GRADUATION EDITION The Daily Athenaeum – May 14, 2010
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WHAT’S INSIDE
Check out the schedule throughout the weekend for the 2010 West Virginia University 141st Commencement Ceremonies.
Former President Bill Clinton and former WVU and NBA player Jerry West will speak at Commencement Ceremonies.
Thirty-five WVU seniors were named Outstanding Senior Scholars. Eight seniors were awarded the Order of Augusta.
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2010 Commencement schedule
West Virginia University’s 141st Commencement is scheduled from Friday through Sunday to honor the 2010 graduating class. The events of the weekend are listed below: Friday, May 14 5:30 p.m. – Honors Convocation (Morgantown Event Center)
Saturday, May 15 8:30 a.m. – School of Dentistry (Student Recreation Center) Lorena Surber, president of the WVU School of Dentistry Alumni Association, will speak. The reception will follow at the Student Recreation Center. 9 a.m. – School of Medicine (Creative Arts Center) Interim Dean Dr. James Brick will speak. 9:30 a.m. – College of Human Resources and Education (Coliseum) Former high school teacher LouAnne Johnson, who was portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1995 movie “Dangerous Minds,” will speak. The reception will follow at the WVU Shell Building, adjacent to the Coliseum. Noon – School of Pharmacy (Student Recreation Center) Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Pharmacists Associ-
ation Thomas E. Menighan will speak. The reception will follow at the Student Recreation Center. 1 p.m. – College of Law (Creative Arts Center) WVU Law School Professor of the Year Anne Lofaso will speak. 2 p.m. – College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (Coliseum) WVU 1976 graduate E. J. “Jed” DiPaolo will speak. The reception will follow at the WVU Shell Building, adjacent to the Coliseum. 5 p.m. – School of Nursing (Student Recreation Center) Dr. Diana Mason, who serves as the Rudin Professor at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing and is director of the Hunter College Center for Health Media and Policy, will speak. The reception will begin at 1 p.m. at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute. 5 p.m. – College of Creative Arts (Creative Arts Center) Former WVU first lady and Division of Music alumna Susan Hardesty will speak. The reception will follow at the Creative Arts Center Lobby. 6 p.m. – College of Business & Economics (Coliseum) WVU 1966 and 1968 alumnus Douglas Van Scoy will speak. The reception will follow at the WVU Shell Building, adjacent to the
Coliseum.
Sunday, May 16 9:30 a.m. – Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design (Coliseum) Rustin M. Moore, chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University will speak. The reception will follow at the WVU Shell Building, adjacent to the Coliseum. 10 a.m. – Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism Commencement Ceremony (Creative Arts Center) Tom Harrison, chairman and chief executive officer of Omnicom’s Diversified Agency Services will speak. The reception will follow at the Creative Arts Center Lobby. 10 a.m. – Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Hooding Ceremony (Morgantown Events Center) Master’s and Doctoral candidates from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will be hooded at this special ceremony. Degrees will be conferred and diplomas presented at the 2 p.m. ceremony.
10:30 a.m. – School of Medicine Professional Programs (exercise physiology, medical laboratory science, community medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy) (Student Recreation Center) Paralympic athlete Mike Schlappi will speak. Reception to follow at the Student Recreation Center. 2 p.m. – Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Commencement
Ceremony (Coliseum) Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will speak. Reception to follow at the WVU Shell Building, adjacent to the Coliseum 2:30 p.m. – College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (Creative Arts Center) Former WVU and NBA basketball star Jerry West will speak. Reception to follow at the Creative Arts Center Lobby.
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Clinton, West among Commencement speakers BY DEVON UNGER AND EVAN MOORE DA STAFF
Former President Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker for the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony Sunday. Clinton will be the first current or former U.S. president to speak at a West Virginia University Commencement. Jason Parsons, former WVU Student Government Association president and political science major, was largely responsi-
ble for getting Clinton to speak at WVU, according to a WVU press release. Parsons participates in the former president’s organization, The Clinton Global Initiative-University. CGI-U is the university arm of the Clinton Global Initiative, which works to promote service and cooperation by government organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to help solve global issues. Clinton will receive an honorary doctorate of human letters from WVU during Commencement for work with his foundation.
Jerry West, former WVU and NBA basketball player, and LouAnne Johnson, the teacher portrayed in the movie “Dangerous Minds,” will also speak at other Commencement ceremonies. There will be 16 Commencement events throughout the weekend honoring graduates. These ceremonies require planning that can begin a year in advance. “We start in the fall by releasing the Commencement schedule and then working with the schools and colleges and their coordinators on specific programs and plans,” said Stephanie Ballard-Conrad, interim director of the Event Management Department at WVU. Event Management is also responsible for the WVU Commencement website, which can be used to find information pertaining to the weekend’s activities. “The Commencement website is something we encourage our graduates to check out,” Ballard-Conrad said. “Sometimes mom or dad might have a question, and if the students are in the middle of finals, they may not be able to absorb that information at the time.” She also said there is lodging information, directions and parking information on the website, as
well as answers to questions about issues such as what color tassel to have. “We have a variety of audiences and a variety of units that we’re working with. Between the schools, the colleges, catering and facilities, there are just so many different people,” Ballard-Conrad said. “That’s something that I actually really enjoy. It’s great to be able to work together as one big team producing a wonderful weekend and memory for our graduates.” devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu
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Rick Johns sets up spotlights in the Coliseum Wednesday in preparation for the upcoming Commencement ceremonies.
CHELSI BAKER/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Electrical crews and Coliseum maintenance staff set up for the upcoming Commencement weekend at the Coliseum Wednesday morning.
