Don’t let the process of completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) scare you. Staff from the Fairmont State University Office of Financial Aid have planned several times this week to meet in person with students and their families on campus.

“Federal changes in effect this year mean that students and their families can complete a FAFSA now for the 2017-2018 academic year instead of having to wait until January 2017,” said Tresa Weimer, Director of Financial Aid. “Another change that will simplify the filing process is that the 2017-2018 FAFSA will use financial information from 2015, which is likely easier for families to access through the IRS data retrieval tool.”

FSU has scheduled three FAFSA completion workshops for the week of Oct. 31. Financial Aid counselors will be on hand to personally assist students and their families at these dates and times:

• Tuesday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room 215, Turley Student Services Center.
• Wednesday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room 215, Turley Student Services Center.
• Thursday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room 215, Turley Student Services Center.

“The earlier you file the FAFSA the better. This ensures that you do not miss deadlines or opportunities for various types of financial aid assistance,” Weimer said. “Filling earlier also allows students who are filing the FAFSA for the first time to better plan financially for their education costs.”

            For more information or to contact the Office of Financial Aid at Fairmont State, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/finaid/ or call (304) 367-4141 or (800) 641-5678, Opt. 2.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has proclaimed this week as "College Application and Exploration Week" in recognition of the statewide campaign organized by the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV). Staff from nearly 450 schools will host college-planning activities throughout the week to help students consider their postsecondary education opportunities.

Students who attend participating schools - from pre-schools to centers for adult learners - will learn the importance of pursuing some form of education or training beyond high school and the types of opportunities that are available in West Virginia, including certificate and technical programs, two- and four-year degree programs and military service. School staff and community volunteers will help students complete applications to the postsecondary institutions of their choosing.

"College Application and Exploration Week helps bring awareness to the wide variety of educational pathways students can pursue after high school," Gov. Tomblin said. "While some students opt to attend one of our state's two- or four-year institutions, many decide to enter the military or a trade school. What's most important is that students pursue some type of education after high school so West Virginia's workforce can remain competitive and our economy can grow stronger."

"The benefits of earning an education beyond high school are invaluable," Dr. Paul Hill, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, said. "Not only do college graduates earn millions of dollars more in their lifetimes than high school graduates, but they also tend to live healthier lifestyles and remain employed, even when the job market isn't ideal. More than half of jobs created in West Virginia will require some form of college education by 2020, and College Application and Exploration Week helps students consider all their options."

CFWV is a college- and career-planning initiative managed by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in conjunction with the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.

More information about College Application and Exploration Week can be found at CFWV.com, the state's free college- and career-planning web portal.

The new Part-Time Weekend ASN Program option starting in January 2017 at Fairmont State University will allow working adults to become registered nurses while attending classes on the weekends.

Designed for those who cannot attend regular classes due to personal or professional obligations, the new program offers classes and clinicals every other weekend along with online general education and support courses. Students in the program take a total of six part-time semesters in the spring and fall with summers off to recoup and re-energize. Students can earn an Associate Degree in Nursing in three years.

“We’re really excited about this new program,” said Dr. Sharon Boni, Dean of the School of Nursing at FSU. “I may be a little partial, but I think it’s one of the best programs in the state. We have a very high pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and a very high employment rate for our RNs once they graduate. The program is solid. We are nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. Our students do very well.”

Boni said that as the baby boomer generation ages, the demand for nurses will continue to grow. Registered nurses find jobs in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient departments; physician offices; outpatient clinics and care centers; nursing care facilities; home healthcare services; employment services; and government agencies.

“Anyone who wants a job in nursing can find a job. Graduates can take a position anywhere in the U.S. and switch jobs easily from one part of nursing to another,” she said. “You never get bored in nursing. You can always change from one unit to another, one area of nursing to another or go into politics or education. Just about anything you want to do, you can do with a nursing license.”

“We do have scholarships available for students coming into any of our programs, and financial aid is available. After students are in the program for two semesters, they can get jobs as nurse externs if they want to work in a hospital. Don’t let financial worries stop you from pursuing this program,” Boni said.

The class size is limited, so those interested in the new program should apply today for admission to FSU: https://www.fairmontstate.edu/apply. For more information, visit https://www.fairmontstate.edu/schoolofnursing/academics/associate-degree-program.

The FSU School of Nursing offers two other options for those interested in becoming a registered nurse. The Traditional ASN Program is best suited for students who can attend classes and clinicals through the week and is four full-time semesters over the fall and spring. The Nontraditional LPN-ASN Program is for licensed practical nurses who can attend online courses for two to three evenings a week and clinicals two Fridays a month. The Nontraditional program option is three full-time semesters from fall to fall.

Fairmont State University will host hundreds of future Falcons and their families for Maroon and White Day, the University’s fall campus visitation day, on Saturday, Nov. 12.

Held in the fall and the spring for students of all ages who are deciding where to continue their education and their families, Maroon and White Day is an opportunity for prospective students to check out Fairmont State and its more than 80 academic programs. To register for the event, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/cvd. For those who can’t attend the Nov. 12 event, other visitation options are available at https://www.fairmontstate.edu/admit/visit-us.

“We are looking forward to welcoming students and guests for Maroon and White Day,” said Christy Burner, Assistant Director of Admissions and Recruitment and Special Events Coordinator. “It’s not too late to register. We hope our guests will enjoy the day and get to know us. Fairmont State offers a wide variety of high quality and affordable academic programs. For many of our students, finding such a value close to home is an added attraction.”

The event begins with check-in at the first floor lobby of the Falcon Center from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. FSU President Maria Rose, Student Government Association President James Jesmer and others will welcome students and their guests from 9 to 9:30 a.m.

From 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can choose interactive sessions and take tours of campus and residence halls. Sessions will provide information about admissions, financial aid, veterans affairs and housing. Special sessions will be offered on topics such as student life and the Honors program. Prospective students who want to participate in Admissions on the Spot will have their application fee waived. FAFSA completion assistance also will be available at the event. Those who attend will have the opportunity to meet faculty members and learn about academic programs at the Academic Fair from 9:30 a.m. to noon. A complimentary lunch will be offered by Dining Services in the Falcon Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“As one of West Virginia’s largest universities, Fairmont State offers many resources but is also small enough that students find the personal attention they need from faculty. Our 17:1 student to faculty ratio means that professors remember students’ names and students get to know their peers,” said Amie Fazalare, Director of Admissions and Recruitment.

Fairmont State University, with a 120-acre main campus in Fairmont, is located along the state’s growing high technology corridor. With its more than 150-year history of academic excellence, FSU is a place where teaching and learning matter and students are the first priority.

Over the past decade, the main campus has been expanded with new construction including an Engineering Technology Building, student center, residence hall, parking garage, improved library facility and significant ADA accessibility improvements.

With an enrollment of about 4,100, FSU offers six associate degrees, more than 80 baccalaureate degrees, as well as graduate programs in architecture, business, criminal justice and education. Unique programs include National Security and Intelligence and Aviation Technology and minors in Folklore Studies and Museum Studies. With approximately 200 full-time faculty, the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. The institution is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Visit www.fairmontstate.edu.

The Fairmont State University Department of Music will present the fifth annual Fête de Noël holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in Colebank Hall.

Tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for senior adults and FSU faculty/staff and free for students and children. For tickets or more information, contact the Fairmont State Box Office at (304) 367-4240. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The Fête de Noël is filled with variety, including numerous holiday favorites. The concert will include performances by the Collegiate Singers, Chamber Choir, African Drum and Dance Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. It will also feature solos by FSU music students and kids from the Academy for the Arts. Donations for the Soup Opera will be accepted at the concert. Audience members can donate new sweatshirts, toboggans, gloves, mittens, socks and toys or make a cash donation.

