Category: Foundation News

The Marshall University Alumni Association has announced the recipients of two of its top awards ahead of the 83rd Alumni Awards Banquet on April 9.

The Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter, located in Beckley, West Virginia, has been named MUAA’s 2022 Chapter of the Year, while the Emerging Chapter of the Year award will be presented to Marshall University’s Eastern Panhandle Alumni and Big Green Chapter based out of Martinsburg, West Virginia, at the annual awards banquet next month.

“Our network of alumni chapters continues to flourish, and we are thrilled to see one of our newer groups rise to the ranks of MUAA Chapter of the Year,” said Kasey Stevens, assistant director of alumni relations at Marshall University. “The Southern Coalfields Chapter conducts numerous events each year and has raised thousands of dollars in scholarship support for students from southern West Virginia. Their passion for supporting the advancement of Marshall University’s goals and objectives is evident in everything they do. The group in the eastern panhandle is off to a strong start thanks to some high-caliber leadership and we have high hopes to see them rise quickly to contest for chapter of the year honors.”

Chapter of the Year is awarded each year to an outstanding alumni chapter for its contributions in membership growth, activities, fundraising and an overall dedication to Marshall University.

This is the first Chapter of the Year award for the Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter, which was established in 2017 when the Beckley Athletic Club (Big Green) contacted area alumni who had expressed interest in re-establishing an alumni chapter in the southern region. The chapter continues to support the area Coaches Tour Golf Outing, which has a long-standing relationship with the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.

Despite many obstacles faced throughout the pandemic, the Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter had its most successful year in terms of fundraising and event participation. In addition, active membership increased by approximately 25 percent.

In July 2021, the Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter presented the Marshall University Foundation with $13,000 and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation with $21,000 for a total of $34,000. The chapter also established the MU Southern Coalfields Scholarship Endowment, pledging $25,000 over five years. By the end of 2021, the chapter had fulfilled more than $10,000 toward this goal.

The chapter’s events in 2021 included the Beckley Big Green Coaches Tour Golf Outing, which hosted 96 golfers and more than 40 businesses in support of the annual event. The chapter also hosted the Thunder in the Alley Bowling Event, which saw 108 bowlers in attendance and grossed $5,900. In conjunction with the Beckley Golf Outing, the chapter hosted the inaugural Mark Walker Golf Ball Drop. This event was to honor Mark Walker, described as a “true Son of Marshall,” who battled a terminal brain tumor. This event would be Walker’s last public outing as he passed two months later. Nearly 1,000 golf balls were dropped on the putting green to raise $1,800 for the Southern Coalfields Scholarship Endowment.

The Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter is led by Tim Cyrus as president, Doug Leeber as past president, Miranda Arvon as first vice president, Amanda Ashley as second vice president, Larry Foster as treasurer and Kim Arden as secretary.

Members of the Eastern Panhandle Alumni & Big Green Chapter
Emerging Chapter of the Year is awarded to an up-and-coming alumni chapters for its efforts toward fundraising, membership growth, activities and dedication to Marshall University. Due to the pandemic, the award was not given in 2020 or 2021, meaning the Eastern Panhandle Chapter is the second chapter to receive this award.

The Eastern Panhandle Chapter was established in April 2021. The idea for the chapter came from conversations between Adam Stewart and Tim Pownell, two Marshall graduates who work together at United Bank in Martinsburg and Charles Town in West Virginia. Stewart is the chapter’s president with Pownell serving as vice president.

The Eastern Panhandle is one of the fastest growing areas in West Virginia. Members of the Eastern Panhandle Chapter aim to recruit high school students to attend Marshall, with plans to work with guidance counselors at area high schools. In addition to recruitment, the Eastern Panhandle Chapter wants to eventually create scholarships for Eastern Panhandle students.

The chapter has seven members on its board of directors, and close to 20 additional members. In the year since its formation, the chapter has hosted a handful of tailgates and game-watching events with numerous attendees at each.

For more information about the Alumni Awards Banquet visit www.herdalum.com.

The Marshall University Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to announce that OVP HEALTH has pledged a gift of $100,000 in support of the new Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation facility at Marshall University.

The facility is slated to be built in the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue and is scheduled to open in January of 2024.

OVP HEALTH, a Huntington, West Virginia, based company with an extensive range of primary care and addiction treatment facilities in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, led by president and co-founder Robert A. Hess, MD, FAAFP, is excited to partner with Marshall University in support of the state-of-the-art facility that will bring new economic development and world class students to the region.

“More than ever before, the economic health, viability and future of Huntington, West Virginia, are tied to Marshall University and its ability to prepare students to meet the growing demands of an ever-changing world,” said Hess.

Dr. Hess, an accomplished health care professional, earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Marshall University in 1980. After graduating from the Marshall University School of Medicine in 1984, Dr. Hess found success with Huntington Internal Medicine Group (HIMG), eventually becoming president of the large physician practice.

In 1999, Dr. Hess partnered with the late Stephen C. Shy, DO, to establish Ohio Valley Physicians, now known as OVP HEALTH.  For the past 23 years, he has been instrumental in leading the tremendous growth and success of the company, which now employs nearly 500 people.

Outside of his primary responsibilities as president and corporate medical director of OVP HEALTH, Dr. Hess dedicates himself to supporting Marshall University, including the establishment of a diversity internship program with its Lewis College of Business to provide opportunities for master’s degree students of color, working in health care administration.

With the establishment of the new business center, Dr. Hess is excited to continue his longstanding relationship with Marshall.