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Multiple tools can help grads in competitive job market BY MORGAN MCCORMICK STAFF WRITER
There is more to landing a job out of college than creating the perfect resume. Ford R. Myers, a career coach, speaker and author of “Get the Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring,” laid out the 10 tools college graduates need to obtain their first job. “By integrating other elements into the job search and not relying solely on a resume, you can add power, professionalism and flexibility to your efforts,” Myers said. An excellent resume is just one of the tools a job seeker should have in their “tool kit,” he said, but people are often unaware of the tools or how to use them. Myers wrote the book to inform graduates of the tools available to them. Sarah Rotruck Glenn, assistant director of West Virginia University Career Services, said taking all these steps may seem time consuming, but it will help streamline the job search. “In this competitive job market, it is important to go above and beyond the normal amount effort,” she said. “Focusing on jobs that you really want and putting forth the necessary effort to stand out in the application process will save you time in the long run.” The first and most important tool, Myers said, is to compile compelling stories about schoolor-work-related tasks that have made the graduate proud. The stories should tell how the tasks got the graduate where they are now. “These are your strongest selling points to convince employers and tell them at the interview,” he said. Next, graduates should create a position statement or prepare and practice a “fifteen-second commercial” about who they are, what they’ve done and the strengths they can contribute to an employer.
The third tool is writing a professional biography or a one-page narrative of their career from the third-person perspective. Graduates should also create a target company list. This is a “wish list” of adjectives describing their ideal employer. Considering company size, location, industry, culture and environment, is important, Myers said, and to then research specific organizations that meet those criteria. The fifth tool is a contact list. Compiling a list of all the people graduates know personally and professionally to contact about possible jobs is a good idea. Myers said this is an important step in the process because almost 80 percent of new opportunities are secured through networking. The sixth tool of Myers’ plan is to compile a list of professional and academic references. Graduates should contact each person and gain their approval first. Then, graduates should compile letters of recommendation
by requesting these from four or five business colleagues or academic associates and have them printed on professional letterheads. The eighth tool is create a networking agenda. Myers said graduates should write out a full networking discussion to know exactly how to manage the networking discussion, how it flows, what to expect and how to react to the other’s comments. The ninth tool is a creating a tracking system or a detailed record of job search activities including phone calls, meeting notes and correspondence. This is essential to keeping the process organized and productive, Myers said. Myers’ 10th and final tool is the resume. While it may be last on the list, Myers said it is indispensable and one of the most important tools. Carefully editing the final resume and laying it out to flow well is key, he said. Glenn said it is important to be prepared to give this information verbally. “It might not be necessary or
even a good idea to present your success stories in writing to your interviewer,” she said. No matter how you use the tools, Myers said, it is important to understand their utility in making the job search easier. “These tools apply to everyone,” Myers said. “Don’t think they aren’t for you. Job search support is a difficult to come by, and no one should do it alone.” Jason Grob, an accounting major at WVU and May 2010 graduate, said he prepared a list of stories to help him in job interviews. Grob is now employed at Glessner and Associates, an accounting firm in Wheeling, W.Va. “I think these 10 tools are very helpful,” Grob said. “They take the stress and anxiety of the interview away. Not only are you prepared for the interview, but you have all of your information in front of your employer, and it’s almost like studying for the interview.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
The 10 tools for landing a job: 1. Compile compelling stories 2. Create position statement 3. Develop a professional biography 4. Create a target company list 5. Create a contact list 6. Compile a list of professional and academic references 7. Collect recommendation letters 8. Create networking agenda 9. Create tracking system 10. Perfect the resume source: www.getthejobbook.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PRICE
Pictured above is Ford Myers.
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PROMISE Scholarship may become forgivable loan for W.Va. students BY EVAN MOORE STAFF WRITER
As the PROMISE Scholarship becomes increasingly more difficult to fund, the state may require more from students who take advantage of the program. There is currently a bill in the State House of Delegates Education Committee that would change the “PROMISE Scholarship Program” to the “PROMISE Forgivable Student Loan Program.” The bill would adjust the scholarship into a loan that could be forgiven if the recipient stayed in state and worked for at least four years after graduation. Delegates Mitch Carmichael, representing Jackson County, and Ron Walters, representing Kanawha County, co-sponsored the bill. They did not return calls by press time. “I don’t think requiring students to stay in state after graduation is necessarily going to contribute significantly to the state,” said Kaye Widney, director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at West Virginia University. “The fact that a student takes a job out of state doesn’t mean that they are not contributing back to West Virginia.” Widney also foresees possible problems with what kind of jobs would be applicable for the four-year requirement and how it would be verified. “I don’t know if I would take the scholarship if I had to stay in state,” said Caitlin Heaney, a public relations major and graduating senior. “I like West Vir-
ginia, but I like traveling.” In his 2008 State of the State address, Governor Joe Manchin also proposed requiring students who took advantage of the PROMISE to stay in state for work after graduation. “We need to ensure that our native sons and daughters look seriously at their career options here before assuming that pastures might be greener on the other side of the state line,” Manchin said. Currently, students are only expected to report information back to the PROMISE board concerning their employment, address and post-graduate studies to “assess the effectiveness” of the program. This is known as the “Duty of PROMISE Recipient.” High school graduates who will be using the PROMISE program this fall will see cuts in funding but no new post-graduate residency requirements. “The PROMISE is going to be paying a max of $4,750 known as a ‘floor amount,’” Widney said. “Entering students will be receiving that, but tuition and fees will be over $5000. It’s a fairly significant change in how and what the program is paying.” Widney believes a feasible solution could be found in the relationships between other state programs with the PROMISE. “We might need to look at how we integrate the higher education grant, which is a needbased program, and the PROMISE Scholarship,” Widney said. danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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WVU freezes tuition for in-state students after request from gov.