“It is a wonderful program that we are proud to share each year with the Fairmont community. There is sure to be something for everyone,” said Anne Patterson, Coordinator of the Department of Music. “We are also pleased to help Fairmont’s Soup Opera by collecting donations for their Christmas gift distribution at the concert.”

The Fairmont State University Math Department recently hosted a guest speaker, Dr. Patrick Juola, a professor of computer science from Duquesne University, who gave a lecture titled "The History of Secrets: Cryptography and Privacy.”

The main theme of his talk was that we use cryptography to hide "secrets" from "bad guys" -- but what a "secret" is and who the "bad guy" is depends on context. This can be as innocent as hiding your grades from your parents, hiding your credit card information from hackers or as serious as obscuring the plan for a terrorist attack from the police. The discussion of cryptography leads to many interesting mathematical and political questions.

Juola's lecture discussed the history of cryptography from ancient to modern times. He begin with the so-called "Caesar cipher," named after the Roman general Julius Caesar who used the cipher to hide his messages from his enemies. Caesar ciphers are the foundation of "secret decoder ring" toys; the process works by replacing each letter in a secret message one-to-one with other letters. After that, Juola discussed the "Vigenère cipher" (circa the 16th century) which links together multiple Caesar ciphers to encrypt data.

The Vigenère cipher was thought to be unbreakable ("le chiffre indéchiffrable") until the late 19th century. In the first half of the 20th century, cryptography was used by all armies during the world wars. Famously, the "Engima machine" was used by the Nazis to encrypt their messages. The British mathematician Alan Turing (recently popularized in the movie "The Imitation Game") broke the Nazis' cryptography which led to the Allies being able to read their secrets to get a military advantage.

All of these old encryption methods are now useless -- a common cell phone can decrypt them in seconds. This led to more modern methods of encryption that are more resistant to decryption by computers. The "data encryption standard" (DES) was defined in 1976 by the National Security Agency (NSA) as the official encryption method of the government of the United States. However in the late 1990s, DES was shown by researchers to be theoretically insecure. This lead to the modern "advanced encryption standard" (AES) which became the standard encryption for use by the United States government in 2002.

 From Caesar's time to modern day, encryption has been intimately tied with military applications. Until 1992 "Information Security Systems and equipment, cryptographic devices, software and components" were restricted in the "United States Munitions List" for export out of the country. These rules were eventually relaxed. This led to the use of cryptographic methods by the average citizen to keep personal information secure from hackers.

Everyone who uses the internet uses cryptography in some way: any time you use a credit card online or see "https" at the beginning of a website URL (not just "http"), there is encryption involved.

The ability to hide information is not necessarily a universal good. During the aftermath of the December 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack, the FBI asked Apple to decrypt an iPhone tied to the suspects. The iPhone potentially contained information that was obscured by the strong encryption built into the phone, and so whatever information that existed was not easily accessible. Apple refused to help the FBI decrypt the iPhone, citing the security of their customers. This event brought the political questions of cryptography into public discussion.

Juola's lecture ended with some food for thought. Should every human have the right to strong cryptography and be able to hide secrets? If not, how should they be restricted? Is it mathematically possible to have a cryptographic system that is breakable by the police but not by citizens (a "back door")? Is security more important than privacy?

With the nation’s focus on energy independence and sustainability, it’s important to promote the benefits of science and math among high school youth. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown and Fairmont State University, RESA 7 will hold its annual Local Science Bowl – a math and science tournament-style competition - at FSU’s Engineering Technology Building on Thursday, Dec. 8. Competition in the double elimination tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Each year all twelve RESA 7 counties are invited to participate in the event. Sixteen teams of high school students representing four RESA 7 counties will test their knowledge of science and vie for a spot to compete in the 2017 WV Science Bowl Regional competition February 3-4, 2017 on the campus of West Virginia University. First, second and third place winners will advance to the 2017 WVSB Regional Competition. Winners of the Regional Competition will go on to compete at the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. April 27-May 1.

All schools had an opportunity to bring two teams to this year’s competition. The following RESA 7 schools will be competing in the event: Bridgeport High (2 teams), Clay-Battelle High (1 team), Elkins High (2 teams), Lewis County High (2 teams), Liberty High (2 teams), Morgantown High (2 teams), Notre Dame High (1 team), South Harrison High (2 teams) and University High (2 teams).

The regional and national events encourage student involvement in math and science, improve awareness of career options in science and technology and provide an avenue of enrichment, reward and recognition for academic science achievement.

About Science Bowl

Science Bowl is a fast-paced, verbal competition where students answer questions at random from the following subject areas: astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, as well as earth and general sciences. Teams range from those that practice rigorously for this year's event to those fine-tuning their skills for next year. Science Bowl is a proven tool that encourages high school students to excel in math and science and to pursue careers in those fields. By raising the visibility of academic achievement in the sciences, the program has been successful in placing these young people on a par with their peers who excel in athletics.

Community Health Education students are spending the 2016-2017 academic year identifying health and safety needs in Richwood, W.Va., one of the communities affected by the historic flooding in June 2016.

In October, Dr. Amy Sidwell, Assistant Professor of Health Education and Physical Education in the FSU School of Education, Health and Human Performance, and Dr. Janie Leary, Assistant Professor of Community Health Education, took a team of students to Richwood to interview residents and determine the town’s ongoing community health recovery needs.

On Dec. 1, the FSU team returned to Richwood to present the students' needs assessment findings and enjoy lunch at a community forum. Representatives from the mayor's office, West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources, Rebuild Richwood and the mental health team attended. They provided the FSU class with important information and feedback that they will use to plan spring semester projects.  

“It was a powerful experience for all of us,” Sidwell said. “The morning was spent sorting clothing for donations, distributing food from a food pantry and cleaning/organizing a 100-year-old building that is being converted into a Starting Points childcare center to replace the community’s center that was destroyed by the flood.”

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 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, 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.

All Fairmont State University offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, through Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, for winter break.

Faculty return for Professional Development Week on Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 11-13, 2017.

Fairmont State is closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes begin for the spring 2017 semester on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017.

The Fairmont State University Department of Art announces the solo exhibition “Drawing as Muse” by artist Glenn Goldberg will be on display in January and February in Wallman Hall. 

The JD Brooks Gallery, located on the fourth floor of Wallman Hall, is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The exhibition will run from Jan. 17 through Feb. 10, with an opening reception and gallery talk at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. The event and admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.

Glenn Goldberg was born in the Bronx, lives in New York and works in Brooklyn. He debuted at the legendary Willard Gallery in 1985 and exhibited at Knoedler & Co, Inc. for a decade until 1997. He has had one-person exhibitions at Dart Gallery in Chicago, Barbara Krakow Gallery in Boston and Hill Gallery in Birmingham, Mich. His most recent one-person exhibitions in New York have been at Jason McCoy Gallery, Betty Cuningham Gallery and Freedman Art. He had a solo booth in the Art on Paper Fair in New York in 2016 of pulp works executed with Paul Wong of Dieu Donne.

He completed an Artist in Residence award at Urban Glass in Brooklyn in 2016, and Goldberg's work has been reviewed in major publications such as the New York Times, ArtForum, Art in America, Art News and the New Yorker magazine. A Guggenheim Fellow and recent recipient of a Joan Mitchell Award in 2016, his work resides in the public collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The High Museum in Atlanta, The Metropolitan Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, The National Academy of Arts and Letters, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art Kansas City, the Rose Art Museum, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Whitney Museum, The Bronx Museum and numerous private collections. 

