Shane Lyons returned home to his West Virginia roots earlier this year, and he will be spending his first WVU Homecoming as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics serving as the grand marshal for the annual Homecoming parade scheduled for Friday (Oct. 9) at 6:30 p.m. on High Street.

Lyons brings nearly 30 years of administrative experience in intercollegiate athletics to his role at WVU. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Lyons served as the deputy director of athletics at Alabama. His previous roles also include serving as the associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), as the associate athletics director for compliance at Texas Tech and as a senior membership services representative for the NCAA.

Lyons is a native of Parkersburg and a two-time WVU graduate, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sports management in 1987 and 1988, respectively.

Lyons and his wife, Emily have two children: Cameron, 15, and Brooke, 11.

Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna award
Jim and Karen Caveney are this year’s recipients of the Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna award.

For the Caveneys, WVU is a family affair. Their immediate family has earned 19 WVU degrees total and produced two Foundation Scholars and one Truman Scholar among their many accolades.

Jim is a three-time WVU graduate, earning his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in ‘63, ‘68 and ‘72, respectively. Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in medical technology in ‘63.

Jim is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni, serves on the Visiting Committee for the Dental School and is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Orthodontics. Karen serves on the Graduate Emeritus Board of Directors.

The Caveney family has collectively donated $100,000 to endow the James and Karen Caveny Alumni Association Faculty Excellence Award, which provides top resources for the top faculty to support their research. They have also contributed $70,000 to construct the Caveney Wall of Academic Scholars at the Erickson Alumni Center.

David Jacobs Lifetime Service award
This year’s recipient of the David Jacobs Lifetime Service award is Jeanne Carter from Wheeling.

As a graduate of WVU with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ‘52 and ‘70 respectively, she has been a loyal member of the WVU Alumni Association for more than 50 consecutive years.

John Nicholas Outstanding Chapter Leader award
This year’s recipient of the John Nicholas Outstanding Chapter Leader Award is Ed McMahon from Mantua, NJ.

As president of the Southern New Jersey chapter of the WVU Alumni Association, he established and expanded their footprint. The chapter funds scholarships and provides bus service to WVU students from New Jersey during holidays and student breaks.

McMahon also leads the Southern New Jersey Mountaineer Parents Club. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree from WVU in 2009.

Margaret Buchanan Cole Young Alumnus award
This year’s recipient of the Margaret Buchanan Cole Young Alumnus Award is Derek Bonner, who is the president of the University Chapter and a loyal support of WVU and the Alumni Association. He organizes a variety of events for the chapter, including a Coming Home reception during homecoming with proceeds benefitting the WVU Student Food Pantry. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from WVU in 2007.

Paul ‘Buck’ Martin Traditions award
Lyn Dotson is this year’s Paul ‘Buck’ Martin Traditions award honoree.

Dotson has worked as an adjunct professor of political science, served as the assistant dean of the College of Law, served as the assistant vice president of Institutional Advancement and vice president at the WVU Foundation in his 30 year-plus career at WVU.

During his time at WVU, he has dedicated himself to service and to upholding the traditions of WVU. He developed the initial Rhodes Scholar marketing campaign, established the WVU Visitors Cente and championed fundraising efforts to support a variety of WVU projects.

Dotson is a ‘76 graduate of the WVU College of Law.

James McCartney Community Service award
The Boone County Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association is the recipient of this year’s James McCartney Community Service award.

The Boone County Chapter has raised more the $500,000 to fund student scholarships through a variety of programs and services, including the annual Boone County Pig Roast. Current president Todd Mount will accept the award on behalf of the chapter.

-WVU-

hr/10/05/15

CONTACT: Kevin Berry, WVU Alumni Association
304.293.0970; KBBerry@mail.wvu.edu

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