Gov. Manchin seeks higher in-state graduation rates BY SHAY MAUNZ CORRESPONDENT
BY MELISSA CANDOLFI STAFF WRITER
Gov. Joe Manchin asked and West Virginia University obliged. WVU has increased outof-state students’ tuition to $16,402 per year while in-state tuition remains at $5,304 per year. Due to the economy, tuition for out-of-state students attending WVU has increased 4 percent, adding $257 to the cost of attendance. According to Carolyn Long, Board of Governors chair, keeping the tuition at the current price for in-state students allows WVU to function in the best possible way while allowing West Virginians to have some pressure lifted from them. “This gives them some breathing room,” Long said. “We all know the economy terms are not good, and in West Virginia, it sort of came to us after everyone else.” Though only out-of-state tuition increased, both in-state and out-of-state students will pay an extra $51 for fees. “Whatever we get from our students’ tuition and fees is to be used in the most effective and frugal way,” Long said. “This still lets us provide a high-quality education for the students at WVU. It’s a win for everyone because it shows the students we are trying and
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shows the staff and faculty we appreciate what they do but that we have to be very effective and efficient with the money we get.” Long said the University recognizes everyone is affected by the economy, but raising tuition only a small amount will help balance WVU’s budget. “We are a land-grant University, which means it is our charge in life to make sure that all of our students are treated as fairly as possible, but it is also our charge as a land-grant to make our University as accessible to the students in West Virginia and out of state,” Long said. “In this case, we think we have done both. Even though we have raised the tuition, it is a small amount compared to the colleges that are raising tuitions around us.” The University looks over WVU’s budget yearly, including the number of faculty and what they will be paid to determine next year’s tuition. Long said due to how the economy has affected West Virginia, the BOG believed this would be the least disruptive way to help WVU but still offer students the choice of courses and maintain a high quality staff and faculty. The increase in tuition price will be in effect starting this summer and will continue onto the fall 2010 semester. melissa.candolfi@mail.wvu.edu
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin asked state colleges and universities to freeze tuition rates for the coming academic year, in his sixth State of the State Address Jan. 13, Manchin boasted several positive advancements in higher education but noted graduation rates in the state are disappointing. Data shows, he said, for every 100 ninth graders in school in West Virginia, only 16 will graduate from college. “Our greatest challenge is to make sure those who start college will finish,” he said. “Learning additional skills beyond college is more critical than ever for West Virginians.” He praised improvements made at institutions of higher learning in the state, saying enrollment is higher than ever, and the state’s colleges and universities are “more prepared than ever to take us to the next level.” He attributed a boost in re-
search and development to the Bucks for Brains program, a research trust passed in 2008 providing $50 million in state money to form research endowments at West Virginia University and Marshall University. The schools were responsible for matching the funds within five years. Manchin credited the program for attracting private investors and bolstering research and development in the state. “The number of students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math continues to rise,” he said. “We have more faculty, and we’re attracting world-class researchers to West Virginia.” Manchin also said legislators must continue to evaluate the state-funded PROMISE Scholarship. Last year, lawmakers passed legislation increasing funding for the PROMISE by $2.6 million, but limiting award amounts. Action, Manchin said in his address, was needed to “ensure the program’s viability.” He asked all scholarship re-
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cipients to “do everything possible to stay in West Virginia” after graduation. Manchin praised the state for the foresight and planning, which saved it from much of the economic turmoil seen throughout the country. Still, he acknowledged more planning is necessary during the current trying economic times. “While 2009 was a difficult year for many of us, our path toward continued success is going to be even more challenging,” he said. WVU President James P. Clements, who was in attendance at the address, said Manchin demonstrates strong leadership during challenging economic times. “I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Manchin and the Higher Education Policy Commission to improve college-going and graduation rates and to fulfill WVU’s land-grant missions of access and opportunity for all West Virginians,” he said in a statement.
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Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2010! From the West Virginia University Department of Biology
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Order of Augusta and Outstanding Senior Scholars honored BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
The best and brightest in West Virginia University’s 2010 senior class will be recognized Friday. During the Honors Convocation, this year’s Order of Augusta and Outstanding Senior Scholars will be named at the Morgantown Events Center. WVU will award 35 graduates the Outstanding Senior Scholar Award and out of those, eight were honored as Order of Augusta, WVU’s most prestigious honor. David Stewart, associate vice president and dean of students, said letters were sent to all graduating students with a 3.8 or higher grade point average. These individuals are eligible to apply for Order of Augusta: Emily Callendrelli – mechanical and aerospace engineering Nina Chase – landscape architecture Gavin Hall – mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics Jonathan Caleb King – biology
Outstanding Senior Scholar, and up to 1 percent of the senior class can be selected out of those who apply. Once the scholars were selected, 13 were chosen to interview for Order of Augusta in late March. Those selected fielded questions from a committee of faculty members, and the eight receiving their honor were announced at the end of April. “We ask them questions about their academic work, about any research projects they’ve done. We’re interested in whatever kinds of extracurricular activities they have been involved in, whether it’s study abroad, internships or leadership positions on campus with student organizations,” Stewart said. “We also look at their com Benjamin Levesque – puppetry and children’s theatre Mehran Mohebbi – mechanical and aerospace engineering and physics Shalini Moningi – chemistry and philosophy Jonathan Storage – political science
munity service and service learning that they’ve done.” He said by the time of the interview, the student’s academics take a backseat to their other accomplishments because all students interviewed have already achieved high academic honors. They examine not only what students have with their personal learning but what they have contributed to WVU’s student body. “They have to fill out an application form where they had to answer questions such as, ‘what does WVU mean to them’, ‘how have they developed as a student over their four years at WVU’, and ‘what has been their most significant experience at WVU’,” Stewart said.
