simon Poling, Sophia Porco, Brooke Prichard, Briana Pudsell, Jamie Pulice, Brandon Ralston, Kristy Rexrode, Amanda Reynolds, Andrea Richmond, Jamie Riddell, Molly Rinkevich, Louis Risher, Danielle Ritter, Brandon Roach, Grace Robinette, Sara Robinson, Lee Roccio, Brandon Rohrbacher, Emily Rohrbacher, Lisa Romeo, Brianna Rosnick, Nicholas Rush, Brooks Russell, Daphne Ryan, Phillip Sands, Kyle Sandy, Aaron Sanford, Dawn Sargent, Brigitte Satterfield, Madison Schell, RaeAnn Secrist, Tyler Sensibaugh, Bailey Shade, Adam Shaffer, Brooke Shambaugh, Kristin Shank, Vincent Sheeler, Hannah Short, Hillary Short, Kyrsten Shugars, Jessica Siders, Joseph Simmons, Amanda Simons, Kayla Simpson, Noca Singleton, Brent Six, Taylor Skelton, Adrianna Slaughter, Jordan Smith, Lana Solomon, Derek Somers, Angela Spatafore, Geoffrey Splendorio, Juliana Spradling, Kimberly Starrett, Kristin Staub, Victoria Stevens, Randall Stickley, Christina Strader, Rachel Strohmenger, Brittany Strother, Sissy Stubbs, Rebecca Sullivan, Raye Sullivan-Trippett, Audrey Sweeney, William Sydnes, Trang Ta, Megan Talbott, Samantha Tate, Jessica Taylor, Justin Taylor, Joshua Tenney, Haley Terango, Joseph Thomas, Mildred Thompson, Tyler Tobin, Erica Tracewell, Matthew Tucker, Richard Underwood, Kendra Urtso, Erica Uselton, Jordan Utt, Madison Van Meter, Rachel VanOsdol, Christopher Vance, Jessica Vincent, Carl Wahler, Faithlynn Walker, Elijah Warr, Ashley Webb, Noah Weber, Taylor Wells, Anna Westfall, Quentin Whitecotton, Kelsey Whitt, Benjamin Wilfong, Annelise Williams, Michelle Wilson, Tyler Wilson, Elizabeth Wolfe, Hannah Wolfe, Samantha Wolfe, AnDee Wood, Haley Wright, Shayla Wright, Mary Yankie, Shannon Yost, Aimee Zorik.