About the image:

“blue one,” 6 x 4 inches; pencil, ink, watercolor on paper

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia's state colleges and universities are retaining more students and have generated record numbers of graduates in recent years, thanks to statewide efforts to improve student success. However, continued positive results could be hindered by budget challenges and increased tuition costs, state higher education officials told members of Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) today.

During the meeting, representatives from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and West Virginia Community and Technical College System (CTCS) provided an overview of findings from the annual West Virginia Higher Education Report Card, a report which, they say, offers evidence of steady progress toward addressing the state’s evolving workforce and community needs.

“Underneath all of the statistics, the 2016 Report Card tells a story of faculty and staff working tirelessly, day in and day out, to support West Virginia’s students, families and communities,” Dr. Paul Hill, Chancellor of the Commission, said. “Over the past five years, the Policy Commission, Community College Council, and our schools have focused relentlessly on improving access to higher education, supporting our students and fostering research and economic development. This report shows our efforts are making headway.”

The report's findings include 

• Increases in college retention (the highest rate in the past five years);
• A record number of degrees awarded;
• Huge gains in the completion rates of entry-level math and English courses;
• Improved retention and graduate rates for low-income and minority students;
• Reduced student loan default rates; and 
• Increases in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduates (up 12 percent since 2010). 

“These gains are reflective of the strong emphasis our system has placed on college access and success,” Dr. Sarah Tucker, Chancellor of the CTCS said. “West Virginia needs more college graduates to meet workforce demands and grow our economy. I am very proud of the work we are doing to address that need and to extend the life-changing opportunities a college education provides to more students.”

The two agencies have recently employed several outreach and policy initiatives to assist students in enrolling in college and to promote college completion and success. For example, the Commission’s federally funded West Virginia "Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)” program provides college mentoring and planning services to middle and high school students in ten counties. The statewide College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) initiative offers information, including text message counseling, to help students understand college options and navigate the application and enrollment processes. And recent policy changes overhauling the delivery of developmental education and encouraging students to enroll in a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester are showing promising results toward raising college graduation rates.

While the report showed signs of improvement, officials also cautioned that the system faces significant challenges including relatively flat enrollment and shrinking financial resources leading to continual tuition increases.

“Enrollment among adult learners is particularly troubling,” Dr. Tucker said “During the most recent recession, we saw these students flock to our campuses. But, as the economy improved, enrollment among that population declined sharply. If we are serious about moving West Virginia’s economy forward, we must retrain adults for the jobs of the future and better align our educational programs to meet workforce needs.” 

Dr. Tucker pointed to two recent programs, highlighted in the Report Card, as promising pathways toward meeting those goals. The first, a pilot project with the Department of Health and Human Resources, encourages individuals who receive funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to enroll in community college programs in in-demand fields. The second, the Bridging the Gap consortium funded through a federal grant from the Department of Labor, focuses on retraining adults — in particular displaced workers and veterans — for high-wage, high-demand jobs within the areas of energy, manufacturing, construction and information technology. More than 155 students participated in the TANF training program in 2016, and nearly 4,000 students have participated in the Bridging the Gap initiative since it began three years ago.

Though the agencies have been working hard to extend higher education opportunities to more West Virginians,  Dr. Hill noted that recent budget cuts, amounting to more than 14 percent across the system over the past four years, have forced campuses to make tough choices in regards to both tuition and programs and services.

“Many areas of our state are struggling financially and our campuses have struggled, too,” Dr. Hill said. To make up for shortfalls, our institutions have had to find additional revenue sources and look to increases in tuition. These trends are worrisome because I fear concerns over cost and debt will hinder our students from pursuing the education and training they need to thrive and grow our communities."

To help campuses do more with less, the Commission and CTCS have been working to facilitate shared services, streamline administrative processes and eliminate unnecessary rules and regulations. In the last year alone, the agencies have worked with the Legislature to cut more than 25 procedural and legislative rules, interpretive memoranda and reporting requirements.

“We can’t allow shrinking resources to kill our productivity,” Dr. Hill said. “So, even in the face of declining resources, we are moving forward with our goal to double the number of degrees produced in the state by 2025. Now, more than ever, West Virginia needs a strong higher education system producing skilled, knowledgeable graduates. The future of our state depends on it."

A copy of the 2016 West Virginia Higher Education Report Card is available here: http://www.wvhepc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Report-Card.pdf

Note: This information is from a press release distributed by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission, www.wvhepc.edu.

A total of 1,254 students have been honored for their academic achievement at Fairmont State University after completing the fall 2016 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.      

FSU School of Graduate Studies: President’s List

Aja Gosper, Alisha Vincent, Alyssa Swiger, Amanda Marshall, Amanda Smith, Amy Jeffrey, Andrea Sizemore, Angela Losh, Ann Post, Anthony Severino, Brandon Brown, Breanna Gower, Brianna Jackson, Camai Mazzulla, Chelsea Holcomb, Corey Orban, Courtney King, Courtney Lambert, Daniel Garvin, Daniele Wilfong, Derek Pugh, Elizabeth Furner, Elizabeth Snyder, Gregory Crickard, Heather Bell, Holly Stutler, Ivy Harbert, Jade Angeline, James Logue, Kellie Cole, Kerri Childs, Kim Nicholson, Laura Hoggard, Laura Ramirez, Leslie Gonzalez, Megan Bradfield, Megan Kusich, Morgan Wilson, Myles Naumoff, Natalie Watson, Paige Reed, Rebecca Kendrick, Ria Mitchell, Robert Nicholson, Sarah Landis, Sarita Robinson, Shannon DeWitt, Sheena Hershman, Tammy Lacaria, Taylor Masters, Taylor Nicholson, Taylor Pinkerman-Clegg, Tina Nichols.

FSU School of Graduate Studies: Dean’s List

Alisha Pearcy, Amanda Pruitt, Amy Starkey, Bethany O'Neil, Ceaira Varner, Dakota Johnson, Emily Brady, Emily Wymer, Hannah Brown, Hillary Jones, Holliann Rucker, Jaime Hanisch, Jason Frazer, Jessica Snyder, Jing Yin, Kayla Hartley, Lori Matheny, Macy Jackson, Mary-Jane Mongold, Paige Peters, Richard Clegg, Robert Jesmer, Sandra Wilcox, Shante Mayle, Stephanie Henthorne, Tabassum Rahman Chowdhury, Taylor Boulet, Tyler Bowmar.