The Order of Augusta scholars were treated to dinner at the Glasshouse Grille, and all 35 Outstanding Senior Scholars signed a book containing the names of all those who have received the honor. “It’s a very elite group of people,” said Anne Mallow, industrial engineering major and Outstanding Senior Scholar. “Many of them are my close friends, and I am very honored to be in a group with them.” Mallow worked with the group Positive Spin repairing bicycles to promote alternative transportation in Morgantown. Her senior design project won a competition at the Institute of Industrial Engineers Regional Technical Paper Competition
and will compete at the national competition in Cancun this June. Order of the Augusta was created in 1995 by Stewart’s predecessor Herman Moses and the WVU Foundation. The name Augusta was chosen because of its historic significance to the state. When West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863, Augusta was one of the names considered by the legislature. “I’ve taught at London University, Oxford University, Harvard University and WVU,” Stewart said. “These students here who receive the Order of Augusta are just as good as students at those universities.”
Outstanding Senior Scholars: Amanda Berardi – English Becky Berkebile – agricultural and extension education Kari Brown Samuel Crowell – biology Maria Dalzot – internal administrative affairs Vanessa DeCesare – speech pathology and audiology
Tristan Gartin – accounting Andrea Garton – animal and nutritional sciences Katherine Gatian – aerospace and mechanical engineering Shannon Greskevitch – speech pathology and audiology Katherine Griffith – journalism, English and French Charles Harner – aerospace and mechanical engineering Michael Hoffman – industrial engineering Savannah Jiles – multi-disciplinary studies Jennifer Knipe – chemical engineering Joshua Lider – exercise physiology
Anne Mallow – industrial engineering Yue “Rebecca” Mao – accounting Elizabeth Margolin – public relations Andrew McCue – biology Katie Niland – political science Nathan Pearson – biochemistry and philosophy Phillip Pifer – chemistry Richard Michael Squires – speech pathology and audiology Melissa Stevens – forest resource management William Boyd Turner, III – political science Briana Vecchio – chemistry and biochemistry
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College grad to open comic shop Many graduates taking BY DEVON UNGER CITY EDITOR
Comic strips are a staple of modern newspapers, but for one journalism student, this just isn’t enough. Paden Wyatt will graduate from West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism Sunday and will begin to focus on promoting the comic shop he and three friends hope to open. If everything goes according to plan, Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming will be open by the start of the fall semester. While he won’t be working in the journalism industry, Wyatt said he is surprised how well the skills he obtained in school translate to this comic shop endeavor. “This is just a different choice. I feel my journalism skills will help me a lot because I can take the skills that I learned in college and apply them to running a business,” Wyatt said. “It allows me to go out and be able to get information easier. I know where to look for what I need.” He said aside from news-gathering skills, he also learned how to be an effective communicator from a public relations standpoint. This is especially valuable for Wyatt because his primary job has been, and will be, promoting the shop. “We want to facilitate the community, get people into comic books,” Wyatt said. Ron Davis, manager of the Warner Theater and future owner of Four Horsemen Comics and Gam-
ing, said Wyatt’s enthusiasm has been invaluable in setting the shop up for success. Davis doesn’t expect to be able to put anyone on a payroll for at least six months. “His heart is definitely in it,” Davis said. “He has helped a lot with promotions on Facebook, Twitter and just word-of-mouth. He knows the industry and a lot of people around town. He’s very enthusiastic.” While growing up in the small, rural community of Jane Lew, W.Va, Wyatt said his interest in tabletop gaming was sparked. His older cousin would simplify complex games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, so he and his brother could play. This evolved into a love of video games and eventually an interest in comics. His experience with gaming and comics has inspired him to make these mediums more accessible to a younger audience. He wants to implement programs to reach out kids and promote comic books as a way to get them to read. “It’s such a wonderful storytelling medium, but I think a lot of people take it for granted. By having this store we will be able to get kids out there reading when they’re young,” Wyatt said. “We can show people that comic books aren’t just people with capes flying around destroying s--t, it’s much more than that.” Ryan Brown, 26, of Morgantown, is a close friend of Wyatt’s and part of the Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming. Brown said he is positive Wyatt’s enthusiasm and altruism
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will serve him well, especially helping younger children. Brown said Wyatt will often watch his 6-year-old son, Connor. The first thing out of Connor’s mouth when he goes to stay his dad’s is, “Can we go to Paden’s?” Brown said. Brown said Wyatt’s kindness is matched only by his determination, no matter what he strives to do. “We are renowned among our office mates for starting shenanigans,” Brown said. “Such devotion and dedication to mischief is frankly the brotherly bond that holds us together.” Wyatt’s dedication has helped him fuse all of the skills he learned in the School of Journalism into his business aspirations. “By having these skills, and by taking the ethics class and by taking the blogging class, I’m more in touch with the way media works,” he said. “I’m able to take that idea and kind of out a new age spin on this business just because of that. I feel like I now have a higher calling.” devon.unger@mail.wvu.edu
first job offered after college due to economy BY JERRY HILDENBRAND STAFF WRITER
This year, more college graduates will go directly into jobs after graduation, according to a study done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The rate of graduates with jobs waiting for them after graduation has increased from 19.7 percent to 24.4 percent, the study read. In 2009, 40 percent of graduates were offered jobs, with 45 percent taking them. This year, 39 percent had job offers and nearly two-thirds accepted those offers. According to a study by West Virginia University economists, the Morgantown economy has remained strong, posting a job growth rate of 0.7 percent during 2009 while most states’ economies saw job losses.