Dean’s List

Marissa Abe, Brock Acord, Dakota Adams, Lucreatia Adams, Jordan Adderley, Clint Aikins, Johnna Akers, Ammar Al-Awami, Mohammed Alanazi, Sultan Alanazi, Eisa Alanezi, Alexis Alastanos, Zuhair Albuazizah, Sulaiman Alduraywish, Dakota Alexander, Justin Allan, Alexis Allen, Edward Allen, Joel Alm, Meshal Almuzaini, Mohammed Alnahdi, Qublan Alqarni, Nicholas Alvaro, Jillian Amos, Jacob Andersen, James Anderson, Jesse Anderson, Trevor Andrews-Evans, Alicia Aracich, Nicholas Aragona, Destini Arbogast, Lane Arbogast, Jordan Armstrong, Rodney Ashcraft, Sakele Atayi, Amy Attoe, Faith Aube, Ericka Aversa, Taiwo Badmus, Heather Bailey, Alexander Baird, Casey Baird, Katie Baker, John Ball, Lacey Ball, David Banister, Alex Banko, Travis Barker, Kylee Barnard, Michael Barnes, Derek Barnett, Jamie Barnett, Laura Barnett, Jessica Barr, Makayla Barr, Nathaniel Barr, Autumn Bartles, Jordan Batten, Katherine Baughan, Janay Beamer, Erin Bean, Emilee Beckwith, Madison Beekler, Ashleigh Belfiore, David Bell, Jacob Bell, Jodie Bennett, Jessica Berg, Gabrielle Bergmann, Kayla Berkey, Tyler Berry, Jeffrey Bias, Leslea Blackshire, Maura Blake, Lindsey Bland, Christopher Blosser, Breanna Blot, Sydney Bock, Holly Bogdanich, Jacob Bolyard, Brittany Bonnett, Rachel Bowman, Ashley Boyce, Rebecca Boyce, Shelby Boylen, Dillon Bradley, Josh Bragg, Donald Bramer, Kaitlin Brancato, Faith Branham, Chelsea Breeden, Kelly Brett, Hayley Brewer, Brennan Brooks, Skyler Brooks, Chyna Brown, Nicholas Brown, David Brownfield, Jasmine Bruce, Brittiany Brumage, Bethany Buckner, Amanda Burns, Jared Burns, Sarah Bush, Bryson Butcher, Chelsey Butcher, Lynsey Butler, Michael Byrd, Jill Cable, Laurie Caldwell, Lacey Cale, Brittany Cameron, Christian Campbell, Iris Canfield, Jonah Cantrell, Morgan Carder, Justin Carey, Brodon Carpenter, Devanie Carpenter, Brian Carr, Zoey Carr, Claudia Castro, Dominic Casuccio, Savannah Catlett, Samantha Cavanaugh, Sydney Cavender, Zachary Cayer, Eliza Cercone, Tara Charles, Angelica Chase, Brett Chase, Maria Chase, Andre Chinnery, Paige Christopher, Timothy Cintron, Mackenzie Cira, Cullen Clark, Danika Clark, Naomi Clark, Jacob Clarkson, Kylie Clatterbuck, Cody Cleavenger, Amanda Cobb, Madison Coberly, Emily Coburn, Jennifer Cochran, Vincent Cochran, Jasmine Cogar, Madison Cogar, Roger Cogar, Corey Collins, Emily Collins, Sean Collins, Deidra Combs, Courtney Conley, Susan Cook, Kristina Coombs, Gabrielle Cooper, Karly Cooper, Matthew Copley, Derrick Corns, Kelsey Corwin, Stephanie Cottrell, Michelle Cottrill, Cori Cowan, Sierra Cowell, David Cox, Hana Cox, Mackenzie Cox, Emily Crane, Joshua Crawford, Taylor Crawford, Emily Crislip, Mitchell Cronin, Sarena Croy, Brodie Currence, Amber Curry, Hayden Curtis, Garrett Dailey, Benjamin Daily, Ryan Dalrymple, Kevin Darlington, Sara Davis, Tyler Davis, William Davis, Andria Davisson, Jessica DeBerry, Logan DeSellems, Laura DeWalick, Kalee Degler, Grant Delancey, Shealyn Delancey, Emily Delawder, Darcy Delligatti, Micah Deskins, Jessica Devericks, Jamie Diamond, Luka David Dilas, Jacob Dillinger, Conner Disotelle, Katie Dotson, Eric Dowdy, Christopher Dowell, David Dryden, Lacey Dulaney, Devin Dunigan, Chelsie Dunn, Chad Dutrow, Lauren Dzielski, Payden Eckleberry, Andrew Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, Erika Edwards, Brody Efaw, Garrett Elam, Kody Elam, Rachel Elliott, Samuel Elliott, Alicia Erjavec, Morgan Escue, Bethany Eskridge, Gina Estok, Cora Faby, Brooke Fadeley, Fahad Fadil, Faris Fadil, Brianna Farnsworth, Eben Feaster, Jessie Feather, Jonathon Fedoush, Angelica Felvus, John Fenney, Zachary Ferguson, Abbey Ferrari, Abigail Fetty, Catherine Fiorini, Joshua Fitzgerald, Chandler Fitzwater, Seth Fitzwater, Spencer Flanagan, Raven Flanigan, Katlin Fluharty, Kylie Ford, Kristin Fowler, Arden Fox, Nathan Fox, Logan Frame, Devin Freeman, Hannah Freeman, Mary Freiburger, Kristian Fuchs, Jolene Fullen, Clarissa Funkhouser, Jessica Furda, Emily Galan, Erinn Gallaher, Lucas Gardner, Breton Gates, Allison Gay, Richard Gee, Ursula Gentilozzi, Brandon George, Alexandro Gialone, Rebekah Gibson, Ronald Gibson, Brianna Gill, Krista Gillis, Tristan Gilman, Amy Glasow, Colton Goff, Brian Gore, Bethany Gorman, Catherine Gorman, Zachary Gower, Rebecca Goydel, Jordan Graham, Michael Gray, Shanden Gregory, Philip Griffin, Jordan Grimmett, Olivia Gross, Katelyn Groves, Sara Guidi, Lucas Gullo, Rachel Gunnoe, Dana Gustafson, Raven Haddix, Jessica Haga, Mary Hall, Stevie Hall, Tyler Hall, Courtney Halpenny, Elliot Halstead, Samuel Hamilton, Alicia Hammond, Alyssa Hanisch, Jaime Hanisch, Gage Hannah, Jonathan Hannigan, Victoria Harper, Brittany Harris, Natascha Harrison, Yasmine Harrison, Nicklaus Hart, Abby Hartley, Kenneth Harvey, Erin Harwood, Brett Hathaway, Ashley Hawkins, Megan Hawkins, Justin Heflin, Cetara Hefner, Donna Hefner, Ashley Helmick, Joseph Helmick, Skylar Herod, Jerica Herrera, Andrew Hess, Scott Hessler, Dorian Hetzel, Anne Hewitt, Cooper Hibbs, Elyssa Hibbs-Loughery, Tesla Hickey, Jerad Hidalgo, Alexis Hillberry, Ashley Hilliard, Brooke Hinerman, Erick Hinerman, Frankie Hinzman, Jessica Hirschkorn, Samantha Hoban, Kristen Hoffman, Ashley Hoffmaster, Teala Holmberg, Emily Holmes, Erica Holster, Shaniah Holtz, Zack Hoover, Hunter Hoskins, Macy Houck, Travis Howard, Audra Hull, Matthew Hunter, Michael Hurt, Justin Hyre, Courtney Iacobacci, Brianna Jackson, Denise James, Ninetta James, Emma Jenkins, Gerlie Jenkins, Megan Jennings, Miranda Jett, Cheyenne Johnson, Dakota Johnson, Emily Johnson, Kaitlyn Johnson, Michael Johnson, Skyler Johnson, Cassandra Johnston, William Johnston, Autumn Jones, David Jones, Hannah Jones, Josie Jones, Lauren Jones, Sara Jones, Ashley Jozwick, Myung Hee Jung, Ashley Keith, Erin Keller, Jared Keller, Bryant Kelley, Natasha Kelley, Mitchell Kelly, Tina Kendall, Harley Kerekes, Mary Key, Laken Kiddy, Brenna Kilgore, Jihyun Kim, Zakary Kimbrew, Colter Kincaid, Michael Kingston, Nicole Kirby, David Kirk, Courtney Kisamore, Katie Kisner, Mark Kisner, David Klug, Brian Knight, Lori Knight, Ethan Knopsnider, Sydney Knotts, Patricia Kovach, Thomas Kovack, Courtney Kress, Lesley Kuffour, Linsey Lamb, Stephanie Lambert, Ruth Lamp, Angie