“As a growing, Huntington-based company with operations in five states, OVP HEALTH is delighted to support the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation,” Dr. Hess said. “It will not only provide students with the state-of-the-art learning environment needed to acquire that preparation but will also help to build a pipeline that will supply local, regional and national companies with a reliable stream of world-class employees and business leaders. And for the city and community of Huntington, that can only help to ensure a brighter, stronger and healthier future.”

The Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation will serve as a hub for the economic development of the region, as well providing Marshall University students with cutting-edge instructional facilities. The facility also features a unique design that provides flexibility for a changing academic environment and classrooms that encourage active learning of various types.

Marshall University hopes to attract new students to the region eager to take advantage of one of the most innovative business schools in the country.

To learn more about OVP HEALTH visit www.ovphealth.com. For more information about the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation and the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business, visit www.marshall.edu/cob.

The Marshall University Foundation has announced that Steel Dynamics, Inc. (Foundation) has pledged a gift of $100,000 in support of the new Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation facility at Marshall University.

The state-of-the-art facility is slated to be built in the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue on a plot of land that formerly housed The Flats on 4th apartment complex. The building is scheduled to open in January of 2024.

The building, which will also serve as a center for the economic development of the region, will provide for conference facilities capable of hosting both small and large business gatherings. Additionally, the building will serve as the hub for student-centric activities, providing students not only with instructional facilities but also facilities encouraging interaction and collaboration.

“The Lewis College of Business at Marshall University has graduated many of our current employees and has proven to be an excellent education provider to the region. Investments in new facilities and equipment will keep those graduates up to date with the ever-changing business world,” said Chuck Abbott, vice president and general manager at Steel of West Virginia. “We believe a better-educated workforce creates a stronger economy with higher living standards and more opportunities for everyone to benefit from it, including those less fortunate.”

A game changer for the region, the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation will implement the latest in technological enhancements while maintaining an open architecture capable of expanding and being reconfigured based upon changes and demands in the environment. Additionally, the facility will incorporate classrooms that encourage active learning environments of various types.

The facility will help attract new students to Marshall University eager to take advantage of one of the most innovative business schools in the country. In turn, Abbott looks forward to what that means for the entire region both in terms of economic impact and a highly adaptable and skilled workforce.

“Our region will be positively impacted with the latest educational initiatives,” Abbott said. “This will allow our families and their children to get a great, cost-effective education preparing them for successful careers. The new facility will also attract world class faculty and students. Business in the region will also be able to greatly improve with these better prepared graduates.”

Founded in 1993, Steel Dynamics, Inc. is one of the largest and youngest domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States based on estimated annual steelmaking and metals recycling capability. With annual revenues of $18.4 billion in 2021, SDI has over 10,000 employees and manufacturing facilities primarily located throughout the United States. SDI quickly grew to become one of the premier carbon steel producers in the United States. Steel Dynamics’ growth is a combination of organic capacity greenfield additions and strategic acquisitions.

Steel Dynamics’ operations consist of seven mills, one of which is Steel of West Virginia, producing steel from steel scrap using electric arc furnaces, continuous casting, automated rolling mills and downstream finishing facilities.

The company was recently recognized as the 2021 Steel Producer of the Year by Fastmarkets Global Awards for Steel Excellence and was the only steel producer out of 236 USA employers named one of the World’s Best Employers in 2021 by Forbes. Steel Dynamics was also named by Investor’s Business Daily as one of the 100 Best Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Companies of 2021. SDI is the only USA steel producer given this designation and one of only three steel producers globally.

Steel Dynamics has been a regular supporter of Marshall University through the years, previously donating to the computer lab in the Lewis College of Business and supporting other projects on campus. Abbott said that, as both a Marshall graduate and a proud member of the Steel Dynamics family, he is thrilled to help facilitate change in the region by supporting Marshall University and its growing campus.

“We are thankful for the SDI Foundation to be able to help the new business college in its funding for the new Brad D. Smith Business and Innovation Center building,” Abbott said. “It is fantastic to be able to help Marshall University continue to move forward by giving back to a school that has provided Steel of West Virginia outstanding employees for decades.”

Marshall University and the Marshall University Alumni Association (MUAA) are set to host the 83rd annual Alumni Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 9, beginning at 6 p.m. with a reception followed by dinner and awards at 7 p.m. at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.

The Marshall University Alumni Awards Banquet recognizes outstanding alumni, university supporters and students during an evening of celebration and reverence of the great things being accomplished by the Marshall University alumni community. The event, postponed for the past two years due to the pandemic, will feature awardees who were originally slated to be honored in 2020.

Highlighting the list of more than a dozen honorees at the 2022 awards banquet are Brad and Alys Smith. Brad D. Smith has been selected as the recipient of the Marshall University Distinguished Alumnus award while Alys Smith has been selected as the recipient of the Distinguished Service to Marshall University award, two of Marshall’s highest honors. William Joseph Kehoe and Cathy Burns have been selected as co-recipients of the Outstanding Community Achievement award, and Jeff McKay will receive the Distinguished Young Alumnus award.

