WVU President Michael T. Benson speaks with Pedro J. Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean, WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Scheduled for July 28 to Aug. 1, the inaugural “Welcome Home Tour” for President Benson will take him to 18 counties. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)
WHAT: West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson will visit 18 counties during his inaugural “Welcome Home Tour,” which will take him into historical sites, business locations and local communities as the University’s 27th president.
WHO: President Benson, University students, alumni and supporters, and regional, state and community leaders
WHEN: July 28 to Aug. 1
WHERE: More than two dozen tour stops are planned across nearly 20 counties: Barbour, Braxton, Brooke, Clay, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Marshall, Ohio, Pleasants, Randolph, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Wetzel and Wood.
Media members and University supporters are invited to join the tour at the following stops:
Monday, July 28
WVU Alumni Association, Mountaineer Parents Club and University student reception
Oglebay Resort
465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling
6-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 29
West Virginia Independence Hall tour
1528 Market St., Wheeling
9-10 a.m.
WVU Alumni Association, Mountaineer Parents Club and University student reception
The Blennerhassett Hotel
320 Market St., Parkersburg
5:30-7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 30
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park tour
137 Juliana St., Parkersburg
10-11 a.m.
Thursday, July 31
WVU Jackson’s Mill tour
160 Jackson Mill Road, Weston
2:30-3:45 p.m.
WVU Alumni Association, Mountaineer Parents Club and University student reception
Pete Dye Golf Club
801 Aaron Smith Drive, Bridgeport
6-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 1
Historic Philippi Covered Bridge visit
200 North Main St., Philippi
3:45-4:30 p.m.
Mother’s Day Shrine tour
11 East Main St., Grafton
5-5:45 p.m.
Media members needing additional meeting point details or those interested in other tour stop locations should contact Shauna Johnson, executive director of Strategic Communications, via email at sjohns13@mail.wvu.edu.
NOTES: President Benson officially began serving as the University’s 27th president on July 15.
Future tour dates taking him to all 55 West Virginia counties and into surrounding states will be scheduled in the coming weeks and months. More information will be released as details are finalized.
The fall semester at WVU begins Aug. 20.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Shauna Johnson
Executive Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
304-293-8302; sjohns13@mail.wvu.edu
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.