Lane, Melissa Layfield, Matthew Leach, Tierney Leary, Kaleb Leatherman, Jaein Lee, Hannah Lenhart, Aaron Leo, Theodore Leshen, Mary Leutz, Adam Lewis, Christopher Lewis, Danielle Lewis, Landon Lilly, Neil Lindsay, Brandi Linger, Kaetlynn Lipinski, Trenton Littleton, Greg Lloyd, Katherine Lockhart, Tesa Longwell, Antonio Lopez, Salvatore Lopez, Madison Lough, Ashley Lowe, Paige Lucas, Breanna Lynch, Andrew Lyon, Felicity Lyons, Rachaud Maddox, Jeremy Madon, Sabrina Madson, Ashleigh Magee, Rachel Malcomb, Ashley Malone, John Manchin, Amber Mann, Justin Manson, Lacey Marinovich, Clarissa Martin, Sarah Martin, Susan Martin, Zachary Massey, Taylor Masters, Brandon Mathis, Candice May, Kaitlynn Mayle, Kendra Mays, Jacy McCann, Dezirae McCauley, Makenzie McClure, Stacy McCord, Brodi McCoy, Hunter McCoy, Keegun McCullough, Travis McElroy, Brett McFerrin, Shaun McGary, Tyler McGee, Makayla McGuire, Daniel McKee, Alexandria McMeekin, Terry McNear-Jenkins, Jessica McPherson, Brooke McWhirt, Ryan McWhirt, Melanie Mccartney, Makala Meadows, Adam Meeker, Ashley Melton, Derek Meluzio, Miranda Menear, Paige Menendez, Ashton Meyers, Margaret Micale, Remington Michael, Brian Miller, Hunter Miller, James Miller, Martin Miller, Michael Miller, Tysa Miller, Kaitlyn Mills, Hailey Miltenberger, Sami Miltenberger, Joshua Minear, Ria Mitchell, Shayne Mitchell, Brandon Moats, Jared Moats, Garett Mock, Bailey Mohr, Chelvonte Montgomery, Catlynn Moore, Dakota Moore, Jasmine Moore, Jessica Moore, Randy Moore, Sarah Moore, Alec Moran, Kameron Moran, Benjamin Morris, Houston Morris, Rachel Morris, Ruby Morris, Quentin Mouser, Maddie Mullenax, Nathaniel Mullenax, Britany Mullins, Carly Mundie, Alexander Murray, Alex Myers, Eric Myers, Jerri Napfel, Karah Naples, Aaron Nelan, Jessica Nestor, Kathleen Norman, Jessica Nuckols, Dakota Null, Allyson Nutter, Kaylea Nuzum, Katie O'Mara, Easton Odenheimer, Courtney Oliver, Miranda Oliverio, Aric Ooten, Logan Orton, Abigail Ott, Brayden Ours, Christopher Owens, Larissa Owens, Jamie Paletta, Sara Park, Elizabeth Parker, Sara Parks, Presley Parsons, Abigail Pasierb, Angela Pasquale, Ryan Patrick, Timothy Patrick, Harlan Pealer, Alisha Pearcy, Kimberleigh Pearcy, Kayla Pepelea, Emma Perkins, Jennifer Perkins, John Perkins, Levi Perkins, Alexander Petry, Lauren Phillips, Morganne Phillips, Joseph Pierce, Justin Pierce, Isaac Pifer, Kayla Plauger, Kari Plybon, Janalee Poe, David Poling, David Poling, Jessica Poling, Michelle Popoca, Catlinn Porter, Emilea Posey, Victoria Postlewait, Geoffrey Potts, Devon Price, Jordan Price, Alison Pritt, Jeffery Pritt, Emily Puskarich, Tyler Quinn, Taylor Raby, Bethany Ramsey, Ethan Ratkovich, Logan Ratliff, Jennifer Redden, Brian Reed, Jessica Reed, Bethany Reese, Cassandra Rentz, Thomas Retton, Joshua Rexroad, Justin Richter, Brittinee Ridenour, Andrew Ridgway, Brandon Riffee, Sean Riggleman, Evan Riley, Brittany Rimmer, Veronica Rine, Kayla Rinehart, Luke Rinehart, Jeremy Ritter, Kaylee Ritter, Hannah Roberts, Cassady Rodriguez, Carrie Roedersheimer, Kelsey Romain, Tyler Romano, Jessica Romeo, Lacy Root, Meredith Ruetty, Amanda Ruffner, Amber Russell, Breanna Russell, Hannah Rux, Cory Saddler, Brian Sagasti, Justin Sage, Waleed Sagr, Sarah Sakaguchi, Marissa Saltis, Maher Samman, Sasha Sampson, Nicholas Sams, Ryan San Julian, Teewende Sandwidi, Lindsey Sanford, Greta Satterfield, Athena Sayrie, Alyssa Scherich, Heather Schmidt, Sarah Schmidt, Trevor Schoonover, Tyler Scott, Shyann Sears, Jennifer Secure, William Seigler, Levi Senger, Abagail Settembrino, Asim Shaar, Brittany Shaffer, Leila Shaffer, Nicholas Shaffer, Marissa Shanholtz, Dylan Shannon, Julia Shemaitis, Brittany Sheppard, Lindsey Shingleton, Brooke Shockey, Adam Shreve, Geri Signorelli, Derek Silman, Samantha Silva, Victoria Simon, Breanna Sines, Robert Sisk, Alyssa Skidmore, Courtney Sloan, Victoria Smallwood, Benjamin Smith, Cassandra Smith, Collier Smith, Daniel Smith, Debra Smith, Loraine Smith, Tanner Smith, Trey Smith, Valerie Smith, Perry Smithson, Marley Snider, Christina Snodgrass, Amber Snyder, Jason Snyder, Justine Snyder, Kathryn Snyder, William Soles, Natalie Southern, Kennidy Souza, Theodore Sova, Courtney Spears, Matthew Spiker, Logan Sponaugle, Ryan Springer, Caleb Sprout, Lisa Steffich, Ashtyn Stevens, James Stevens, Roberta Stevens, Fernan Stevenson, David Stickel, Justin Stivason, Khrysten Stolins, Emily Stoneking, Isaac Stoop, Nathan Stoop, Faith Stout, Michael Stout, Mary Stover, Harry Streyle, Alyssa Suan, David Sullivan, Donald Summers, Jordan Swiger, Maria Swiger, Sommar Swisher, Dakota Talkington, Jennifer Tassos, Alisa Taylor, Christopher Taylor, Erin Taylor, Marcus Teamer, Jackey Teets, Harleigh Tennant, Kaja Tenney, Joshua Thomas, Nash Thomas, Zoe Thompson, Erinn Thorn, Samuel Tindal, Eric Tobergte, Caitlyn Tobin, Samuel Tonkovich, Candice Travis, Scott Treadway, Joshua Trembly, Angelina Triplett, Cody Triplett, Anthony Trupo, William Tucker, Cara Turley, Cara Turner, Jackie Turner, James Turner, Stephen Tustin, Angelina Underwood, Aaron Uphold, Kayla Uphold, Takawira Ushendibaba, Elroy Van Horn, Hannah Vasicek, Bruce Veltri, Marc Vero, Madeleine Vessels, Dakota Vetter, Abigail Wade, Matthew Wade, Thomas Wagner, Nathaniel Wajler, David Walker, Deidra Walker, Alexander Wallace, Kiana Wallace, Magen Ware, Brandy Watkins, Sarah Watkins, Troy Watkins, Onnie Watson, Zachary Watson, Mackenzie Waugh, Alexander Weaver, Brittney Webb, Tabitha Weekes, Jessica Weekly, Shauntise Weeks, McKenzie Weese, David Wegman, Kaylee Welch, Shammgod Wells, Grace Westfall, Madison Westfall, Maria Westfall, Haley White, Marianna White, Thomas White, Jacob Whitmore, Jackie Wick, Bethany Wiles, Jacob Wiles, Olivia Wiley, Rachel Wiley, Amber Williams, Brycen Williams, Ethan Williams, Jonathan Williams, Toshua Williams, Shawn Williamson, Katelynn Wills, Zachary Wilmoth, Justin Wilson, Olivia Wilson, Jerrica Wilt, Thomas Wimbush, Elizabeth Wimer, Joshua Wine, Ann Marie Witkowski, Kaitlyn Witsaman, Elena Wojcik, Hunter Woods, Miranda Workman, Kenzie Wright, Lynsey Wright, Wesley Wyandt, Jacob Wyatt, Anna Wyont, Katelyn Yoho, Leah Yoho, Matthew Yost, Austin Young, Samantha Young, Hyebin Yu, Sarah Zickefoose.

