Joe Mock, a two-time graduate of West Virginia University, will be the first to tell you that no matter where you live, Mountaineers always support each other. The West Virginia native now resides in Austin, Texas, where he helps keep his fellow alumni and friends engaged in and a part of WVU through the Hill Country Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association.
Mock will be among 75-100 alumni and volunteers from 13 states who will return to campus as part of the WVU Alumni Association’s 15th Annual Alumni Leaders Institute on Saturday, April 21, at The Erickson Alumni Center from 9 a.m.-noon.
Mock said he is excited about the opportunity to meet leaders from other chapters and share ideas.
“Not only do we enjoy the fellowship of fellow Mountaineers, we also participate in worthwhile causes like collecting books and donations for the WVU Children’s Hospital and raising funds for local scholarships,” Mock said. “And in everything we do, we’re promoting WVU. This is a great way to network and learn from each other.”
“The goal of this event is to give our alumni the tools needed to help further the mission and reach of the University and the Alumni Association, while offering opportunities to network with fellow grads and volunteers,” said Stephen L. Douglas, president and CEO, WVU Alumni Association. “We have a great lineup of speakers, and I know our leaders will enjoy hearing from these individuals.”
Speakers for this year’s event include Sarah Glenn of WVU’s Career Services Center who will discuss alumni involvement in hiring our students/alumni; Danielle Linsenbigler will talk about the role our graduates play in recruiting the best students as part of the National Alumni Recruiting Network ; and Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Keli Cunningham will help alumni understand how various communications and recruiting practices affect NCAA compliance. Attendees will also hear from WVU alum, sports reporter and author Mike Casazza who will discuss his new book, “Waiting for the Fall.”
Members of the WVU Alumni Association will also recognize those chapters who have exhibited extraordinary service to the University and its graduates with a presentation of the Golden Musket Award. The award is given in recognition of the chapters’ commitment to scholarship, community service, career/mentoring opportunities, student recruiting and social networking.
The Alumni Association will also recognize four former chapter leaders with the newly created, “Chapter Leader Emeritus Award.” Jim Ellis of the Grand Strand Chapter; Paul “Bud” Hehle, formerly of the Tidewater Virginia Chapter (posthumously); Betsy Ross of the NY-NJ Metro Chapter; and Wayne Sparks of the Central Virginia Chapter will each receive the award in recognition of their dedication and service to their respective chapters.
For more information about the WVU Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.wvu.edu.
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CONTACT: Tara Curtis, director of communications, WVU Alumni Association
304-293-0972, tecurtis@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.