Fairmont State University: President’s List

Aaron Sanford, Abagail Settembrino, Abby Hartley, Abigail Griffith, Abigail Palmer, Abigail Pasierb, Abigail Wade, Abraham Jones, Adam Shaffer, Adrianna Slaughter, Alex Swauger, Alexander Henderson, Alexander Keefover, Alexandria Pavelko, Alexis Alastanos, Alexis Cassella, Alexis Rowe, Allison Moore, Alorah Beighey, Alyssa Hanisch, Alyssa Suan, Amanda Caloccia, Amanda Dawson, Amanda Lawson, Amanda Ruffner, Amber Basnett, Amber Cinalli, Amber Curry, Amber Fluharty, Amber Layne, Amberlee Miller, Ammar Al-Awami, Amy Cottrill, Anastacia Barnhart, AnDee Wood, Andrea Richmond, Andrew Edwards, Andrew Harris, Anna Cannone, Anna Robinson, Anna Westfall, Annalivia McFee, Anthony Trupo, Ashley Cutlip, Ashley Hawkins, Ashley Moore, Ashley Moore, Ashley Ratliff, Ashley Richardson, Austin Goodnight, Austin Young, Bailey Shade, Baylee Wolfe, Ben Costello, Benjamin Cochran, Blake Massie, Bobbi Beam, Bowen Hudnall, Brandon Grimes, Brandon Mathis, Brandon Riffee, Brayden Ours, Breann Rogers, Breanne Norman, Brent Six, Brett Hathaway, Breunn Frazier, Brian Knight, Brian Miller, Brian Sharp, Brianna Evans, Brianna Gill, Britany Mullins, Brittany Bonnett, Brittany Shaffer, Brittany Strother, Brittiany Brumage, Brittney Pritt, Brodie Currence, Brodon Carpenter, Brooke Fincham, Brooke Quinn, Brooke Shockey, Bruce Veltri, Caitlyn Tobin, Caleb Anselene, Caleb Freeman, Caleb Sprout, Candace Holmes, Canon Fancher, Cara Martin, Carl Wahler, Cassity Markley, Catlynn Moore, Chadrick Barker, Chadwick Alt, Chelsea Keith, Chelsi Latocha, Chelsie Dunn, Cheyanne Parks, Cheyenne Navarro, Chloe Brown, Christan Barnard, Christina Moody, Christopher Owens, Ciara Hornberger, Claire Marnic, Cody Zagar, Collier Smith, Cortney Haddox, Cory Auvil, Courie Snider-Ennis, Courtney Conley, Courtney King, Courtney Martin, Courtney Snodgrass, Cynthia McIntire, Daisy Culverhouse-Perry, Daisy Rivera Torres, Dale Lyons, Daniel Miller, Danielle Doss, Danielle Skaggs, Daphne Ryan, Darby Petersen, Davianne Croasmun, David Alderson, David Klug, David Poling, Dawn Sargent, Deborah Lambert, Debra Smith, Deidra Combs, Destiny Richardson, Destiny Sharpless, Devanie Carpenter, Devin Carpenter, Dezirae McCauley, Dominic Myhalsky, Drew Feaster, Dustin Dilley, Dylan Shannon, Dylan Thomas-Rogers, Eamonn Cronin, Edward Law, Elijah Warr, Elizabeth Chaney, Elyssa Marsland, Eman Aljanabi, Emily Bombardiere, Emily Collins, Emily Crislip, Emily Devall, Emily Holmes, Emily McChesney, Emily Rine, Eric Myers, Erica McCoy, Erin Bean, Erin Taylor, Ethan Knopsnider, Evangeline Eden, Faith Aube, Faith Stout, Faithlynn Walker, Gabriella Mascaro, Garrett Devericks, Garrett McCurdy, Geoffrey Splendorio, Gerlie Jenkins, Grant Holbert, Gregory Johnson, Haley Bock, Haley Hefner, Haley Richards, Halley McCarty, Hana Cox, Hannah Haller, Hannah Householder, Hannah Lenhart, Hannah Vasicek, Hannah Workman, Harley Boyd, Harold Fair, Heather Green, Hillary Martinez, Holden Moore, Hugh Roy, Hunter Davis, Hunter Lewis, Isaac Kinder, Jack Johnston, Jackie Funkhouser, Jacob Bell, Jacob Buckland, Jacob Griffith, Jacob Sarsfield, Jacob Wyatt, James Cutright, James Hotaling, James Jesmer, James Miller, James Pheasant, Jamie Riddell, Janalee Poe, Jared Hammel, Jarrod Bosley, Jasmine Moore, Jasmine Murillo, Jayce Riley, Jayme Burkhart, Jenna Swan, Jennifer Knight, Jennifer Perkins, Jeremy Madon, Jerica Herrera, Jessica Dye, Jessica Furda, Jessica Grissinger, Jillian Amos, Joao Pinto Alves, Johnna Akers, Jonathan Cruz, Joni Ely, Jordan Ethier, Jordan Rogers, Joseph Cowling, Joseph Mullins, Joseph Yost, Joshua Lemley, Joshua Richards, Joshua Thomas, Julian Pecora, Julianna Butcher, Justin Hyre, Justin Lipscomb, Justin Richter, Justin Taylor, Kailyn Key, Kaitlyn Carter, Kaitlynn Davis, Kaitlynn Jackson, Kaleb Leatherman, Kali DeVincent, Kasie Buckley, Kassidy Nutter, Katharine Drennan, Kayla Coleman, Kayleigh Buzzard, Kaysi Whittaker, Keith Golden, Kelly Hernandez, Kelsy Eaton, Kristian Fuchs, Kristina Daniels, Kristy Rexrode, Kyle Sandy, Kylie Clatterbuck, Kyra Ortiz, Lacey Peterson, Lakin Higgins, Larrin Shriver, Larry Eakle, Latasha Martin, Laura Morris, Leia Moore, Leonard Lucas, Leslea Blackshire, Lindsey Sanford, Lora Fitzgerald, Madeline Hamilton, Madison Schell, Madysen Wheeler, Maggie Hall, Makayla Evans, Makayla Metzger, Makayla Shaffer, Makenzie Adamek, Makila Carr, Maria Swiger, Marissa Amoruso, Marissa Cox, Mark McKee, Martin Borror, Martina Parrish, Mary Yankie, Matthew Clemens, Matthew Leach, Matthew Spiker, Mattison Johnson, McKenzie Weese, Megan Bucher, Megan Talbott, Melissa Layfield, Melissa Phillips, Michael Carpenter, Michael Lemley, Mina Chu, Miranda Folmsbee, Mitchell Kelly, Molly Rinkevich, Morgan Brooks, Morgan Carder, Nathan Fox, Nicholas Minutelli, Nicole Bland, Nicole Burch, Nicole Jarrell, Nunzio Bonamico, Paige Byrne, Pamela Morris, Patricia Kovach, Patricia Oliver, Patrick Ellis, Peyton Konchesky, Rachel Bugaj, Rachel Morris, Rachel VanOsdol, RaeAnn Secrist, Randall Justus, Randi Jordan, Randi Tinney, Raychel Fitzwater, Rebecca Pendry, Rebecca Vigue, Reno Cutright, Robert Hinerman, Ronald Mason, Ruby Morris, Ryan Patrick, Samantha Blair, Samantha Cole, Samantha Hoban, Samantha O'Brien, Samantha Tate, Sami Miltenberger, Samuel Tindal, Sara Guidi, Sara Quigley, Sarah Blosser, Sarah Esposito, Sarah Summers, Sarah Watkins, Savanah Harper, Savannah Chapman, Sean Berry, Sean Harris, Seneca Holcomb, Serina Eakle, Seth Hvizda, Shaelynn McMillion, Shana Kennedy, Shealyn Delancey, Sierra Cowell, Stephanie Larew, Stephen Lynch, Steven Swiger, Sydney Cavender, Takawira Ushendibaba, Taylor House, Taylor Toothman, Tessa Himelrick, Thairon Holler, Theodore Sova, Thomas White, Timothy Burget, Travis Howard, Travis Kirtner, Travis Minnick, Tre Hart, Treston Brown, Trevor Fancher, Trinite Klamadji, Tyler Davis, Tyler Groves, Tyler Scott, Vanessa Hissam, Veronica Rine, Victoria Dorsey, Victoria Postlewait, Victoria Stevens, Vincent Cochran, Virginia Moratti, Wesley Frederick, Wyatt Kincell, Yen Dang, Zachary Bodkin, Zachary Burch, Zachary Gower, Zachary Watson.