While the job market begins to rebound, finding a job can still be difficult. Mimi Collins, a spokeswoman for NACE said students should take advantage of their career resource centers. “It’s an important resource and one of the only times in life that you’ll have something like this,” Collins said. “Finding a job, and I hate to use a cliche, is a job. Career centers will help you connect to employers, provide workshops to help you ready resumes and aid you in ways that you probably will never have again in the workforce.” Collins said after hearing about the terrible job market for years, students are beginning to take what they are offered. “There appears to be a greater awareness of the economic
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Career Services waives assistance fee for alumni BY KATIEANN MARSHALL STAFF WRITER
West Virginia University’s Career Services Center has stopped charging alumni for assistance in finding employment due to the current economic climate. In the past, the Career Services Center only waived the $25 fee for six months after graduation. In waiving the fee, alumni now have access to MountaineerTRAK, a Web-based recruiting management system allowing users to upload multiple resumes, view jobs, sign up for on-campus interviews and register career fairs, according to the website. Graduates are able to access MountaineerTRAK by activating their account on the Career Ser-
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FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
vices website using their WVU ID numbers. If graduates don’t have a WVU ID number or don’t remember it, they need to contact the Career Services Center to activate an account. “Dropping the fee helps alumni, but it helps the Career Services Center, as well,” said David Durham, director of WVU’s Career Services Center. “Since dropping the fee, we have seen a 50 percent increase – we see about five to 10 alumni a week.” Not only did dropping the fee help WVU graduates and the Career Services Center, but it also helped employers working with the Career Services Center, Durham said, adding that without a fee, alumni are able to connect with employers in an easier and
cheaper way. MountaineerTRAK was started last fall and is open to all students of any status. It is connected with 1,800 various employers with many different positions offered: internships, co-ops, parttime jobs, full-time jobs and seasonal positions, according to its website. Students have access to all upcoming events associated with the Career Services Center, inquiring about employers, jobs offered and employers’ contact information by activating their accounts, according to the website. For more information or to activate an account, visit www.careerservices.wvu.edu. katiann.marshall@mail.wvu.edu
STUDY Continued from PAGE 9 realities among this year’s graduates and greater flexibility in the types of jobs they will consider,” said Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director, in a press release. These numbers come on the heels of April’s job growth. According to a report by the U.S. Government, April saw the largest employment gains since March 2006 with a total of 290,000 jobs added. Another study released in 2008 by the U.S. Census Bureau placed West Virginia’s personal
income per capita 49th among the 50 states at $29,537 per person. Sarah Rotruck Glenn, assistant director of WVU Career Services said while the state does not have the job opportunities of larger metropolitan areas, it has many of its own. “The state is seeing growth in the robotics, IT and government contract sectors, just to name a few,” Glenn said. “As a native West Virginian, I feel fortunate to live in a state that has allowed me to grow professionally while still affording me the benefits of small town life.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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12 | GRADUATION EDITION
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FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
WVU student Crawford named 2010 Truman Scholar BY SHAY MAUNZ CORRESPONDENT
As a West Virginia native, Jared Crawford said he was accustomed to the notion that students faced limited opportunities in the state. But Crawford, a junior computer engineering major at West Virginia University who was named a 2010 Truman Scholar, never really believed it. And now, he has even less reason to. “You aren’t expected to achieve while still in West Virginia,” he said. “This (honor) is, for me anyway, verification that at WVU, you can achieve great, important things.” The Parkersburg, W.Va., native is the 21st WVU student to be awarded the prestigious national scholarship. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which is awarded to 60
college juniors from across the country annually, was established by Congress in 1975 to honor the former president. It rewards students with a record of superior leadership, commitment to public service and who are likely to succeed in their chosen graduate program. The scholarship provides up to $30,000 for graduate study and its recipients are given priority admission and supplemental financial aid at many institutions. Crawford plans to study patent law and says being honored as a Truman Scholar will be crucial as he plans for law school. “The Truman Scholarship definitely opens a lot of doors,” he said. Though he has not yet made any firm plans for his graduate education and has not yet taken the LSAT, Crawford hopes to at-
tend a prestigious law school and eventually become a patent attorney at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This career path satisfies Crawford’s interests in law and engineering. “Combining the two really seemed like a perfect fit,” he said. “It’s both the things I’m interested in doing in one set.” Crawford is currently the vice president of Engineers Without Borders, president of the Association for Computing Machinery and serves as an officer in the Free Software Group and Mountaineers for AIDS Awareness. He also developed the WVU’s iPhone application, iWVU, independently last year before partnering with the school to release the app officially. Crawford said his most meaningful experience came when, inspired by a trip he took during
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Jared Crawford, a junior computer engineering major, was named a 2010 Truman Scholar. his senior year of high school, he helped coordinate a trip to Nicaragua for Engineers Without Borders during his freshman year. The group installed a water filtration unit in children’s feeding centers there, and the area has since seen a decrease in the
amount of illness and number of fatalities there. “I’ve done a lot here,” he said. “But it’s just very rewarding to have an impact on an entire community’s health.” shay.maunz@mail.wvu.edu.