Other awards scheduled for the evening will include the MUAA Chapter of the Year, this year being awarded to the Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter located in Beckley, West Virginia, along with the MUAA Emerging Chapter of the Year going to the Eastern Panhandle Alumni and Big Green Chapter based out of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Individual Awards of Distinction will also be presented during the event to honorees from each of Marshall’s schools and colleges. This year’s Awards of Distinction will go to Robert A. Hess (School of Medicine), Daniel Collins III (School of Pharmacy), Lee Ann Brammer (College of Health Professions), Bruce Felder (College of Business), Brandon McCoy (College of Arts and Media), Barbara Guyer (College of Education and Professional Development), David Casto (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Steve Beckelhimer (College of Science) and Kathryn Gutzwiller (College of Liberal Arts).

“We are so excited to once again be able to host this wonderful event and showcase the amazing alumni, faculty, staff, students and supporters of Marshall University,” said Larry Crum, senior director of communications at the Marshall University Foundation, Inc. “This year we have the unique opportunity to recognize many of the awardees that were selected to receive awards in 2020, as well as some new honorees selected earlier this year. This is also the first year we will be hosting this event in Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall which home to the Erickson Alumni Center, a fitting backdrop for this event. We can’t wait to roll out the green carpet for our awardees on April 9.”

Born in Huntington, West Virginia, and growing up in nearby Kenova, Brad D. Smith graduated from Marshall University in 1986 with a degree in business administration and an emphasis in marketing. After serving in various sales, marketing and general management positions, Smith joined Intuit in February of 2003 as vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Accountant Central and Development Network in Plano, Texas. He led the company’s Consumer Tax Group in San Diego from March 2004 through May 2005 before being appointed to senior vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Small Business Division in May 2006. Smith became Intuit’s president and chief executive officer in January 2008 until stepping down as CEO at the end of 2018.

During Smith’s tenure as CEO, Intuit experienced significant growth, while consistently being recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. Smith ranked among the top executives in the United States by Fortune, coming in at No. 6 on their list of top CEOs. Originally slated to be honored in 2020, Smith has since gone on to be named Marshall University’s 38th president in January of this year.

Alys Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from The Ohio State University and then graduated with a law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. Together Brad and Alys Smith have helped change the landscape at Marshall University in profound ways.

In November 2018, the Smiths made a transformational $25 million gift to Marshall’s Lewis College of Business. In recognition of his generosity, the college named its undergraduate and graduate schools for him. Previously, the Smiths established the Brad D. and Alys Smith Family Scholarship at Marshall for West Virginia and Ohio students, with preference for first-generation college students. Their past support was recognized by the university foundation’s board of directors in 2015, when the foundation board named its building the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.

The Smiths have been intimately involved in numerous Marshall projects over the years, including 2017’s Innovating for Impact Challenge, which featured Intuit leaders visiting Huntington to help the university’s students create business plans. The program culminated in a competition judged by Smith, actress and West Virginia native Jennifer Garner, and former Marshall and NFL quarterback Chad Pennington.

In other categories, William Joseph Kehoe and Cathy Burns are the co-recipients of the Outstanding Community Achievement Award.

Kehoe is the William F. O’Dell Professor Emeritus of Commerce at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is also a Faculty Fellow of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia. He was a faculty member at the Marshall University College of Business from 1971-73 and received an M.A. in Economics from Marshall in 1973. Kehoe’s many years of community achievement were recognized by the Charlottesville community in awarding him as Citizen of the Year by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2016 for his more than two decades of community leadership and initiatives. Kehoe’s years of community service stretch across local, state, national and academic community levels.

Burns is the Executive Director of the Huntington Municipal Development Authority. She was the first female CEO of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and is the former City Manager of Huntington, holding membership on multiple state and national boards. Burns has been a champion for Huntington’s growth and prosperity throughout her career, being involved in multiple economic and job development projects. She has been honored with multiple awards and recognitions, including the The Herald-Dispatch’s Business Person of the Year and WV Executive Magazine’s 2019 Wonder Woman award. Burns graduated from Marshall in 1983 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.

Jeff McKay will serve as this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. McKay, a two-time graduate of Marshall with a B.A. in Sociology in 2009 and an M.A. in Sociology in 2012, has changed the beer culture of Huntington. McKay founded Huntington’s first craft beer bar and helped found Huntington’s Rails and Ales Festival and the Wild and Wonderful Winter Beer Fest. He lobbied state leaders to change beer laws for the better, bringing additional business to the Mountain State.

Other honorees at the annual alumni awards banquet include Makena Rauch (Cam Henderson Scholarship), Charity Hightower (Nate Ruffin Scholarship), Joelle Williams (Janis Winkfield Scholarship), Hannah Dorsey (Nancy Pelphrey/Herd Village Scholarship) and Miranda Pate (Nancy Pelphrey/Herd Village Scholarship).

For more information visit www.herdalum.com.

CLICK HERE to view the full list of this year’s awardees.

Imagine, if you will, a race.

On one end of this race stands an ordinary, everyday man or woman trying to complete a 1-mile obstacle course through downtown Los Angeles in front of a national television audience. At the other end of this race, is $1 million.

Of course, like any made-for-television game show, this competition comes with a catch. After a brief head start, these average Americans are then chased down by a series of elite athletes whose entire mission is to stop them from reaching the finish and winning the grand prize.

Sound intense? It is.

Developed by NBA superstar LeBron James and hosted by former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, Million Dollar Mile debuted on CBS with nine episodes during the summer of 2019. With colorful personalities, extraordinary athleticism and gifted physiques, the stars of the show were the defenders who took turns each week hunting down and eliminating contestants.

While all the defenders had their time in the spotlight, one who made a significant splash during the five-month run of the show was Emma Chapman, a two-time Marshall University graduate and former Thundering Herd athlete, affectionately known as “The Mighty Kiwi.” Chapman is one of the most decorated obstacle course racing athletes in the world and has made a name for herself on the competitive circuit of CrossFit competitions and Tough Mudder X races.