Fairmont State University, with a 120-acre main campus in Fairmont, W.Va., is part of the state’s growing high technology corridor. A city of about 19,000 people, Fairmont is close to larger cities and also to opportunities for outdoor recreation. Founded in 1865 as a private institution dedicated to educating teachers, FSU has a long history of academic excellence. At FSU, students find a wide range of fields of study with more than 80 four-year programs and graduate programs. With an enrollment of about 4,200, FSU is large enough that students find a vibrant campus life and small enough that they do not get lost in the crowd.

The mission of FSU is to provide opportunities for individuals to achieve their professional and personal goals and discover roles for responsible citizenship that promote the common good. FSU values scholarship, opportunity, achievement and responsibility.

Questions about this list may be submitted to the Office of the Provost by e-mailing Kathleen.Cox@fairmontstate.edu.

Fairmont State University is meeting the challenge of educating professionals in a variety of fields including architecture, criminal justice, business and multiple areas within the field of education. Many fields that once employed graduates with bachelor’s degrees now prefer to hire those with master’s degrees. Choosing to pursue a master’s degree program at FSU represents a commitment to excellence, personal growth and lifelong learning.

Alumni, current FSU students and the public are invited to the Graduate Studies Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Falcon Center second floor Main Street area. Representatives of FSU’s graduate programs will be on hand to answer questions. Admission is free. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Studies at (304) 367-4098 or gradstudies@fairmontstate.edu. Visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/graduatestudies online.

As the demand for highly trained professionals increases, more and more students are choosing to pursue a master’s level degree. The degree, once considered primarily a stepping stone toward a doctorate, is becoming, for many, a terminal degree.