GRADUATION EDITION | 13
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
Many employers consider credentials, not reputation
Class ring ceremony is tradition for graduates BY SAMANTHA COSSICK
BY SCOTT CAHOON STAFF WRITER
As graduation approaches for West Virginia University students, many find themselves wondering about the reputation of WVU in the workplace and how it will affect their future job prospects. Is a degree from WVU enough to get a job with a Fortune 500 company? WVU’s reputation as a party school usually does not affect an employer’s judgement of an alumni. Valero Energy is ranked 16th on Forbes’ Fortune 500. Human Resources Associate Pat Dooley said that, for most positions, Valero does not take interest in what university a student attended but rather the quality of the individual. “If someone has good work experience, has the right major and has a good GPA, then it doesn’t really matter where they went to school,” Dooley said. “We get a lot of people from Texas A&M, which has a reputation as a big party school, and they are extremely successful in our workplace.” WVU Director of Career Services David Durham works with more than 800 employers around the nation and has never come across a problem with any of them regarding WVU’s reputation. “I’ve been doing job placement with the engineering school for 10 years, and not once has WVU been looked upon negatively,” Durham said. “It’s actually a positive for employers to have an employee from WVU, especially entrylevel employees. “Before Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman began recruiting at the University, recruiters would make special trips on their own vacation time to visit WVU.” Within the state, West Vir-
ginia’s reputation is even more favorable. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation is ranked 926th on the list and is the only Fortune 1000 company based in West Virginia. Becky Bloom is a Human Resources representative for Wheeling-Pittsburgh. She said that there are quite a few people in the company who graduated from WVU. “WVU has a great reputation as far as I’m concerned,” Bloom said. “Many or our employees, as well as my boss, Jim Sullivan (General Manager of Human Resources), attended the University.” According to Dennis Halpen, director of public relations for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, the size and prominence of the University lets potential employers know what to expect. Employers recognize, know and can relate to someone with
a WVU degree. Bank of America, appearing on the list at ninth, does not attach any stigma to the University, either. “We take top talent from all universities,” said Human Resources Representative Kelly Sapp. “We look at individuals to be part of our bank rather than putting so much emphasis on what school they attended.” Du rha m e c h o e s t h i s sentiment. “If a student has a degree from an accredited business school and a 3.8 GPA, employers typically do not care where they got it.” danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
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West Virginia University will hold its annual Ring Day Ceremony Sunday at 1 p.m. at The Erickson Alumni Center in the Statler Wilson Commons. The event is hosted by the WVU Parents Club in conjunction with The Erickson Alumni
Center. “It’s just a wonderful opportunity for students who have achieved this status to celebrate with their family,” said Sabrina Cave, executive director of the Parents Club. The class rings have become a tradition at WVU, with the
see RINGS on PAGE 14
14 | GRADUATION EDITION
RINGS Continued from PAGE 13 Flying WV on top and the Mountaineer statue and Woodburn Hall’s clock tower on the sides. Cave said the design of the ring “really resonates” with alumni, and many have stories of others who have seen the ring and recognized it as WVU.
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The event is held at The Erickson Alumni Center as part of their first steps as alumni, Cave said. “It’s a great way for them to be a part of their future as an alum,” Cave said. Buying a class ring is part of the “check list” of things to do before graduation, Cave said, and the ceremony shows new graduates
have reached an achievement. “I think the ceremony is a bit symbolic in embracing all of the traditions we have at WVU,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see them so proud of how far they’ve come.” The official class ring has been around since 1998 when it was selected by a group of faculty, students and staff, Cave said, and the ceremony itself has been around in some fashion since 1999. Originally the rings were presented by the University president but are now presented by the vice president of Student Affairs since most students are familiar with and have met him or her, Cave said. Students who are of junior or senior status are allowed to purchase the rings, which will be presented by Ken Gray, vice president of Student Affairs. This ceremony will also feature graduate student Lisa Costello, who graduated from WVU in 2007, sharing what the class ring means to her. samantha.cossick@mail.wvu.edu
FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
Cushing named 33rd Goldwater Scholar from WVU Scott Cushing, a junior physics major with an emphasis in materials science at West Virginia University, was named WVU’s 33rd Goldwater Scholar. Cushing, a Charleston, W.Va., native, has been working on a project to develop a photocatalyst that could be used to break down water as an energy-efficient way to power hydrogen fuel cells or to be used as an eco-friendly cleaning solution. He, along with Nick Wu, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at WVU, has worked on the project since Cushing’s fresh-
man year. He hopes to someday earn a doctorate in physics so he can teach and do research on the university level. The Goldwater Scholarship was awarded to 278 sophomore and junior mathematics, science and engineering majors from across the country who are expected to make a significant contribution to science. It funds undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board for up to $7,500 annually. — sem
GRADUATION EDITION | 15
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FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
Experts say college not necessarily for all COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — In a town dominated by the University of Missouri’s flagship campus and two smaller colleges, higher education is practically a birthright for high school seniors like Kate Hodges. She has a 3.5 grade point average, a college savings account and a family tree teeming with advanced degrees. But in June, Hodges is headed to the Tulsa Welding School in Oklahoma, where she hopes to earn an associate’s degree in welding technology in seven months. “They fought me so hard,” she said, referring to disappointed family members. “They still think I’m going to college.” The notion that a four-year degree is essential for real success is being challenged by a growing number of economists, policy analysts and academics. They say more Americans should consider other options such as technical training or two-year schools, which have been embraced in Europe for decades. As evidence, experts cite rising student debt, stagnant graduation rates and a struggling job market flooded with overqualified degree-holders. They pose a fundamental question: Do too many students go to college? “College is what every parent wants for their child,” said Martin Scaglione, president and chief operating officer of work force development for ACT, the Iowa-based not-for-profit best known for its college entrance exam. “The reality is, they may not be ready for college.” President Barack Obama wants