Recognized nationally for her skill in these arenas, Chapman was an easy selection to star on the show and was one of the first athletes featured in the debut episode. Of course, starring on the show also meant she had to try on a different persona as a villain on national television.

“As a defender, we were basically seen as the bad guys. As competitive as I am, I wouldn’t say I am a mean person, so it was really hard for me to get into character. Still, the overall experience was truly amazing and one that I am extremely grateful for,” Chapman said.

Chapman was one of 10 defenders, a group made up of six men and four women. Their job was to chase down the contestants attempting to win the $1 million as they navigated five separate obstacles, each earning them more money. The contestants were given a two-minute head start before the defenders began their pursuit.

With so many gifted athletes in one space, Chapman admitted the competition quickly shifted from the contestants to the defenders themselves.

“Filming the show in L.A. was an amazing experience. Being behind the scenes of a television show was really unique. And, of course, when you put several competitive athletes together in one place, crazy things happen,” Chapman said. “One evening, the other female defenders and I were discussing how we could beat any of the male defenders through the obstacle course. This conversation was overhead by one of the producers who then decided it would be a good idea for some of us females to race against the male contestants on the show.

“I believe it was the next night where they read aloud who we would be racing against when they said that I would be racing against a male contestant. I was shocked and extremely nervous at the same time. I did not want to be the defender who gave away the $1 million prize, so I knew I had to step up to the plate. The contestant ended up getting to the fifth obstacle where I overtook him on a rock-climbing wall that was located at the end of a swimming pool. I would like to know what my heart rate was during the race because I believe it was the most nervous I have been in my entire life.”

That moment was a microcosm of her time on this earth thus far. Simply put, Chapman was born for the big stage.

Born in England before moving to New Zealand at the age of 10, Chapman grew up in a family of athletes. And it wasn’t long before competition became a way of life. She began playing soccer at a young age before joining local clubs and working her way up to playing for New Zealand’s U20 national team.

“My dad, both brothers and I grew up playing soccer – or football as we call it. I was always active and enjoyed playing a number of different sports. Playing soccer gave me so many amazing opportunities, including traveling the world representing New Zealand at the U20 Women’s World Cup, and ultimately leading to Marshall University,” Chapman said.

During her time playing for the national team, one of her coaches connected her with former Marshall University women’s soccer coach Chris Kane. A few months later, Chapman was on a plane and on her way to Huntington to play for The Herd.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend university where I pursued my degree in education and represented the university in soccer,” Chapman said. “The opportunity to attend university and play a sport is unique to America and not really an option in New Zealand. When I arrived at Marshall, I almost instantly felt at home amongst my teammates and Huntington.”

While she was quick to make friends, life in West Virginia took some getting used to. But it wasn’t long before her newfound friends and teammates helped set her on the right track.

“When I arrived in Huntington and was picked up by Chris, I remember vividly coach taking a right turn on red and I was instantly in shock,” Chapman said with a laugh. “Obviously driving on the opposite side of the road took me a while to get used to. Still to this day I go to get into my vehicle to drive, only to realize I have opened the passenger side door. There were several examples of things like that from the dairy products – the cheese is very yellow here – to the portion sizes. One piece of advice I got from family and friends before coming to the USA was to eat half of what they serve in restaurants, and they were not kidding.

“In terms of culture shock, overall it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. West Virginia shares a lot of similarities with New Zealand, in particular the south island where I lived. The people are friendly and there are lots of mountains and the weather is seasonal. I really did feel at home when I arrived here.”

During her time in Huntington, Chapman earned two degrees, including her master’s degree in education in 2013. She also met her future husband, Corey Chapman, and helped guide the Thundering Herd women’s soccer team to Conference USA success during her senior year.

“I spent eight years in Huntington and I always tell people that if I could go back in time, I would do it all over again,” Chapman said. “Playing soccer for the Thundering Herd was such an amazing experience and I take great pride in it. I also really enjoyed my time during my studies in the education department where I met some lifelong friends, and my husband. Coming to Marshall literally changed the course of my life.

“I initially had plans to move back home after graduating, but here I am, 14 years later, still living in America. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to come over here and represent the university.”

Today, Chapman resides in Berea, Kentucky, with her husband and two dogs. Chapman teaches health education to middle school and high school students in Berea and her husband, Corey, is the strength and conditioning coach at Madison Central High School, where he also coaches football. As a teacher, Chapman feels right at home doing something she has always dreamt of since she was very young, and it is all thanks to her education at Marshall.

“I have been active my entire life. I pretty much played every sport growing up. My parents were also huge advocates for health and wellness and are both are very active themselves. In fact, my dad still plays soccer and will be turning 60 soon,” Chapman said. “Some of my role models growing up were the teachers I had, in particular, the physical education teachers. I knew at an early age that I wanted to pursue teaching as a career, specifically being a health and physical education teacher. It allows me to make a positive impact in the lives of my students each day and promote a healthy lifestyle. There are so many additional benefits such as teaching my students what it means to work as a team, strengthening their social skills and improving their focus and abilities in the classroom.”

But that is far from the end of this story.

Over the past four years, Chapman has competed professionally in CrossFit challenges, along with other competitive arenas including obstacle course racing and, more recently, triathlons. In fact, it was during her time in Huntington that Chapman fell in love with CrossFit as it provided that competitive itch that was missing when her soccer career was over.

