March 2012 Volume 3 Issue 3

Geni Astorg Executive Director

geni.astorg@wvup.edu304.424.8341

Molly Floding Office Administrator

Katie Thaxton Communications Assistant

WVU at Parkersburg Foundation

304.424.8340Foundation@wvup.edu

www.wvup.edu/foundation

Page 2 Study Abroad Opportunity

New Programs

Page 3 Upcoming EventsCalendar of Events

Page 4 Donor Profile:

Hefner Education Fund

What’s Inside

Contact InfoDIO Cooks Up a Fundraiser

West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s chapter of Criminal Justice Honor Society Delto Iota Omega began a new fundraiser this winter. DIO members, along with recipe contributions from faculty, staff and students, created a cookbook to sell to raise funds for conferences and activities. These cookbooks are available for only $12 each. They can be purchased on campus in office 1012C or through the Foundation. For those who would like to purchase a cookbook, but are unable to make it out to the campus, the Foundation can ship the books out for an additional $4. From appetizers to desserts, the pages of the DIO cookbook are overflowing with yummy recipes to delight the taste buds. For more information, contact the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation at 304.242.8340. Quantities are limited. Be sure to order your copy today!

March 2012 ~ Page 2

Foundation Wish List

• Building the Yellow Brick Road Sponsors• Silent Auction items, contact the

Foundation for a list of requested items today!

• Men’s Basketball • Women’s Basketball• Women’s Volleyball

Sponsors Wanted!

Benefiting Athletic teams include:

Contact the Foundation @ 304.424.8340 to find out how to become a Riverhawks

Sponsor today!

• Men’s Soccer• Golf• Table Tennis

Broadway Singer Performs at College

West Virginia University at Parkers-burg is getting the word out to students and friends of the college about a unique study abroad opportunity. The college is planning a trip through EF Tours to Germany and the Alps. The trip is tentatively set for March, 2013, to take place during the college’s spring break. Frankfurt, Munich, Neuschwanstein, the Swiss Alps and Heidelberg are just a few of the destinations those attending will visit during the 11-day trip. The cost of the trip is $2,833 for stu-dents and $3,103 for non-students. Payment

plans are available and can be automatically deducted from a personal checking account each month. The cost of the trip includes airfare, accommodations, transportation, breakfast and much more. Included with ticket price is a full-time, bilingual tour guide to accompany the group. This could be a great opportunity, not only for students, but for alumni and donors as well, to interact with others who support the college and the students who benefit from that support. For more information on the trip visit www.efcollegestudytours.com and enter the

tour number 1195703, or contact the group leader Jeffrey Byrd by email jeffrey.byrd@mail.wvu.edu or by phone at 304.424.8295.

With West Virginia University at Park-ersburg always growing and expanding, it comes as no surprise that the college is add-ing two new programs. Made possible by two grants from the Community and Tech-nical College System of West Virginia, the college will soon offer courses in Culinary Arts or Diversified Agriculture. Beginning Fall 2012, students have the opportunity to enroll in courses towards an associate of applied science degree or a certificate in these fields. The Diversified Agriculture program will partially sustain the Culinary Arts program by growing pro-duce the Culinary program will utilize. Restaurant industry customers are de-manding fresh, locally grown foods. With fresh foods, however, comes a need for ad-ditional prep time and skills. WVU Park-

ersburg is offering the Culinary Arts pro-gram to educate local students on how to create delicious meals from fresh foods. The restaurant industry is growing. Many area businesses have already begun to show interest in hiring future gradu-ates of the program. Entrepreneurs in the food industry will have the opportunity to use the culinary kitchen, located at the college’s Downtown Center as part of the business incubator also located there. Job experience is a large part of the food industry, and the program will require students to complete an internship with a local business. Second year students will also gain practical experience as they oper-ate a student-run bistro. The college will hire a faculty member for each program. The culinary arts pro-

College Offers Two New Programs of Studygram will offer 13 new courses in the five-semester span. The Diversified Agriculture program will offer 10 new courses cover-ing such topics as botany, landscaping and farm management. According to the small farm center, 90 percent of food consumed in West Virginia is imported from outside of the state. As one of the national leaders for number of family owned farms, there is a need to supply area residents with the necessary skills to help these farms prosper into local food producers. WVU Parkersburg is constantly striv-ing to offer better educational opportuni-ties to its students in order to help the local economy thrive. These programs are just the type to help students obtain the skills required to be successful in two growing industries.

Travel Abroad Opportunity for More than Students

Neuschwanstein Castle,Germany

Broadway singer Franc D’Ambrosio will preform at WVU Parkersburg March 23 as part of the college’s Distinguished Performance Se-ries. D’Ambrosio will delight with “Songs from the Great White Way,” to include selections from “Phantom of the Opera”. D’Ambrosio is best known for his portrayal of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning musical, “The Phantom Of The Opera.” He also played the role of Anthony Cor-leone, the opera singing son of Al Pacino in Francis Ford Coppola’s seven time Academy Award-nomi-nated film “Godfather III.” Known for his one man shows, D’Ambrosio has toured North America, South America and Europe extensively. His performances included “Franc D’Ambrosio’s BROADWAY - Songs of The Great White Way,” which he will feature mu-sic from for the performance at WVU Parkersburg. The performance will take place at 8 p.m. in the college activities center. Ticket prices are $10 for non-students and $5 for students and can be purchased in the college business office 1112 or by calling 304.424.8223.