“Many of our students are from West Virginia and would like to earn their bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the same institution close to home. Fairmont State’s smaller class sizes mean students receive more attention from faculty. Our applications-based approach prepares graduate students for their next career or challenge,” said Dr. Jack Kirby, Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Studies. “Fairmont State’s graduate courses are offered in the evenings or online or through a combination of the two, which makes graduate education available and accessible for working adults.”

Graduate Studies at Fairmont State are designed to give students advanced knowledge in a special field of study, higher levels of professional competence, an understanding of and respect for scholarly research and a sophisticated knowledge of the techniques of continued, lifelong intellectual growth. These goals are achieved through coherent, orderly programs of study, investigation and supervised practical experiences that are carefully planned by each individual student in consultation with a graduate faculty advisor.

FSU graduate programs are committed to a student-centered learning environment that emphasizes concrete experiences, intellectual discourse and critical reflection. FSU is small enough to allow each graduate student opportunities for interaction with fellow students and distinguished faculty members, yet large enough to provide challenging and diverse areas of study.

“I always knew that I wanted to work with people hands-on. Working within the criminal justice field, which I’m doing now, allows me to do that and also allows me to help people get back on track and improve their lives. I was initially hired in Randolph County, where I established and ran the Randolph County Adult Drug Court program for two years. I accepted a transfer to my hometown in Upshur County and work with adult and juvenile offenders now,” said John Meadows of Buckhannon, a 2015 graduate of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program.

“The master’s degree program online was great. A lot of the classes are discussion based. You get to hear a lot from your professors, but what’s also neat about it is that you get to hear from other students who are also experienced professionals in the field. You really get into some detailed and in-depth and educational discussions within the class. You know any time you e-mail a teacher he or she is back to you within 24 hours. The criminal justice master’s degree program from Fairmont State University allowed me to receive a high quality education while accommodating my personal schedule, which consisted of family obligations, a full-time job and everything else that goes along with an adult’s everyday life. I was very fortunate and happy to be able to receive that education while balancing all my other life obligations. I would recommend any degree from Fairmont State to anybody with the experience I have had here.”

Meadows was named Most Outstanding Graduate Student in Criminal Justice in 2015 and now works for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in Upshur County.

The Fairmont State University School of Fine Arts and the Masquers theatre group will present “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde’s most popular play, in February in Wallman Hall.

First performed in 1895, the farcical comedy is also a satire on Victorian customs and behaviors. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19; Saturday, Feb. 20; Thursday, Feb. 25; Friday, Feb. 26; and Saturday, Feb. 27. The matinee performance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. For tickets, call the Box Office at (304) 367-4240.

Jack Worthing (played by Gary Hayes) has two lives to live--life as Earnest Worthing in the city and as Jack in the country. In the city Jack meets with his friend Algernon Moncrieff (Stephen Phillips) and over time falls in love with Algernon’s cousin Gwendolyn Fairfax (Shannon Yost), but she knows him as Earnest. In the country Jack is the guardian of Cecily Cardew (Ann Marie Witkowski), but Cecily believes Earnest is Jack’s brother whom she loves. Algernon discovers Jack’s secret and goes to the country to meet Cecily, but Algernon goes by Earnest. When the women discover the lies the men created, they put their proposals on hold, because the name Earnest is what caused them to fall in love. After finding the truth about Jack’s real parents, he then finds his real name is Earnest after all.

Also in the cast, Tyler Kovar plays Lady Bracknell; Samantha Young plays Miss Prism; David Kirk plays Dr. Chasuble; Audrey Moore plays Lane; and Kira Guier plays Merriman.  

The show is the senior project for FSU student Stephen Phillips, the son of Tammy and Carl Phillips, of Romney, formerly of Fairmont. The actor also has appeared on stage as Brom in “Sleepy Hollow,” Jim Hickam in “Rocket Boys,” George Bailey in a readers’ theatre of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Gary Lefkowitz in “I Hate Hamlet.”

“The style of the language is challenging. It is so different from our way of speaking. I am really working hard on bringing the language to life. It’s the pace and the word play that make this play funny,” Phillips said. 

Three Fairmont State University senior History majors attended the national Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Conference in Orlando on Jan. 6-10 and presented academic papers.

“We’ve had students present at some of the smaller regional conferences in the past, but this was the first time we’ve had students present at the national conference,” said Dr. Robin Payne, Assistant Professor of History and faculty advisor for the FSU Phi Alpha Theta chapter.

The three students are members of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. Each had recently completed substantial original research projects and was selected to represent the University.

The following students presented their work:

• Angelica Chase of Charleston, “From Contraband Contraceptives to Birth Control for All: Margaret Sanger's Role in Reproductive Rights in America.”
• Nathan Napier of Pennsboro, “Forging the 8-Bit Path: From Atari’s Ashes to Nintendo’s Golden Age.”
• Tyler Poff of Summersville, “Peace, Love, and Uranium: The Counterculture Clashes with the Atomic Age.”

Payne chaired three panels as a faculty moderator at the conference. 

For more information about the History program at FSU, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/collegeofliberalarts/academics/history-program.