“I started CrossFit back in 2014 as it filled the void of training that was missing. It sounds funny to say out loud, but I really missed being told what to do, how to do it, when to do it when it comes to working out. My time playing soccer at Marshall was just that,” Chapman said. “I am a pretty routine-oriented person and joining a CrossFit gym allowed me to add working out back to my routine on a more consistent basis.”

After two years of training, Chapman qualified for her first regional event in 2016 before making it all the way to the team competition at the CrossFit Games in 2019 where her team placed fifth in the world. She then qualified for the CrossFit games as an individual in 2020, only to have that opportunity taken away due to the pandemic. “I was absolutely devastated, but it motivated me more and I then went on to qualify for the semifinals in 2021,” Chapman added.

In addition to her time in CrossFit, Chapman also ventured into the world of obstacle course racing and competed in her first Tough Mudder X competition in Richmond, Virginia, in 2018. At the event, 50 male and 50 female competitors battled the course over three races to decide a champion. Setting a personal goal to place in the top 10, Chapman went on to win the competition, opening many doors in the years ahead.

“After winning the Tough Mudder X competition and being crowned world championship, that led to a host of amazing experiences including the Spartan Games in 2019, Spartan World Championship races in 2019 and 2021, and my involvement in the Million Dollar Mile show,” Chapman said.

After years of success on the soccer pitch, in gyms, on muddy fields across the nation and on national television, what drives Chapman to be successful?

“I am a very competitive person by nature, and I believe that stems from growing up with a twin sister and two older brothers,” Chapman said. “I really like the opportunity to challenge myself more than anything. For me, competing against other people isn’t what drives me. What drives me is seeing my own performance improve from all the work that I put into training. That feeling of getting better is almost addicting. It’s definitely what keeps me motivated.”

Another thing that keeps her motivated are the kids she guides each week. And when they found out that their teacher was going to be on television, it didn’t take long for them to chime in how they felt.

“My students still talk about the show to this day,” Chapman said. “I was not allowed to say I would be on the show until they publicly announced who the defenders were. There were several commercials that aired prior to the show, including a Super Bowl commercial, and it was there that some people spotted me. I appeared in the first episode, and we ended up having a watch party at the school.

“Being the villain was a shock to some of my students. I had several tell me that they didn’t think I could be mean. I just hope that my time on the show helped to inspire my students to believe that through hard work, anything is possible.”

While she has already lived a life that has taken her around the world and thrust her onto the national stage in many arenas, Chapman remains humble and always points to Marshall as a guide on this amazing journey.

“Marshall University really did change the course of my life,” Chapman said. “Marshall helped give me my career and it was there that I was introduced to CrossFit. I attended my first class after graduation at CrossFit Thunder and I was instantly hooked. That filled the void that playing soccer left and ultimately led to all the opportunities I have experienced to date.

“I truly believe I would not have had as much success and experienced the amazing opportunities that I have if it had not been for attending Marshall.”

Breaking news. Epic fantasy. While these genres seemingly have nothing in common, for Marshall University graduate Emily (Burch ) Harris, they are two published volumes in her professional bibliography.

Harris has worked in journalism for more than 25 years and is currently a lecturer and the program adviser for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s student newspaper, The A&T Register. In addition, Harris recently co-authored a book, “Shadowplay,” alongside New York Times best-selling author and friend, Terry Mancour.

“It was really rewarding, amazing and surprisingly painless,” Harris said of her venture with Mancour, who is the author of the “Spellmonger” book series. “Shadowplay,” which was published in October 2021, is the first book in a trilogy based on Gatina, a popular “Spellmonger” character. “ Shadowplay” is available on Kindle and Audible and was produced by Podium Audio.

Harris, who has edited the “Spellmonger” series since 2010, said she approached Mancour with the idea of collaborating on a book early in the pandemic. They spent weeks brainstorming and outlining, often speaking over the phone or video chat before being able to meet in person on a joint family beach trip in August 2020.

“I liken it to playing in someone else’s sandbox with someone else’s toys,” Harris said. “It’s his world, he built it, but I got to add my spin to it.”

Writing an epic fantasy novel is very different from the journalistic training Harris received as a student in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Harris, a two-time Marshall graduate, earned her bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism in 1994, and earned her master’s degree in journalism in 1996.

Harris said she always knew she wanted to be a writer, but it took time to find the courage to give voice to the type of writing she wanted to do. However, a breaking news story in the spring of 1993 regarding a student government election showed her journalism is where she was supposed to be.

“As a student journalist, it was the adrenaline rush,” Harris said. “That story, among a few others, led me to believe that’s where I needed to be. News is what I needed to be doing.”

Harris, a graduate of Winfield High School, had opportunities to attend college out of state, but her second campus tour of Marshall changed her mind.

“It was the squirrels,” she laughed, as she described Marshall’s welcoming, fur-covered friends and the picturesque scenery of the trees draped over the brick walkway between Smith Hall and Old Main. “I just felt like I was somewhere else. It felt like I had come home. Something in there connected with my soul.”

During her time as a student, Harris was on the editorial staff of The Parthenon, news director for WMUL-FM and editor of The Chief Justice, Marshall’s former yearbook.

While completing her master’s, Harris worked as a graduate assistant for the Marshall Artists Series where she got to meet legendary musicians Art Garfunkel and Stewart Copeland.

“I don’t think I would have had those experiences had I gone to Syracuse or Carolina,” Harris said.