Fairmont State University: Dean’s List

Aaron Carman, Aaron Holtz, Aaron Nelan, Aaron Uphold, Abbey Ferrari, Abigail Johnson, Abigail Ott, Abigail Schrag, Abigail Serbu, Adam Johnson, Adam Lewis, Adam Shreve, Adriana Anderson, Ahmed Alshaheen, Ahmed Alshehri, Aisha Liberatore, Akashia Singleton, Alancea Reitz, Alexa Flint, Alexa Gore, Alexandra Williams, Alexandro Gialone, Alexis Allen, Alexis Baylor-Brown, Alexis Lindsay, Alexzandria McIntire, Alhumaidi Almutairi, Alisa Taylor, Alison Pritt, Alivia Blazier, Allison Beabout, Allison Blake, Amanda Burns, Amanda Corley, Amanda Harper, Amanda Hitt, Amanda Reynolds, Amanda Simons, Amber Longwell, Amber Trickett, Ammelin Grosso, Andrew Crandall, Andrew Harker, Andrew Ridgway, Andrew Shade, Andrew Truax, Angel Forren, Angelina Triplett, Anna Coffin, Anna Rogers, Anna Wyont, Annelise Williams, Anthony Haden, Anthony Wilt, Antonio Harris, April Jefferys, Ariel Sears, Arika Bowman, Ashleigh Belfiore, Ashley Boyce, Ashley Heck, Ashley Krause, Ashley Lowe, Ashley Melton, Ashley Provost, Ashley Rebel, Ashley Walton, Ashton Meyers, Ashton Thomason, Ashtyn Stevens, Ashtyn Thompson, Asim Shaar, Audrey Sweeney, Austin Martin, Austin Michels, Austin Ransom, Autumn Bartles, Avery Bush, Bailey Mohr, Becka Crandall, Benjamin Daily, Benjamin Reynolds, Benjamin Wyrick, Beth Dodrill, Bethany Buckner, Bethany Cutlip, Bethany Friend, Bethany Gorman, Bethany Reese, Bradley Wyne, Brady McMaster, Brandon Ballard, Brandon George, Brandon Howdershelt, Brandon Hunter, Brandon Jackson, Brandon Ledsome, Brandon Ralston, Brandon Roach, Brandy Fisher, Breanna Blot, Brenda Palmer, Brennan Brooks, Brett Chase, Brett McFerrin, Brian Casper, Brian Hamby, Briana Gilmore, Brianna Love, Bristal Egnor-Peck, Brittane Phelps, Brittany Bagwell, Brittany Conley, Brittany Lantz, Brittney Wisenbaler, Brodi McCoy, Brooke Dice, Brooke Keys, Brooklyn Defenbaugh, Brooks Nucilli, Bruce Barrett, Brylee Lemasters, Bryson Butcher, Caitlyn Aaron, Caleb Fancher, Caleb Landis, Camey Moore, Candice May, Candice Travis, Cara Simms, Cara Turner, Carina De La Cruz, Carlos Alexander, Carly Suplita, Casey Baird, Cassidy Davison, Cassidy Toothman, Cedar Sands, Celena Elder, Celeste Etter, Cendall Cowan, Chad Carlson, Charissa Workman, Charles Morrow, Charlotte Riestenberg, Chase Detrick, Chelsea Taylor, Chelsey Midkiff, Chelsie Cottrell, Cheyann McQuain, Cheyenne Westfall, Chris Buhrt, Christian Ghilani, Christian Smith, Christie Viltrakis, Christina Strader, Christopher Barnes, Christopher Blosser, Chyna Brown, Ciera Greene, Ciera Workman, Cierra Satterfield, Claire Casto, Claire Shook, Clay Stuart, Cody Triplett, Colbi Dick, Colby Gray, Colby Kitzmiller, Cole Ballard, Colleen Newsome, Colten Brookens, Colter Kincaid, Colton Cogar, Conor Hannah, Cooper Hibbs, Corey France, Corey Freeman, Corey Mason, Corey Shaver, Cori Cowan, Cortney Bright, Cory Saddler, Courtney Cline, Courtney Dugan, Courtney Oliver, Courtney Spears, Courtney Wine, Craig Dorsey, Craig Stewart, Creek Stanton, Cristin Tucker, Crystal Smallwood, Cullen Clark, Dakota Adams, Dakota Talkington, Dalton Michael, D'Andre Johnson, Danial Field, Daniel Hunt, Daniel Nolte, Daniel Summers, Danielle Lewis, Danielle Ritter, Danielle Stoller, Danielle Styles, Darnesha Hawkins, Darrin Zombro, David Oyo Kadiri, David Stickel, Derek Barnett, Derek Puskas, Derek Silski, Destini Arbogast, Devin Ayersman, Devin Freeman, Devin Pryor, Dillon Bradley, Dillon Early, Dominic Casuccio, Dominic Langdon-Arthur, Dominique Adkins, Dominique Burkhammer, Dominique Kelley, Donald Kummer, Donald Summers, Dorian Hetzel, Douglas Smith, Douglas Swiger, Drew Hetzel, Drew Hill, Ebone Bynum, Edmond Harvey, Elizabeth Arbaugh, Elizabeth Collins, Elizabeth Edwards, Elliot Herberger, Emilea Posey, Emily Arbogast, Emily Bolinger, Emily Buchanan, Emily Crane, Emily Delawder, Emily Johnson, Emily Puskarich, Emily Snyder, Eric Dowdy, Eric Ryan, Erica Blanco, Erica Stone, Erica Underwood, Erica White, Erin Barberio, Ethan Ratkovich, Ethan Williams, Evan Jones, Fabian Guerra, Fahad Alotaibi, Felicity Lyons, Franae Hall, Francisco Guerrero, Frankie Hinzman, Gabriel Mora, Gabrielle Starsick, Gage Ellifritt, Gage Gregory, Gage Hannah, Garett Mock, Garrett Dailey, Gavin Joseph, Geri Signorelli, Gina Estok, Gina Gribble, Gregory Yaksich, Halee Knight, Haley Cochran, Haley DeBerry, Haley France, Haley Moore, Haley Nelson, Haley Shanholtz, Haley Terango, Haley Wright, Hanna Stolzenfels, Hannah Absalom, Hannah Cox, Hannah Freeman, Hannah Gilbert, Hannah Jones, Hannah Nelson, Hannah Phillips, Hannah Roberts, Hannah Short, Hannah Swick, Harleigh Tennant, Harrison Moore, Hatti Phillips, Hayden Curtis, Hayley Brewer, Hayley Crites, Hayley Hatfield, Hayley Higgins, Heather Caviness, Hillary Short, Holly Clelland, Holly Miltenberger, Hope Vasicek, Houston Morris, Hunter Miller, Hunter Woods, Isaac Lambert, Isaac Pifer, Ivy Shaver, Jackey Teets, Jacklyn Lewis, Jacob Andersen, Jacob Corbin, Jacob Dillinger, Jacob Sanders, Jacob Whitmore, Jacob Wiles, Jacqueline Baker, James Britton, James John, Jamie Barnett, Janay Beamer, Janna Hardinger, Jared Burns, Jared Neehouse, Jason McCleary, Jason Snyder, Jeffery Pritt, Jeffrey Hartley, Jeffrey Thompson, Jefrey Davis, Jena Michael, Jennah Brinegar, Jennica Anderson, Jennifer Daniels, Jennifer Herron, Jennifer Stubbs, Jennifer Tassos, Jennifer Tate, Jeray Allen, Jeremy Curtis, Jeremy Sheppard, Jessica Berg, Jessica DeBerry, Jessica Dellagatta, Jessica Gardner, Jessica Ice, Jessica Margo, Jessica Massie, Jessica Moore, Jessica Nestor, Jessica Poling, Jessica Pratt, Jessica Reed, Jessica Siders, Jessie Feather, Jhordin Batista, Jillann Mayle, Jimmy Mai, Joanna Blake, John Brennan, John Britcher, John Fenney, John Freshour, Johnathan Bryan, Johnna Lopez, Jolene Fullen, Jonah Cantrell, Jonathan Benedum, Jonathan Henry, Jonathan Mitchell, Jonathan Prince, Jonathon Shreve, Jontasia Sitton, Jordan Gray, Jordan Grimmett, Jordan Lewis, Jordan Swiger, Jordan Utt, Josandra DeFazio, Joseph Bundy, Joseph Korpiewski, Joseph