Initiatives, News, and Events

Vol. 7, No. 44 • May 19, 2023

President’s Points of Pride

I am delighted to share the good news that the East Loop Transformational Project is underway. Reclaim Company, LLC, arrived on campus on May 15 to begin preparations for the demolition of Kenamond and Turner Halls—Phase I of Shepherd’s East Loop congressionally directed spending (CDS) grants. Following site mobilization by Reclaim, the project will commence with Turner Hall interior demolition activities. Leveling Turner Hall and interior demolition activities of Kenamond Hall will occur simultaneously. Razing Kenamond Hall will immediately follow the conclusion of the interior demolition activities. Parking lot preparations on the Kenamond Hall site will conclude Phase I of the project. It is anticipated that the East Loop Gateway Entrance, Phase II of the CDS grants, will be put out to bid in late summer or early fall.

On May 11, Shepherd Appalachian studies students and friends gathered at Tabler Farm to plant a new, 85% blight-resistant American chestnut tree as part of an effort to bring the tree back to the region. Appalachian studies master's student and local human rights attorney Susan Thompson (above) led the effort to educate attendees and plant saplings at Tabler. Susan's master's thesis will deal with the project and the story of the American chestnut.

Congratulations to Spring 2023 Dean’s List honorees

The Spring 2023 Dean’s List was released last week. More than 750 students earned the honor of being named to the Dean’s List. To be eligible for Shepherd’s Dean’s List, a student must maintain a 3.4 GPA for the semester and carry at least 12 hours of coursework or be in a professional teaching block. The full list of honorees is available online.

Senior racquetball tournament coming to Shepherd

The Suzanne Shipley Wellness Center is hosting a senior racquetball tournament on Saturday, June 10, at 9 a.m. This is an annual event associated with the West Virginia Senior Sports Classic. For additional information or to register, please visit www.wvssc.com. This is the only event being offered at Shepherd. All other events will be held in Charleston, West Virginia.

Soccer teams to host summer camps

Student-athletes and coaches from the men’s and women’s soccer teams will host a series of day camps this summer. Week-long, co-ed day camps will be offered three times this summer. The men’s program will also be offering a four-day goalkeeper day camp for high school boys of all ages who are seeking to improve their technical and tactical skills. For high school students interested in playing soccer at the collegiate level, the women’s team will be hosting a one-day ID Camp. New this year is a Girls Residential Team Camp for high school-aged teams. For information about the residential program, please email Head Women’s Soccer Coach Sam Odell at sodell@shepherd.edu.

News

New scholarship created in support of Ram Band color guard

A new endowed scholarship at Shepherd will support Jefferson High School and Washington High School graduates who participated in their high school band color guard and who are in Shepherd’s Ram Band color guard. The Kathy Windle Ram Band Color Guard Scholarship was established by Wesley Windle in memory of his wife, Kathy, to support future generations of students and to carry on Kathy’s legacy of music, movement, and compassion.

Softball quintet gains CSC Academic All-District honors

Five members of the softball team have been named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Graduate student third baseman Nicole Purtell, senior first baseman Cameron Davis, senior outfielder Hannah Beeler, senior pitcher Katie Laing, and senior outfielder Kylie Condon were honored.

Purtell, Donnelley gain D2CCA All-Region honors

Graduate student third baseman Nicole Purtell and junior second baseman Caitlin Donnelly of the softball team have been named to the 2023 D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Team. Purtell and Donnelly earned first-team honors. The pair gained first-team NFCA All-Region honors earlier this month.

Students in history class transcribe 17th-century diary

Shepherd students stepped back in time to the 1600s through the diary of prominent New England minister and writer Cotton Mather. Dr. Benjamin Bankhurst, associate professor of history, tasked students in the spring 2023 Colonial America class with transcribing pages from a diary written by Mather, who influenced the Salem witch trials that took place from February 1692 to May 1693.

Baseball quintet earns CSC Academic All-District honors

Five members of the baseball team have been named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Senior first baseman Ross Mulhall, senior pitcher Nate Hodgkinson, senior pitcher Tanner Dixon, junior outfielder Corey Jamison, and redshirt-sophomore pitcher Brenden Lewis were honored.

Baseball trio gains NCBWA All-Atlantic Region honors

Three members of the baseball team have been named to the 2023 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-Atlantic Region Team. Redshirt-sophomore outfielder Sam Daggers gained first-team honors, while senior first baseman Ross Mulhall, and graduate student third baseman Connor Dewees were second-team selections.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, May 20

11:30 a.m.—“Voices from Appalachia” radio show (listen online)

1:30 p.m.—Let’s Relax: A CBD & Meditation Workshop, presented by Women for Shepherd University and the Shepherd University Foundation, Suzanne Shipley Wellness Center (registration required)

Tuesday, May 23

4:30-6:30 p.m.— Volleyball Skills Camps for girls (registration required)

Thursday, May 25

4:30-6:30 p.m.— Volleyball Skills Camps for girls (registration required)

Friday, May 26

Memorial Day Holiday, University closes at 11:45 a.m.

Saturday, May 27

10 a.m.—Tabler Farm’s Beginning Farmer Workshop Series: Advanced Bee Keeping (registration required)