Harris had one goal after graduating from Marshall – to work at a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. Harris achieved this goal, later working at the Winston-Salem Journal. She has also worked for The Morning News, in Florence, South Carolina, as well as the High Point Enterprise and the Greensboro News and Record, both in North Carolina.

Harris, recounting her first off-campus apartment with its green shag carpet and olive green stove, highlights the impact her time in the journalism program and her professors, such as Dr. George Arnold, Dr. Charles G. Bailey, Dr. Janet Dooley, Prof. Dwight Jensen and Dr. Ralph Turner, had on her during her time at Marshall.

“Everything I did, everything I learned and all the experiences I had helped build me into the person I had become and am becoming,” Harris said. “That all ties back to the journalism program, as well as the patience, sense of humor and graciousness of the professors.”

In 2004, Harris began working in student media before taking on a full-time position in 2007. Regarding her teaching tactics, Harris pulls from her experience as a student in Marshall’s journalism program.

“I try to model the behavior that our advisers and professors presented us with when we were students,” Harris said.

In an age where journalists and the media are under regular scrutiny, Harris works with her students to dispel the myths surrounding the profession, as well as bolster the importance of media literacy, law and ethics.

“If it’s your passion, it’s worth pursuing,” Harris said. “If you know journalism is what you want to do and you want to be a recorder of history, then start with the history of the major.”

In 2021, Harris was given the Honor Roll Adviser Award for a four-year newspaper from the College Media Association. While honored by the accolade, Harris said the award felt much bigger than just herself.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the students,” Harris said. “Everything I learned about student media ties back to The Parthenon and WMUL. Being named adviser of the year felt amazing, but it wasn’t just about me, it was about Arnold, and Turner, and Dooley and Bailey, and everyone else who came before me.”

By day, Harris may mold the minds of young journalists, but in her off hours she continues her passion for fiction. In 2016, she published her first novel “Avalon’s Choice: A Rebekah Keith Chronicle,” which is available on Kindle, and subsequent books are in the works. She also has other ideas for future books, including one set in West Virginia.

Harris, who resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, with her husband, Doug, and their 11-year-old son Connor, have visited the Mountain State and recalls the memory of a visit to Huntington in 2010, complete with a stop at a Jewel City favorite, Chili Willis.

“I wanted to stop by Stationer’s” Harris said. “When we got there, it was closed, and the keys were on the ground. We took them to MUPD, and the next day the owners called to thank us and gave us a $50 gift card.”

From the classrooms of Smith Hall to the realm of Callidore in the “Spellmonger” universe, Harris’ love for the written word can be found in each sentence of her stories, and it’s a love she hopes to inspire others.

“I would encourage people who have a story they want to tell to just start writing,” Harris said. “Nobody can tell your story but you.”

The American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region serves 77 counties in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Last year locally, the Red Cross responded to over 1,100 home fires; assisted nearly 2,100 military members, veterans and their families; helped make more than 1,000 homes safer by installing over 1,300 free smoke alarms; and collected 53,000 units of lifesaving blood at about 2,000 blood drives.

Tenikka Phillips, Marshall alumna serves as a Disaster Mental Health (DMH) and Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteer for the American Red Cross Tenikka became a donor at 18 but was surprised by the variety of volunteer positions available.

She said she knew the Red Cross responded to home fires but always thought she was not qualified to do that. When she saw she could use her skills and education to give back, she wanted to take care of her community.

“I loved going to Marshall. The sense of community and taking care of others is such a huge part of the school and that led me to volunteering with the American Red Cross,” Tenikka said.

She first got involved with the American Red Cross during the historic West Virginia floods of 2016. Marshall put out a call for Mental Health Professionals to volunteer during this time. “I thought this was a great way to use my skills and give back.”

“Currently, I volunteer as a Disaster Mental Health volunteer and counsel those who have experienced a disaster and help them process the emotional trauma of their loss. I also facilitate workshops for the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces. These workshops serve our active military, veterans and their families to better equip them with communication and coping strategies. I am so thankful that my degree from Marshall has allowed me to serve my community through the American Red Cross.”

From responding to disasters to serving our military heroes to delivering life-saving blood, resolve to give back in 2022!

Apply today here, scan the QR code, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information. Click on the graphics below to learn more about the most needed positions.

Each year, millions of people visit Walt Disney World. Wide-eyed children and their families move through its parks; their hearts filled with wonder and excitement. Smiles stretch ear-to-ear as their beloved Disney characters are magically transformed from reel life to real life, and each attraction immerses them into their favorite adventures.

But the magic of Disney World is not magic alone. It is the work of Marshall University graduate Jerry Frame, and hundreds of others, who bring to life these enchanting experiences for Disney World’s visitors.

Frame is the principal systems engineer at Walt Disney Imagineering. He oversees the design and architecture for new attractions at Disney World, as well as maintain current attractions.

“It’s my job to work with all the different groups at WDI – such as mechanical and electrical – and pull together an architecture and design from an engineering standpoint for an attraction so we can build it and give the creative group what they’re looking for,” Frame said.

Frame, who is originally from Red House, West Virginia, graduated from Marshall in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. Frame said he decided to go to Marshall because of its reputable computer science program, and because it was close to home.

“At the time, I had been interested in computers since fifth grade, and I was looking for a computer science program,” Frame said. “I looked around at the local schools, and Marshall had one of the better programs.”