Mitchell, Joseph Pierce, Joseph Thomas, Josh McNeill, Joshua Mayle, Joshua Musgrove, Joshua Nichols, Joshua Rexroad, Joshua Ronan-Redfearn, Joshua Trembly, Josiah Bond, Josie Malfregeot, Joyanna Poe, Juan Guerrero, Juilia Harman, Julia Harbaugh, Julia Shemaitis, Juliana Spradling, Justin Bond, Justin Marple, Justin Palmer, Justin Sage, Justin Sine, Justin Stivason, Justin Taylor, Justin Welling, Kaelyn Jones, Kailey Bennett, Kain Lucente, Kaitlin Brancato, Kaitlyn Conaway, Kaitlyn Mills, Kaitlyn Morrison, Kaitlyn Steffich, Kaja Tenney, Kaleb Teter, Karah Naples, Kate Harple, Katelyn Beckett, Katelyn Cook, Katelyn Triplett, Katelyn Wisor, Katherine Baughan, Katherine Nay, Kathleen Nestor, Kathleen Norman, Kathryn Bass, Katie Adkins, Kaycee Tinnel, Kayla Berkey, Kayla Cipperley, Kayla DeBolt, Kayla Kerns, Kayla Semon, Kayla Simpson, Kayla Sisler, Kayla Smith, Kaylee Johnson, Kaylee Ritter, Keegan Mahony, Kelli Clegg, Kelli Cooper, Kelsey Kyle, Kendra Ancell, Kendra Bennett, Kendra Bright, Kenneth Fox, Kennidy Souza, Kevanna Bolton, Kevin Coffman, Khalid Albogami, Kira Guier, Kirsten Minger, Koebe Rush, Kristen Ball, Kristen Bonner, Kristen Weaver, Kristin DeVault, Kristin Staub, Kristina Conaway, Kristina Coombs, Kristina Jackson, Kristyn Riddle, Kyle Savina, Kyle Stemple, Kyle Stutler, Kyle Thoma, Kylee Barnard, Kylie Stanton, Kylie Womeldorff, Kyra Burnett, Lacee Hess, Lacey Cale, Laci Claypool, Laken Kiddy, Lance Trent, Landon Owens, Lane Arbogast, Larry Ross, Lashonna Runion, Laura Hanshaw, Lauren Heflin, Lauren Jones, Lauren Manchin, Lauren Rembold, Lauren Taylor, Lawrence McKee, LeeAnn Martin, Levi Kyer, Lexi Jackson, Lily Peterson, Lily Rogers, Lindsay Hogan, Lindsay Peters, Lindsey Shingleton, Linsey Lamb, Lishea Eddy, Logan Brusak, Logan Compton, Logan Frame, Logan Grimes, Logan Lehosit, Logan Leveaux, Logan Light, Logan McDougal, Logan Ratliff, Lucas Gullo, Lucreatia Adams, Lynsey Wright, Mackenzie Cox, Mackenzie Johnston, Mackenzie Waugh, Maddie Mullenax, Madeline Gulan, Madison Arnolds, Madison Coberly, Madison Green, Madison Trumbo, Magen Ware, Maggie Dotson, Majed Alanazi, Makayla Barr, Makenzie McClure, Makenzie Melko-Marshall, Malcolm Peverill, Mallory Rinker, Marc Vero, Margaret Micale, Mariah Ack, Marissa Abe, Marissa Saltis, Marquez Gibson, Marshall Lloyd, Mary Evans, Mary Stover, Matheus Rodrigues, Matthew Bean, Matthew Bias, Matthew Burkel, Matthew Crislip, Matthew Hunter, Matthew Liebhardt, Matthew Saghy, Matthew Summers, Matthew Tennant, Matthew Tucker, Matthew Wade, Matthias Baur, McKenna Warnick, McKenzie Baskerville, McKenzie Dean, McKenzie Jones, Megan Clerico, Megan Haller, Megan McNemar, Megan Moyer, Megan Nielson, Megan Russell, Meghan Watson, Melissa Palmer, Meredith Culp, Micah Hornak, Michael Barnes, Michael Byrd, Michael Daetwyler, Michael Kiser, Michael Miller, Michael Nuzum, Michael Shaw, Michele Doyle, Mickala Maditz, Mina Yang, Miranda Guentert, Miranda Oliverio, Miranda Shupp, Miranda Workman, Mitchell Cronin, Mitchell Koch, Mohammed Almashame, Mohammed Alshaikh, Montana Richards, Morgan Harris, Morgan Hornsby, Morgan Stout, Morgan Turner, Mylissa LaForce, Nataniel Iglesias, Natascha Harrison, Natasha Hardy, Nathan Brown, Nathan Burdette, Nathan England, Nathan Kolar, Nathan Stoop, Nathan Watson, Nathan Wilkerson, Nathaniel Mullenax, Neil Lindsay, Nicholas Aragona, Nicholas Grubb, Nicholas Sams, Nicklas Calhoun, Nicolas Raby, Nicole Uccello, Nicolle Davis, Ninetta James, Nita Richards, Noah Sutton, Noca Cutlip, Olivia Dean, Olivia Eubanks, Olivia Gross, Olivia Ooten, Olivia Wiley, Onnie Watson, Paige Christopher, Paige Lucas, Patty Britton, Percy Lanham, Philip Griffin, Phillip Sands, Preston Marsh, Qasim Alsakiri, Quentessa Friend, Quintin Markley, Rachel Ball, Rachel Bowman, Rachel Laskody, Rachel Shawen, Rachel Wiley, Rakan Alkashkary, Raven Flanigan, Rayleen Working, Rebecca Sullivan, Regan Howard, Reginald Martin, ReOnna Holland, Richard Epperly, Rita Okonji, Robert Adams, Robert Delauder, Robert Lambert, Roger Hayhurst, Ronda Hostutler, Rula Al-Sabyani, Ryan Dahmer, Ryan Dalrymple, Ryan Desellems, Ryan Leo, Ryan Lewis, Ryan McNatt, Ryan McWhirt, Ryan Menendez, Ryan Springer, Ryan Vaughn, Ryne Hill, Sabrina Buhagiar, Sabrina Schultz, Saige Mongold, Samantha Brown, Samantha Buffey, Samantha Stevenski, Samantha Withrow, Samantha Wolfe, Samantha Young, Samara Saunders, Samuel Biafore, Samuel Hamilton, Samuel Keil, Sara Davis, Sara Downey, Sara Jones, Sara Parks, Sara Robinson, Sara Sellers, Sarah Bush, Sarah Hinerman, Sarah Sakaguchi, Sarah Shaffer, Sarah Starcovic, Sarah Wolf, Savanna McCrobie, Savannah Catlett, Savannah Toler, Scotland Sabatos, Scott Hessler, Sean Chasteen, Sean Riggleman, Sean Tracy, Selena Dennison, Seth Fitzwater, Seth Marshall, Shalee DeWitt, Shanden Gregory, Shannon Yost, Shawn Johnson, Shawn Judy, Shelby Adams, Shelby Harman, Sherri Castle, Shighla Childers, Shirley Holland, Sienna Maunton, Silvia De Anda Reyes, Simon Poling, Sonora Terosky, Spencer Lawson, Stacie Welling, Stanton Simmons, Stephanie Lambert, Steven Paugh, Susan Cook, Sydney Bock, Sydney Fisher, Sydney Maibach, Taelor Hunter-Roberts, Taleah Bailey, Tanner Lane, Taya Bolyard, Taylor Campbell, Taylor Crawford, Taylor Espy, Taylor Hall, Taylor Killian, Taylor Marsh, Taylor Mihm, Taylor Mowery, Taylor Raby, Taylor Wells, Teala Watkins, Tesla Hickey, Tessa Krantz, Thomas Fortman, Tiffany Jenkins, Tiffany Richards, Timothy Patrick, Trang Ta, Travis Mason, Travis Wilson, Trevor Schoonover, Trevor Shorter, Troy Shuck, Troy Watkins, Tyler Berry, Tyler Brady, Tyler Coffin, Tyler Gross, Tyler Keller, Tyler Koontz, Tyler McGee, Tyler Quinn, Tyler Riel, Tysa Miller, Valerie Smith, Victoria Harper, Victoria McGinnis, Vincent Delligatti, Wadia Ghubayn, Walter Ingram, Wendy Maxwell, Whitney Layton, William Curry, William Gum, William Johnston, William McKinsey, William Myers, William Soles, Yi Ting Lin, Zachary Hatfield, Zachary Hawkins, Zachary Linger, Zachary Schott, Zachary Tennant, Zachary Wright, Zack Hoover, Zakary Kimbrew, Zoey Carr.