to restore the country’s status as the world leader in the proportion of citizens with college degrees. The U.S. now ranks 10th among industrial nations, behind Canada, Japan, Korea and several European countries. But federal statistics show that just 36 percent of full-time students starting college in 2001 earned a four-year degree within that allotted time. Even with an extra two years to finish, that group’s graduation rate increased only to 57 percent. Spending more time in school also means greater overall student debt. The average student debt load in 2008 was $23,200 – a nearly $5,000 increase over five years. Two-thirds of students graduating from four-year schools owe money on student loans. And while the unemployment rate for college graduates still trails the rate for high school graduates (4.9 percent versus 10.8 percent), the figure has more than doubled in less than two years. “A four-year degree in business – what’s that get you?” asked Karl Christopher, a placement counselor at the Columbia Area Career Center vocational program. “A shift supervisor position at a store in the mall.” At Rock Bridge High School, one of Columbia’s two high schools, 72 percent of the class of 2008 moved on to four-year colleges, with another 10 percent attending community college. That college attendance rate is consistent with national statistics. Only 4 percent of Rock Bridge students chose technical training like the Oklahoma welding school
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where Hodges is headed. Roughly 1,200 students from central Missouri take classes at the career center, supplementing their core high school courses with specialized training in automotive technology, culinary arts, animal science, robotics, landscape design, electrical wiring and more. Hodges has been set on a welding career since she was 13. She craves independence and has little patience for fellow students who seem to wind up in college more from a sense of obligation than anything else. “School is what they’ve been doing their whole lives,” she said. “So they just want to continue. Because that’s what they are used to.” Sue Popkes doesn’t hide her disappointment over her younger daughter’s decision. At the same time, she realizes that Hodges may achieve more financial security than a college degree could ever provide. “It’s sad to know she’s going to miss that mind-opening effect of an undergraduate degree,” Popkes said. “To discover new ideas, to become more worldly.” Ohio University economics professor Richard Vedder blames the cultural notion of “credential inflation” for the stream of unqualified students into four-year colleges. His research has found that the number of new jobs requiring college degrees is less than number of college graduates. Vedder’s work also yielded something surprising: The more money states spend on higher education, the less the economy
grows – the reverse of long-held assumptions. “If people want to go out and get a master’s degree in history and then cut down trees for a living, that’s fine,” he said, citing an example from a recent encounter with a worker. “But I don’t think the public should be subsidizing it.” Margaret Spellings, former federal education secretary under George W. Bush, remains a strong proponent of increased college access. She points to research showing that college graduates will on average earn $1 million more over a lifetime than those with only high school degrees. “It is crucial to the success of our country and to us as individuals to graduate more students from college,” she said at a National Press Club forum earlier this year. “We Americans greatly believe that education is the great equalizer.” For many, the dream of earn-
ing a college degree – and the social acceptance that comes with that accomplishment – trumps a more analytical, cost-benefits approach. John Reynolds, a Florida State sociology professor, found that unrealized educational expectations do not lead to depression or other long-term emotional costs. “Rich kids, poor kids, ‘A’ students, ‘C’ students – we really didn’t find any lasting impact on not getting the degree,” he said. Scaglione suggested that nothing short of a new definition for educational success is needed to diminish the public bias toward four-year degrees. He advocates “certification as the new education currency – documentation of skills as opposed to mastering curriculum.” “Our national system is, ‘Do you have a degree or not?’” he said. “That doesn’t really measure if you have skills.”
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FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
WVU School of Medicine, Nursing receive top honors BY ANN COMPTON STAFF WRITER
West Virginia University’s School of Medicine received two national honors in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The school was recognized in April as 10th-best for rural medicine and ranked 49th for primary care. The last time WVU placed in the top 10 was 2008.
The rankings are based on ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty in the nation’s 126 accredited medical schools and 20 accredited schools of osteopathic medicine, according to the website. “It’s recognition by our peer institutions and their opinion leaders in the country of the quality programs we have here at WVU,” said James Brick, WVU School of Medicine interim dean. The school has a history of
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outreach to the rural population, Brick said. Currently, there are 25 to 30 outreach clinics and educational programs where medical students can learn and work, Brick said. The outreach programs are a continuation of the University’s commitment to its land-grant beginnings, Brick said. “We have a very significant commitment to rural health care here at WVU,” Brick said. “This school has a long-standing tradition of service.” Every student in the School of
also ranked No. 72 for its Masters of Science in nursing program by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings are by nursing deans and faculty at schools across the country. The recognition is proof of the quality programs at WVU, said Georgia Narsavage, dean of the School of Nursing. “Hopefully this will help potential students realize that WVU is the place they want do their nursing degree at,” Narsavage said. jessica.compton@mail.wvu.edu
University of Charleston graduates to mark historic commencement on barge CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The University of Charleston’s Class of 2010 is planning an unusual entrance to mark the school’s awarding of its first doctoral and master’s of business administration leadership degrees.
Graduates will ride a barge to the university’s boat ramp, and then proceed up the lawn for Sunday’s commencement. The school says a similar river landing occurred in 1947 when its predecessor, Morris Harvey
College, moved across the Kanawha River from a temporary site in downtown Charleston to its current location. Sixty-nine of the 248 graduates will receive the school’s first doctorates in pharmacy.