After graduating, Frame worked at various organizations in West Virginia as a software developer before moving to Tennessee. However, when an opportunity to work for Disney became available nearly 15 years ago, Frame and his wife, Jacquelyn, moved to the Sunshine State so their daughter, Alexandra, could grow up experiencing the magic of Disney World.

“The main reason I took the job at Disney was because she was about a year and a half old at the time, and I had the ability to let her grow up around Disney,” Frame said. “I tend to see everything at Disney through her eyes.”

When Frame began his career at Disney World, he was a senior software engineer. One of his first projects was Radiator Springs Racers, a Cars-themed attraction at Disney California Adventure Park, which meant a summer working in California at Disneyland. This later earned him his first Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Other projects Frame worked on early in his Disney career include updating Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln with the first all-electric expressive head for the Disneyland attraction’s reopening in 2009, as well as assisting Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a steel roller coaster in Magic Kingdom at Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland Park in China. Frame also supports and upgrades various attractions throughout not just Disney World, but any of Disney Parks’ resorts.

“Basically, any of the attractions worldwide throughout Disney’s resorts that have been built or upgraded in the last 10 years is running software that I’ve developed,” Frame said.

In 2015, Frame was promoted to team lead and as such was responsible for show control systems and engineering. It was around this time Frame began work on Frozen Ever After, a new Audio-Animatronic attraction at EPCOT. The same animation system used in Frozen Ever After would later be implemented on several other Disney Parks’ attractions, including Star Wars character BB-8, which became the first Audio-Animatronic figure that can be touched by visitors.

“I helped drive the direction of all the new, modern animatronics systems,” Frame said. “I have been heavily involved in all the development.”

Frame said Marshall’s computer science program prepared him for his career at Disney World because the curriculum included both hardware and software components.
“One thing I liked about Marshall’s computer science program is it taught a mix of hardware and software,” Frame said. “They had us take classes like motherboard design and digital circuits. That really prepared me for later in life because the first job I got was a software job writing hardware components. That pretty much led me to where I am now.”

In 2018, Frame’s role at Disney World shifted and he began working for Walt Disney Imagineering. This allowed him to take his work with Frozen Ever After and apply it to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, both located within Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World. Frozen Ever After later earned a 2018 Themed Entertainment Association Award for Attraction Reimagining, which earned Frame his second Thea Award in five years.

Though, Frame’s proudest achievement is the joy his work brings to the children and families who visit Disney World each day.

“I like Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy because it builds up, and the show is full of kids, and every time Lightning McQueen comes out all the kids clap and cheer,” Frame said. “It’s always fun when the kids get to see one of their heroes come to life.”

Out of each smile Frame brings to Disney World’s young visitors, his daughter’s means the most. Alexandra, who is now a teenager, will soon take a new ride – college. Though, where she will attend is yet to be determined.

“It’s funny,” Frame said with a laugh. “My wife went to West Virginia University, so there’s a bit of an in-house rivalry.”

After nearly 25 years post-graduation, Frame reflects on his own time in college and the community built within Marshall’s computer science program. He also speaks highly of his former professor, Dr. Herbert Tesser.

“He was a mentor,” Frame said. “We spoke a few times after I graduated, and I even spoke to him once after I got the Disney job. He was a big influence on me.”

Frame also has fond memories of his time at Marshall outside of the classroom. He made several friends on campus, and still cheers for the Herd in football.

“I met lots of friends there,” Frame said. “I went to Marshall at a time when we were big in football during the Randy Moss and Chad Pennington era. So that was always fun, getting together and watching games.”

What began as a storybook childhood for Alexandra has become a successful career for Frame. Though she may soon go off to college, Frame will continue to do what he does best – bring the magic of Disney World to life.

“I started the journey for her, and it has been a fun journey,” Frame said.

Work through a pandemic? Check. Navigate online classrooms? Check. Stay focused and dedicated to a job you love? Also check. It’s no surprise that teachers have shouldered a lot of weight through the pandemic and it’s impressive still to see them shine and stay inspirational for their students day after day. Yet one local teacher continues to do so, and her demeanor, reach, and story are all truly inspiring.

If you’ve been around the Cabell County School System for any amount of time, you probably know Mrs. T.C. Her joy is contagious and her passion for caring for young people is unmatched.

Mrs. T.C., or T.C. Clemons, has spent the last 43 years teaching and the last 27 years growing and shaping young minds in the Cabell County school system.

Mrs.T.C. earned her bachelor’s degree from Marshall in 1978, before continuing to earn her master’s degree in special education in 1983.

“What inspired me to be a teacher really wasn’t a what, but rather a lot of amazing teachers who birthed that inspiration and desire deep within my heart to be a teacher and to make a difference in the lives of children as they had done for me,” Mrs. T.C. said. “Teachers who saw everything I could be even if I didn’t yet. As early as first grade, I can remember how special my teachers made me feel.”

Growing up in Williamson, West Virginia, during segregation, Mrs. T.C. attended an all-black school, with both black and white teachers.

“My black teachers were people I attended church with, visited in their homes, taught me in Sunday School, and were also family friends. They were the ones who kept me in check and presented a role model that I could be anything my heart desired. They were a bright light in my life. Little did they know that I had decided I wanted to be just like them. They extended their love and teaching beyond the classroom which shaped the type of teacher I knew I wanted to be to and for my kids (students),” Mrs. T.C. said.

When Mrs. T.C. was in the seventh grade, schools began to integrate, and she then attended an all-white school, which came with a new set of challenges.