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 4,100, FSU is large enough that students find a vibrant campus life and small enough that they do not get lost in the crowd.

For more information about this list, call (304) 367-4101 or (304) 367-4151.

The Fairmont State University Career Development Center will continue its Tuesday Talks Series for the spring 2017 semester. The seminars were created by Director of Career Development and Civic Engagement Coordinator Amy Drvar and Career Services Counselor Meagan Gibson to help prepare students for life after graduation.

“Not only was the series developed to prepare students with career readiness skills, but it also brings greater awareness to the Career Development Center where one-on-one critiques and assistance can also be provided,” Gibson said.

More than 100 students have attended Tuesday Talks since the series began in fall 2016. Topics of discussion for the series include resume building, interviewing and salary negotiation. These topics will continue in the spring 2017 semester and will be scheduled around the Feb. 14 Career Fair held on the Fairmont State campus.

The series will be held every Tuesday through Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Turley Center Room 207. For more information about Tuesday Talks, contact the Career Development Center at careers@fairmontstate.edu.

A $2.55 million gift, the largest in Fairmont State University history, will support scholarships for FSU students through the Elva V. Schoolnic Trust, according to Gary K. Bennett, Trustee. 

“Fairmont State University continues to meet students’ need for financial aid and to provide a unique learning environment close to home in North Central West Virginia,” said FSU President Maria Rose. “Gifts like this one truly make a difference in the lives of our students and help foster student success. We are grateful to the Schoolnic family for their investment in our students and the future of our great state.”

The gift will create additional scholarships for students in the FSU School of Business and general scholarships available to all FSU students.

 Elva V. Schoolnic passed away on Nov. 11, 2008. The daughter of the late George T. and Bertha Kennedy Snyder, she was born on April 17, 1912. She was a graduate of Blacksville High School and West Virginia Business College. During her career, she worked as the office manager for Household Finance in Fairmont and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fairmont.

“Louis and Elva Schoolnic became my friends in 1971 while I was still a student at Fairmont State” said Gary K. Bennett, Past Chair of the Fairmont State Foundation Board of Directors. “They both knew the importance of education and this planned gift is their way of supporting students into the future. It is my pleasure to present this transformational gift to the Foundation on behalf of the Schoolnic family.”

Elva’s husband, Louis Schoolnic, was a prominent Fairmont attorney. A 1929 graduate of Fairmont State Normal School (now FSU), he was a member of Tau Beta Iota fraternity. Louis Schoolnic also was a charter member and board member of the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. After his death in 1987, the Louis Schoolnic Scholarship Fund was established at FSU to support students in the School of Business by Gary K. & Barbara D. Bennett, and this gift will be an addition to that endowment.

Louis Schoolnic was a mentor to Dr. Gregory T. Hinton, now a Senior Professor of Business Law at FSU.

“In 1981, Mr. Schoolnic gave me the ‘passport’ to people who could and would help me with my legal practice when the need of their services arose. What he gave me was more valuable than money, and there was no other single person, lawyer or otherwise, who could have given me such valuable assets,” Hinton said. “He always took time from his busy schedule to help with a complex issue and would help in choosing between competing issues. I greatly admired and appreciated Louis Schoolnic. When he passed, Marion County lost its greatest gentleman attorney of all times, and I lost a mentor and friend.”

The Fairmont State Foundation offered thanks to the Schoolnic family for its generosity.

“Fairmont State is forever grateful for the Schoolnic family and their transformational gift in support of student scholarships. This endowment truly has the power to change lives through education,” said RJ Gimbl, President and CEO of the Fairmont State Foundation.

“The incredible foresight and generosity of Louis and Elva Schoolnic in creating the original trust will tremendously impact the students of Fairmont State University in perpetuity. The earnings from this endowment will provide the much needed financial assistance to students, thus allowing them to earn their degrees and continue their life’s journey. Further, we applaud the astute management of the trust over the years by Mr. Gary K. Bennett—a true benefactor in so many ways for Fairmont State University,” said Craig Walker, Chair of the Fairmont State Foundation Board of Directors.

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 FSU alumni, as well as potentials and existing funding constituencies to meet contributor needs while securing funds and supporters for priority objectives identified by the FSU Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.fsufoundation.org.

A Fairmont State University adjunct professor in the Department of Music has been selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in March.

In December 2016, Angela Reynolds, who is in her second year of teaching at FSU, was the only flutist from the U.S. to perform as a winner of The London Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition at the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall in London. From this performance, she was selected as an Excellent Special Prize Winner for the New York Golden Classical Music Awards.

On March 13, a combined recital with previous winners will be held at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. Reynolds will be performing “Zoom Tube” by Ian Clarke.

“I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to perform in London and now Carnegie Hall, but I know I could never have achieved this without the support of my wonderful teachers, family, friends and colleagues,” Reynolds said. “It takes a village and many life experiences to create a musician--I am grateful to have a wealth of each. I do not know exactly what tomorrow holds for me, but I look forward to performing and teaching music and enjoying every single moment.”

The Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition is open to all nationalities of any age in a variety of instruments. They seek to discover outstanding artists and encourage young musicians in performance and confidence.

Reynolds has previously won awards in the Mid-South Flute Society’s Young Artist Competition and the Sigma Alpha Iota Graduate Performance Awards competition.