The Fairmont State University community and the Department of Language and Literature welcome to campus a visiting scholar from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications whose year-long residency will begin Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Han Xiaohau, a professor of English, will teach a class on Chinese culture at FSU and, with the guidance of Dr. J. Robert Baker, will conduct research on teaching methodology and the study of American literature.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for FSU. In the Department of Language and Literature, we are very excited that Han will be joining us, for she will be a great addition to the department and will help us and our students to expand our global awareness. She will be offering a class in the spring on Chinese culture and another in the fall in Mandarin,” Baker said.

Han has been teaching College English, particularly English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading and writing to non-English majors, for 12 years and is excited for the opportunity to develop her skills and to teach at FSU. At Beijing University, Han also teaches a 32-hour, senior-level optional course called “Selective Readings of American Short Stories.”

“My current teaching and research is focused on the methods of teaching composition, the designing of effective classroom activities and the approaches to developing critical thinking through reading literature,” Han said.

“As to my course on Chinese culture, I’m thinking of introducing ancient Chinese history and some Confucian and Taoist ideas, which have greatly influenced Chinese and East Asian culture. I’ve also prepared some materials for Chinese calligraphy, painting, paper cutting and traditional festive decoration.”

Her visit is sponsored by the Chinese Scholarship Council, a non-profit organization seeking to provide financial assistance to Chinese citizens who want to study abroad and international students who want to study in China. Its goal is to further the academic and cultural exchanges between China and other countries in order to bring about positive change.

Han contacted the Department of Language and Literature over the summer about her interest to attend literature lectures and observe classroom activities and collaborate with faculty members and conduct research.

Han has been granted authorization to come to the United States with a J-1 visa for visiting scholars. FSU is the first institution in the new West Virginia HEPC J-1 Consortium, directed by Dr. Clark Egnor, to receive a J-1 visitor.  Dr. Erin Hippolyte, International Study Coordinator at FSU, is the local reporting officer for the Consortium.

West Virginia students can get free help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other college financial aid forms during College Goal Sunday on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at 25 locations across the state, including the Gaston Caperton Center, 501 West Main St., Clarksburg.

FSU staff from the Office of Admissions and Recruitment and the Office of Financial Aid will assist with College Goal Sunday at the Caperton Center on Feb. 21. In addition to this event, the Fairmont State Office of Financial Aid is offering free FAFSA assistance to FSU students and their families in Room 304, the third floor computer lab in the Falcon Center, on main campus from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24. Financial aid counselors also will provide financial literacy information on the second floor Main Street area of the Falcon Center from 9 to 11 a.m. on these dates. To contact the FSU Office of Financial Aid, call (304) 367-4141 or e-mail FinancialAid@fairmontstate.edu.

 “Completing the FAFSA is a critical step for anyone considering going to college,” said Brian Weingart, Senior Director of Financial Aid at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. “Students must submit this form in order to be considered for a variety of financial aid programs including state and federal grants, scholarships and loans.”

Anyone who is planning to pursue some form of education and training beyond high school within the next year should complete the FAFSA. That includes high school seniors, current college students and adults thinking about earning a degree or skill certificate. College Goal Sunday workshops are open to students of any age or income-level.

The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) coordinates the event. Students can pre-register, find locations and view a list of items to bring by visiting www.cfwv.com, the state’s free college- and career-planning web site. Students can also receive free help by calling the state’s financial aid hotline at (888) 825-5707.

Students and families should bring a driver’s license, both the student’s and parent’s Social Security number, 2015 tax records (or 2014 records if 2015 forms are not yet available), 2015 untaxed income records and information about investments and bank account balances.

All information that is provided will be submitted through the federal government’s secure FAFSA network. Volunteers at College Goal Sunday sites are professionals who will keep students’ and families’ financial information and personal details private.

CFWV is coordinated by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and supported by the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts. College Goal Sunday is made possible through the efforts of more than 350 volunteers and the resources of public and non-profit organizations and businesses across the state, including the West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and college access organizations such as TRIO and GEAR UP. 

The Gaston Caperton Center offers classes for Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College. For more information about the Caperton Center, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/about/capertoncenter. For more information about FSU, visit www.fairmontstate.edu.

The North Central West Virginia Regional Science and Engineering Fair is now accepting registrations.

Students in grades six through 12 from Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur counties are encouraged to enter.  The fair will be held Feb. 27, 2016, on the Fairmont State University main campus in Fairmont. 

The community in encouraged to support this fair by visiting the projects from 11until 11:30 a.m. An awards ceremony will follow.

To register for the fair or for additional details, please visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/collegeofscitech/outreach/regional-math-science-and-energy-fair or call (304) 367-4627.

The Fairmont State University Department of Visual Art presents an exhibition of historic and contemporary pottery from Seagrove, N.C., on campus in the James David Brooks Gallery in Wallman Hall in February and March.

The exhibition, titled “Seagrove: Then and Now,” is curated by FSU alumnus and current North Carolina Pottery Center Artist-in-Residence Josh Floyd. The exhibition will open Feb. 22 and run through March 11, with a closing reception at noon March 10. The show on the fourth floor of Wallman Hall will be open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Work by the artists will be for sale. For more information, call (304) 367-4219.

The exhibit will highlight the significance of Seagrove as a “Pottery Town,” which boasts of nearly 80 pottery shops in the area. Several historic works from the region will be on loan from the North Carolina Pottery Center’s extensive permanent collection, and the selected historic works represent several time periods, reflecting significant changes in styles and aesthetics of the Seagrove area potteries.