March 2012 ~ Page 3

March 24Building the Yellow Brick Road

A Wizard of Oz Luncheon11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the

College Activities CenterTickets: $19 for adults, $8 for children

For tickets call 304.424.8340 or stop in office 1107.

March 31Harlem Rockets

Comedy Basketball @ 6:00 p.m. @ PHS Field House

Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased on campus in office 2220 or online at

www.wvupcjo.org

Calendar of Events: Open to the Public

WVU Parkersburg CJO Hosts Harlem Rockets The month of March is full of family fun activities to support West Virginia Uni-versity at Parkersburg. Be sure to mark your calendars for Mar. 31 at 6 p.m. when the Harlem Rockets Comedy Basketball Team heads back to Parkersburg. Hosted by the WVU Parkersburg Criminal Justice Organization, the event will take place at the Parkersburg High School Field House. Back for their third year, the Rockets will play area community leaders such as Mayor Bob Newell, Wood County Pros-ecuting Attorney Jason Wharton and Park-ersburg Police Chief Joseph Martin. In pre-vious years, students played in the game, however with such growing popularity and an expectation to double ticket sales, CJO members are working behind the scenes this year. Also taking place during the game is

a food drive to support local charity. For each item donated, individuals will receive a ticket for a drawing at halftime. Raffle items include gift cards to local businesses, tickets to sporting events and the a group photo of the West Virginia University foot-ball team signed by all of the players. Part of the proceeds from the event go to the domestic violence shelter, with the rest going to fund an annual criminal jus-tice educational trip. Last year, CJO mem-bers went to the FBI Academy, and this year they are planning to travel to New York to visit Ground Zero and Rikers Island. More than just a fundraiser, the Har-lem Rockets Comedy Basketball game is an interactive event that is enjoyable for the whole family. Criminal Justice Coordina-tor Louis Roy is very excited about what the event offers families, “It’s good family

fun. This year there will be more comedy involved. They really do a great job.” Ticket prices are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. To purchase tickets contact Louis Roy at 304.420.8618, or purchase online at www.wvupcjo.org.

March 23Distinguished Performance SeriesBroadway Singer Franc D’Ambrosio

8:00 p.m.College Activities Center

Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students. For tickets stop in the

business office or call 304.424.8223.

Building the Yellow Brick Road A Wizard of Oz Luncheon Building the Yellow Brick Road is a Wizard of Oz-themed luncheon. The event is designed to be an interactive excursion for families to spend quality time together while supporting a good cause. Fun will abound Saturday, March 24, from 11 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. when families enter the land of Oz. WVU Parkersburg Theatre instructor Jeff Byrd will present a short the-atrical performance featuring students from the college. After capturing the children’s attention, lunch will follow, and anticipation will mount for the upcoming activities with the “Characters.” Activities include games with prizes and two photo booths. A silent auction with Oz-themed gift baskets will give the adults a chance at a treat as well. WVU Parkersburg was the first college in the state to offer child care to students, and they continue that service today. Construction has begun on a new Child Development Center to assist more children and offer a safe and creative place for them to go while parents attend class. Tickets are $19 for adults and $8 per child to attend. All proceeds will go toward the construction of the new center. To purchase tickets, visit the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation on campus in office 1107, call 304.424.8340, or purchase online at www.wvup.edu/Foundation. The Foundation now accepts Visa, MasterCard and Dis-cover. The Foundation staff will mail tickets out until a week before the event. At that point, individuals may pick up any tickets purchased in advance at the door. Limited seat-ing is available for the event, so get your tickets today!

March 2012 ~ Page 4

March 2012Volume 3 Issue 3

300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26104

Donor Establishes Scholarship to “Pay it Forward”

Please help the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation Go Green. To sign up for our e-newsletter, email your name and email address to Foundation@wvup.edu

John Hefner grew up in Cedar Grove, riding his bike in West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s parking lot and playing tennis at the tennis courts. He has since grown up, moved away, started a family of his own and carried out a successful career. Feeling a strong attachment to the com-munity however, he and wife Kristine have established a new scholarship through the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation to sup-port WVU Parkersburg students. A graduate of Parkersburg High School, John attended Marietta College where he studied petroleum engineering. After finishing his degree, John moved to Denver, Colo. and took a position as a res-ervoir petroleum engineer. A year later, he met Kristine and they moved around be-fore settling back in Colorado where John attended Colorado School of Mines and re-ceived his Masters in Petroleum Engineer-ing. They moved once again to Alaska be-fore returning to Parker, Colo. where they

still live today. John and Kristine had two boys, John and Bryce, who are now in high school. In 1995, with Kristine’s encouragement, they entered the world of entrepreneurship and opened Blue & Grey Resources. The company grew from con-sulting to having ownership in at least 400 wells throughout Colorado. In 2011, the Hefners sold their company and changed their focus. John has so many memo-ries of those who influenced him throughout the Mid-Ohio Val-ley. A long-time goal of his was to set up the Hefner Educational Fund as a way to “pay it forward” to a community that gave him so much. “It has been a long-time goal of mine to give back to a neighborhood, city, county and state that gave me so much.” Beginning Fall 2012, the He-fner education Fund will provide full tuition to a new student each

year until they complete their original de-gree. Students must retain a 2.74 GPA and be graduates of Parkersburg High School with considerable financial need. It is pre-ferred that students be majoring in a medi-cal, technical, welding or criminal justice field.