“Angela is a wonderful colleague and an exciting performer,” said Dr. Anne Patterson, Coordinator of the Department of Music at FSU. “We depend upon experts such as Angela to teach in our studios, and she is truly an expert. Our students benefit enormously from her experience, and this award is an inspiration to us all. We are thrilled that she is part of the Fairmont State musical family.”

More information on the Virtuoso International Music Competition and the winners can be found at grandprizevirtuosointernationalmusiccompetition.com/.

The stories of two small towns that harbor dark secrets come to life as the Fairmont State University Theatre Program presents two popular one-act plays, “The Lottery,” based on the short story by Shirley Jackson, and “A Rose for Emily,” based on the short story by William Faulkner.

The performance dates are Thursday through Saturday, February 23, 24 and 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the campus of Fairmont State University. For tickets, call the Box Office at (304) 367-4240.

Both plays speak to a place where time stands still. In “The Lottery,” scripted by Brainerd Duffield, a small town is powerless to break from an ancient tradition. Each summer the residents gather to participate in a drawing that is said to ensure a plentiful harvest. “Lottery in June. Corn be heavy soon,” reminds one of the town’s oldest residents. Tessie Hutchinson, played Sarah Hinerman, arrives late to the festivities and is greeted with veiled criticism by her neighbors. “You wouldn’t want me to leave my dishes in the sink,” Tessie retorts as her husband Bill, played by Dustin Dilley, winces. Joe Summers, played by Dino Vergura, makes a careful count of the residents, and the lottery begins as each head of household draws a slip of paper from a box.

In “A Rose for Emily,” scripted by Joseph Robinette, a woman from a prominent family attempts to maintain tradition as the world passes her by. The town’s previous mayor has suspended Miss Emily’s taxes, claiming that her father once lent the community a significant sum of money. An aging Miss Emily, played by Bailey Kershner, refuses the new mayor’s attempts to collect her taxes as her town whispers about a long forgotten beau and a mysterious odor emanating from the once grand house.

The plays’ director, Dr. John O'Connor, Professor/Senior Level of Theatre Arts, said he is excited to bring these two classic short stories to life.

“The plays hearken back to the classic television series ‘The Twilight Zone.’ Their worlds are atmospheric places of mystery and suspense. If you listen carefully, you can hear Rod Serling introducing them, ‘Respectfully submitted for your perusal, another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone.’ ”

Appearing in both plays are Dilley, Hinerman, Kershner and Vergura, as well as Justin Allan, Madeline Giambi, Gary Hayes, Jacqueline Jelacic, Dominic Langdon-Arthur, Myranda McQuaid, Stephen Paugh and Kyle Stemple, all Fairmont State students. Additional cast members in “The Lottery” are Fairmont State students Paige Shircliff-Bowser, Tate Thompson and Samantha Young, as well as local youths Damion Hall, Loki Hall, Persephone Hall, Lydia Hatten and Paris Thomas.

The Fairmont State University Department of Social Sciences sponsored a trip for 20 students and two faculty members to attend a week of conferences and the Inauguration of 45^th President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.

The students were selected by application early in the fall 2016 semester and were accompanied by Dr. William Harrison, Assistant Professor of Political Science, and John Terpinas, Assistant Professor of National Security & Intelligence and Criminal Justice.

Part of the trip was spent working with the Osgood Center, a non-profit educational organization specializing in foreign policy programs. The rest of the week was organized by the department and included meetings with West Virginia’s Congressional representatives including U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and U.S. Rep. David McKinley, as well as two Washington, D.C., journalists. The group also visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Through the hard work of both students and professors, the department secured tickets to the Inauguration. This trip was the second by the department, having also attended in 2008.

“They did a great job,” Harrison said. “Our students behaved very professionally and interacted well with some very important political leaders. I was very proud of them.”

This experience was a first for Harrison, Terpinas and most of the students, including Juliana Spradling, a sophomore pursuing her bachelor’s degree in History.

“The trip gave me a broader understanding of the process of the Inauguration, how complicated and serious it is,” Spradling said. “I’m glad they were able to include as many students as they did. It was a great opportunity to get to know my peers in the department.”

Though the next Inauguration is years away, Harrison said he would like to see this opportunity continue.

“I would love to do it again in four years’ time,” he said. “It was a great experience and was really educational for the students who went, to see how D.C. works. The Social Sciences Department sends a lot of people to the national security universe, the political universe, so seeing how many of these players actually did their job was a fantastic experience.”

The following students participated in the trip: Sarah Blosser, Cullen Clark, Amanda Corley, Taylor Dean, Michael Gray, Tyler Keller, Halee Knight, Ashley Krause, Yi Ting Lin, Keegan Mahony, Emily Markham, Eric Myers, Abigail Palmer, Julian Pecora, Justin Richter, Toree Ridgway, Daphne Ryan, Sarah Sakaguchi, Juliana Spradling, Brittney Wisenbaler.

Fairmont State University students, alumni and members of the community interested in employment are invited to attend the annual Job Fair hosted by the BrickStreet Career Development Center.

“The Job Fair draws a large crowd and is a great way to connect with potential new hires,” said Amy Drvar, Director of the BrickStreet Career Development Center. “Fairmont State prides itself on providing its students and graduates with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.”

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in Gym 1 of the Falcon Center. About 75 employers are registered for the event to recruit for employment and internship opportunities. Last year’s Job Fair featured more than 300 job seekers, and those who plan to attend this year are encouraged to dress professionally, research the participating companies and be prepared to network. 

The fair will consist of an open forum allowing students and alumni the opportunity to gather career and employment related information from employers, as well as the opportunity to submit their resume for interview consideration. Cindy Staley, FSU Photographic Services Manager, will be on hand to take professional headshots of FSU students from 9 to 11 a.m. during the event.

For more information, contact the BrickStreet Career Development Center at (304) 367-4214.

The following businesses and agencies are registered to attend the Job Fair: Academy Programs; AFLAC; Air Force Reserve; AJG Radio Corporation; Allegheny Surveys, Inc.; American Income Life; Antero Resources; Board of Child Care; Boy Scouts of America; Busy Beaver; CDC/NIOSH; City of Fairmont; Civil & Environmental Consultants; CurryTek Management Group; Deep Creek Marina; Disability Action Center; Division of Rehabilitation Services; Elkins Mountain Schools; Enterprise Holdings; Fairmont Fire Department and Police; Fairmont Regional Medical Center; Fairmont State Graduate Studies; Fastenal; FBI; HFS Realty; Highland-Clarksburg Hospital; Home City Ice; IBM; Interim HealthCare of Morgantown; John Manchin Sr. Healthcare Center; KEI Study & Intern Abroad; Leidos; Lowes; Marion County Schools; Modern Woodmen of America; Morgantown Concrete; MPL Corporation; National Guard; North Central Regional Jail; Northwestern Mutual; OIC Training Academy; Pennsylvania State Police; Pruntytown Correctional Center; Reclaim Company, LLC; Results Radio WV; Right at Home; Salem Correctional Center; Specialty Groups, Inc.; Stantec Consulting; Stepping Stone, Inc.; Stonerise Healthcare; Teleperformance; TeleTech; The Thrasher Group, Inc.; The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.; Times West Virginian; TMC Technologies; United Technical Center; UPS; U.S. Army; U.S. Navy; Valley Healthcare Systems; Vector Marketing; Walgreens; WesBanco Bank, Inc.; West Virginia Radio Corporation; Western Maryland Health System; Williams Lea Tag, Inc.; Workforce West Virginia; West Virginia Division of Personnel; West Virginia State Police; WVU Department of Public Administration; WVU Medicine.