To complement the historic pieces, Floyd has also invited 15 area contemporary ceramic studios to exhibit, providing a glimpse into the wealth and diversity of pottery and sculpture currently being made in the Seagrove area. Works from historic potteries such as the Cravens of the late 1800s, 1950s era Jugtown Pottery and Seagrove Pottery of Walt and Dorothy Aulman will be shown alongside the contemporary sculptural work of Carol Gentithes and Fred Johnston, as well as the wood fired pots of Ben Owen III, Daniel Johnston and David Stuempfle. For a complete listing of artists and work, along with images and more content, visit the FSU Fine Arts Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FairmontStateVisualArt. 

“Curating this exhibition has been a wonderful opportunity for me to begin to scratch the surface of Seagrove’s rich history, from the influence of early Moravian potters of the 1700s through to the revivals of the early 1900s and beyond. It has also enabled me to reach out to a thriving community of contemporary artists, many of whom are well known outside the boundaries of Seagrove. As I’ve begun learning the stories behind how and why some folks decided to settle here, I can begin to connect the dots of how this place has influenced their work,” Floyd said.

The public is invited to view this special exhibition of contemporary and historically significant ceramic work from one of the most vibrant, dynamic and productive art enclaves on the East Coast. 

About the attached photos:

Ash Glaze Carved Pear Vase- woodfired-7x3.5x11

Ben Owens III

Picasso Fighting His Imagery- Hand-built earthenware with slips and glaze- 8x5x7

Carol Gentithes-Johnston and Gentithes Studios

A group of students in Morgantown will be the first to benefit from an EnergyMakers Middle School Program funded by a $15,000 Remake Learning grant from The Sprout Fund.

Made possible through the leading support of the Grable Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the grant from Sprout was awarded to the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. on behalf of the project partners--the FSU School of Education, Health and Human Performance, the FSU Professional Development Schools Partnership and TEKids.

The EnergyMakers Middle School Program (EMMSP) will promote responsible fossil fuel use and environmental stewardship through the development of microprocessor air quality monitors that upload data to a public web site. Using community-based participatory research methods, students will collect and analyze data, identify problems and design solutions related to air quality. The funding will support the design and launch of the first EMMSP program in a portfolio of classes designed for a new middle school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) immersion learning track called STEAMIT. Mountaineer Middle School in Morgantown will participate in the pilot program. The three MMS participating teachers are Robyn Addie, Marie Alan and Joy Kiehl. They hope to implement the program in their classrooms in April.

“At Mountaineer Middle School, the EnergyMakers curriculum is an integral part of what we are doing there to include all students in STEM and STEAM opportunities,” Addie said.

TEKids of Morgantown is an organization that has been creating and providing afterschool, summer and weekend Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) -related programs for K-12 students in North Central West Virginia since 2012. Sara Fieldson, Director of Community Outreach for TEKids, was lead author on the grant and will serve as project director.

“It’s a change for TEKids. Our programs used to take place only after school. Thanks to the grant from The Sprout Fund, our reach for children is greater and now we are able to enter into Mountaineer Middle School for this pilot program. The grant has helped our program become more effective now that we're able to provide classroom teachers with professional development sessions and to equip students with supplies they need,” Fieldson said.

Dr. Denise Lindstrom and Dr. Jeremy Price, FSU faculty members, will serve as curricular and evaluation consultants for the project, as well as provide support in building a learning community among the teachers involved.

“We’re trying to develop curriculum at the middle school level that promotes connected learning, getting students connected with experts and mentors in the community to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields,” said Dr. Denise Lindstrom, Assistant Professor of Education at FSU. “One thing that makes this project different is that we hope to capture the youth voice, to use digital and social media to allow youth to get their voices heard in the community. Students will be creating a public service announcement to raise awareness of air quality and to share their solutions to the challenges faced.”

The EMMSP shares its focus on energy with the EnergyMakers program, a STEM education project supported by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation that initially focuses on third-through fifth-grade students and educators in the Fairmont State Professional Development Schools Partnership and the schools of Ohio County.

On Jan. 11 and 12, teachers participating in the EMMSP and the Benedum Foundation funded EnergyMakers program had a professional development opportunity involving talking with scientists at the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the Department of Energy in Morgantown about fossil fuel production and alternative energy.

“One of the things I have found exciting is that we are learning so much as teachers by participating in this pilot project,” said Kiehl, a STEAMIT MMS teacher.

The mission of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., is to support, through ethical stewardship, the mission of Fairmont State University. The Foundation will identify, establish and cultivate meaningful relationships with Fairmont State alumni, as well as potential and existing funding constituencies to meet contributor needs while securing funds and supporters for priority objectives identified by the Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.fsufoundation.org.

The mission of Fairmont State University is to provide opportunities for individuals to achieve their professional and personal goals and discover roles for responsible citizenship that promote the common good. In its overarching desire to help transform lives, Fairmont State University values scholarship, opportunity, achievement and responsibility. For more information about the School of Education, Health and Human Performance, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/schoolofeducation/.

About the photo:

Pictured from left to right are Sara Fieldson of TEKids and Robyn Addie and Joy Kiehl of Mountaineer Middle School.

Two Fairmont State University students and a faculty member presented a poster at the Center for Chemical Innovation Solar Fuels Annual Meeting in Newport Beach, Calif., on Feb. 5 through 7.