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Medicine must learn and care for patients in rural areas as a requirement for graduation, he said. “West Virginia is a very rural, sparsely populated state, and we feel that it’s important to go to the people and serve them,” Brick said. Approximately 40 percent of graduates from the School of Medicine practice in West Virginia, Brick said. “It’s good to be recognized, but it’s more important to do the work,” Brick said. WVU’s School of Nursing was
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Obama to grads: Seek challenges, not fights WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has some advice for the class of 2010: Don’t get caught up in the partisan bickering that often consumes Washington and use your talents to help your country confront its greatest challenges. Obama’s homily on the imperatives of citizenship comes in a speech Saturday at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. At the same time, 45 miles away, Sarah Palin was set to denounce the president as a biggovernment Democrat whose free-spending ways will bankrupt the country. The former GOP vice presidential hopeful was the headliner at a Clarkston, Mich., forum hosted by the anti-tax Americans for Prosperity Foundation. Officials expected more than 1,000 to attend. Palin’s been on a nationwide speaking tour as she considers a 2012 White House bid and promotes her book. Obama’s road show was playing at a larger venue – Michigan Stadium, which can seat 106,201. People began poring into the stadium after a morning rain made for a damp wait to go through security. In the speech, White House spokesman Bill Burton said, the president will urge graduates “to participate as citizens in shaping our nation’s destiny. He will offer reflections on the role of government, drawing on our founding fathers and based on his own experiences.” “He will ask them to eschew partisan rancor and come together to move the country forward,” Burton added. Among those listening will be Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who’s on Obama’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees. Michigan, which was a key battleground in 2008, is likely to reprise the role in both the fall congressional campaign and Obama’s expected re-election bid. A big reason is the economy. Michigan has the nation’s highest unemployment rate – 14.1 per-
cent – and an angry electorate to match. The speech was part of what was shaping up as a busy weekend for the president. He planned to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday evening near the White House and was expected to visit the Gulf Coast soon for a firsthand update on the oil spill. In the Republican’s weekly radio and Internet address, Rep. Pete Hoekstra said Obama’s visit presents an opportunity “to show the president, firsthand, the painful plight of the people of Michigan.” Many of the graduates Obama addresses will soon learn how tough it is to find a job in this economy, the Michigan congressman said, adding that the share of young Americans out of work is the highest it’s been in more than 50 years.
Obama’s speech was the first of four he planned this commencement season. On May 9, he’ll speak at Hampton University, a historically black college in Hampton, Va., founded in 1868 on the grounds of a former plantation. He’s also addressing Army cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on May 22, continuing a tradition of presidents addressing graduates at the service academies. He announced his Afghanistan troop surge at West Post last December. Also this year, for the first time, Obama plans a high school commencement. It’s part of his “Race to the Top” education initiative, with its goal of boosting the United States’ lagging graduation rate to the world’s best by 2020. AP High schools across the coun- President Barack Obama walks toward Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as he travtry have competed for the honor, els to Ann Arbor, Mich., to deliver the commencement address at the University of Michigan submitting essays and videos. May 1.
18 | GRADUATION EDITION
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FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
Nation has high college remedial education rate DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Professor Derron Bowen teaches high school math to college students, patiently chalking equations on the board on basic arithmetic topics such as the speed of a driver on a 20-hour trip. Bowen’s class at Broward College in South Florida is for students who didn’t score high enough on an entrance test to get into collegelevel math. In all, about two-thirds of students entering the community college need to take at least one remedial course in math, English or reading. Nationwide, about a third of first-year students in 2007-08 had taken at least one remedial course, according to the U.S. Department of Education. At public two-year colleges, that number rises to
about 42 percent. Education observers worry that the vast numbers of students coming to college unprepared will pose a major roadblock to President Barack Obama’s goal for the United States to once again lead the world in college degrees. “We don’t get there from here,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia. In October, the Education Department reported that many states declare students to have grade-level mastery of reading and math when they do not. In a 2007 ACT National Curriculum Survey of college professors, 65 percent said their states poorly prepare students for college-level coursework.
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FRIDAY MAY 14, 2010
GRADUATION EDITION | 19
Fed chief to grads: Money can’t buy happiness WASHINGTON (AP) — Your parents were right. Money can’t buy you happiness. That was the message from the Federal Reserve chairman on Saturday to graduates of the University of South Carolina. “We all know that getting a better-paying job is one of the main reasons to go to college. ... But if you are ever tempted to go into a field or take a job only because the pay is high and for no other reason, be careful!” Ben Bernanke said in his commencement address. “Having a larger income is exciting at first, but as you get used to your new standard of living and as you associate with other people in your new income bracket, the thrill quickly wears off,” he said. The Fed released his prepared remarks before he gave the speech. Studies found that just six months after winning a large lottery prize – even in the million of dollars – people reported being not much happier than they were
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before winning, Bernanke said. Bernanke’s advice blended what economics and social science have to say about personal happiness. When you boil down all the studies and fancy formulas, it sounds a lot like what your parents told you. Other findings: Happy people tend to spend time with friends and family. Happy people tend to do what they love for a living or a hobby. Happy people tend to feel in control of their lives.
Happiness research is useful for policymakers, too, Bernanke said. The Fed’s goals include promoting economic growth and employment. Richer countries tend to report higher levels of satisfaction because they tend to be healthier, have more leisure time to pursue hobbies and have more interesting work, Bernanke pointed out. Richer countries tend to have few citizens in New design of the $100 bill is unveiled in Washington April 21. deep poverty, he added.
AP
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