Kevin Dudley of Elkins, a senior Chemistry major; Allison Moore of Fairmont, a first-year Pre-Medicine student; and Dr. Erica Harvey, Professor of Chemistry, were invited to the event hosted by the California Institute of Technology to present a poster about their work with the Solar Army: West Virginia Brigade. On the national level, the Solar Army is an outreach branch of the NSF Center for Chemical Innovation in Solar Fuels. The goal of The Solar Army is to capture the energy in sunlight and use it to split water and yield a chemical fuel, hydrogen. Through outreach projects like the one in West Virginia that FSU is leading, high school and college students can join in the search for catalysts that are needed to aid in this process.

“Kevin presented his really cool, new 3D-printed sample holder for an instrument used across the Solar Army. Several high school and college groups asked us to send the CAD files for the design as soon as possible so they can start using this sample holder,” Harvey said.

Dudley and Moore also shared information about outreach work the Solar Army: West Virginia Brigade has been doing across the state. In front of all the conference attendees including leading researchers in the field, both students gave one-minute “pop talks” about their work, using language and images intended for communicating with the general public.

“I was incredibly proud of how brave and competent they were, and they were very well received,” Harvey said.

Support for travel to the conference was provided by CCI Solar through Dr. Jenny Schuttlefield of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, by Dr. Don Trisel and the School of Science and Technology and by Dr. J. Robert Baker and the Honors Program.

For more information, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/solararmywv or www.thesolararmy.org.

In collaboration with the Fairmont State University School of Fine Arts and the Fairmont Community Development Partnership’s Business Excelerator, FSU Gallery Management students Jessica DeBerry, Allison Gay and Christy Thompson present “Everything Abstract,” located at Gallery 517 in downtown Fairmont, 517 Fairmont Ave.

Gallery 517, which is an FSU student driven gallery space, does not have set hours. Those who would like to visit should contact Andrea Salina at (304) 614-2247. Admission is free and open to the public. The exhibition opened Feb. 15 and will run through March 10 with a reception scheduled for at 6 p.m. March 4 at Gallery 517.

The exhibition call for work was open for current Fairmont State Art students and could consist of any 2D medium that revolved around an abstract theme. The show includes 15 pieces and a variety of media including watercolor, printmaking, oil painting and mixed media paintings. The space at 517 is an excellent opportunity for students to be able to showcase their work off campus. The School of Fine Arts students featured in “Everything Abstract” include Martin Guererro, Sam Saunders, Loraine Smith, Ashley Melton, Quinn DeWalick, Hannah Lenhart, Ali McIntire, Jessica DeBerry and Allison Gay.

For more information on “Everything Abstract” or Gallery 517, visit the Fairmont State University Visual Arts Facebook page.

In collaboration with the Fairmont State University School of Fine Arts and the Fairmont Community Development Partnership’s Business Excelerator, FSU Gallery Management students present an exhibition titled “Fantastical Imagery” at Gallery 517, 517 Fairmont Ave.

FSU Gallery Management students Lila Rocovich, Loraine Smith and Sofia Graziano have curated the new show curating work that focuses on exaggerating the elements of art and design by students and alumni.

Gallery 517, which is an FSU student driven gallery space, does not have set hours. Those who would like to visit should contact Andrea Salina at (304) 614-2247. Admission is free and open to the public. The exhibit is now open, and a reception is planned for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22.

The call for art encompassed a wide variety of work that focuses on the elements essential to being successful in art and design. Work selected for the exhibit promotes a focus on one or more of these principles and pushing that fundamental to the extreme such as color, shape and many others. The pieces on show at Gallery 517 are intended to overwhelm the senses with visual information and saturation by pushing these core concepts that students learn early in their career as artists to the extreme. Artists included are Jessica DeBerry, Anna Wyont, Loraine Smith, Amanda Jo Marino, Hannah Lenhart, Lila Rocovich and many other Fairmont State students. 

For more information, contact Loraine Smith at lsmith32@students.fairmontstate.edu or visit the Fairmont State University Visual Arts Facebook page.

About the photo:

Artist: Loraine Smith

“untitled,” 2015

The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University was awarded an Organizational Medallion for Excellence in Support of the Arts during the Governor’s Arts Awards Gala at the Culture Center on Thursday, March 10.

Sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, the event celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the Division of Culture and History, Director of Arts Renee Margocee and Commission on the Arts Chair Susan Landis presented etched glass medallions to 50 individuals and 50 organizations whose work in respective fields exemplifies the importance of art in our lives.

“The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center is honored to be included among this distinguished group of our state’s artists and art supporters,” said Pat Musick, Interim Director of the Folklife Center.

“The Center houses a library; classes for FSU’s Museum Studies and Folklore Studies minors; exhibitions, lectures and performances in our Great Room of Cultures and gallery spaces; and archives including heritage textiles, pottery, antique photographs, Ruth Ann Musick’s collected folklore, Patty Looman’s folk music estate and the Phyllis Wilson Moore West Virginia literary collection. It’s a tribute to West Virginia’s cultural diversity that our rich folk heritage and contemporary arts are honored together in this year’s Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. This award recognizes the Folklife Center as part of the richness of the arts  in the Mountain State, along with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Mountain Stage, the WVU Art Museum and theater, dance, visual arts, music, poetry and traditional folk arts from all over West Virginia.”

The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University is dedicated to the identification, preservation and perpetuation of our region’s rich cultural heritage, through academic studies, educational programs, festivals and performances and publications. For more information about the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/folklife.

About the photo: From left to right are Patricia Musick and student Christy Thompson.