“But little did they know I already had a solid foundation and knew who I was. I was blessed with teachers who did not look like me but did what they were called to do. Teachers who came to know my heart and extended their knowledge, love, guidance, and kindness my way who also had a forever effect on the teacher I am today,” Mrs. T.C. said.

Mrs. T.C. moved to Huntington in 1981 to attend Marshall, as Williamson only had a community college and she needed a four-year degree to become a teacher. She was a dedicated and devoted student and worked tirelessly to earn her degree as a single mom with a 3-year-old son.

“I grew up in a small-town community where, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child,’” Mrs. T.C. said. “My son, Harvey, and I left our village in Williamson and found one here in the form of our Marshall Family. I was determined to assure a good life for him. Leaving Marshall was not an option.”

Her work ethic through school was definitely noticed- her son, Harvey, earned his degree from Marshall as well. And while the Marshall community is a family, Mrs. T.C. thinks of her students as family as well.

“My passion for them is sealed within the deepest part of my heart gently and securely wrapping them there for the rest of my life,” Mrs. T.C. said. “I become the Momma of many students who have never experienced love from a teasing tan caramel teacher, yet they readily and willingly receive my love and guidance and trust that I want the best for their lives.”

Through her current 43 year journey of teaching, Mrs. T.C. has impacted thousands of students’ lives. She said her influence doesn’t stop when the clock hits 3 p.m. or after school, and reminds all teachers and future teachers that they may never fully know the reach of their impact.

“You will become the window that is always left open. You, the window where your kids come to say ‘hello,’ ‘I love you,’ ‘thanks,’ for laughs, to plan Dairy Queen dates where they pay, to show you their grades good or bad, and for advice. You, the window where they come to shed tears, to share about their new love, new job, show off the new baby, invite you to graduation and their wedding. You, the window where they come to ask for prayer, receive and give hugs, take selfies, hang out, and at times ask to climb through your window because they will need you to tightly wrap your arms around them until your heartbeats become one in the same. You always keep the window to your heart open. The learning will happen. I promise.”

Mrs. T.C. currently teaches at Highlawn Elementary in Huntington and emphasizes to her students in caring for each other that, “there is always room for one more.”

“This journey is all about the students. The students who you get to be on this journey with will forever be etched in your heart for the things you do to make sure they matter. It is not always going to be the big things you do for your kids that they will remember, but rather the little things. The little things you did at that very moment may turn out to be the very thing that sets them on the right path now and or later in their lives.”

Mrs. T.C. was honored as the Cabell County Teacher of the Year in 2019 and considers being a teacher in the community her calling.

“I give back to the Huntington community because they gave to me as a single mom seeking the love of family. They extended their love to me and my son when we were missing our home,” Mrs. T.C. said. “The Huntington community entrusted me with their children in and out of school and provided many opportunities for me to be a light within the community where everybody knows my name, and for that I am most grateful.”

The year was 2000.

Piggybacking off the success of popular crime dramas of the time including such hits as “Law and Order,” CBS Television launched a revolutionary new show titled “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” detailing a team of crime-scene investigators using physical evidence to solve murders.

The show’s popularity spawned several spinoffs, including versions of the show based in major cities around the United States, until its ultimate finale in September 2015. For 15 years the show caught the eye of viewers around the world and led to numerous other hit forensic-based television franchises.

While the unique premise of the show sparked a wave of popular TV dramas, oddly enough where the impact was felt most was at universities and centers across the country that taught the same techniques and methods that were found weeknights on televisions across the country.

“In the early years of the forensic science program, we benefitted from the number of CSI programs on television. Students viewed forensic science as an interesting and rewarding career,” said Dr. Terry Fenger, founder of Marshall University’s Forensic Science Center. “At the same time, there were only a handful of forensic science programs offered through universities. That has changed over time and there are now many programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels in forensic science.”

While many schools were reactionary to the boom of interest in the forensic sciences, Fenger was quite the opposite, bringing the program to Marshall University in 1994 when he began the Forensic Science Graduate Program. Additionally, Fenger took the lead and taught various courses within the curriculum including DNA technologies, Digital Forensics, bioterrorism, crime scene investigation and laboratory management.

Earning his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Southern Illinois University, Fenger moved to Huntington in 1979. He was initially employed by the School of Medicine, where he conducted research on viruses while teaching second-year medical students clinical and basic science concepts of virology.

Eventually, he strongly felt the need for a forensic science program at Marshall and, in 1997, saw the program graduate its first class. Since then, the program has expanded to cover a number of different specializations including DNA Analysis, Forensic Chemistry, Digital Forensics, and Crime Scene Investigation.

“Our first class consisted of seven students, but it has expanded on average to 16 students per class,” Fenger said. “Students entering the program have a strong background in chemistry and biology, which is a requirement for admission to the program. They must also pass a background check to ensure their suitability to enter law enforcement professions.

“In addition to the original areas of emphasis in DNA analysis, chemistry and crime scene investigation, digital device forensics was added as an area of emphasis in the forensic science curriculum. Today, the MU Forensic Science Center is fortunate to house the West Virginia Police Digital Forensics Laboratory, which also avails our students to learn from a working casework laboratory.”

In those early days, the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center was slated to be the home for forensic science at Marshall, but administrators decided that a separate, more secure campus would better serve the forensic and biomedical sciences. That is when the idea was conceived to locate the program at the original home of Marshall University football at the old Fairfield Stadium location.

“The Fairfield location was thought to be an ideal location because the football facilities building could be developed into laboratories and there was land available for development of additional buildings,” Fenger said. “The two and three-story buildings were therefore developed over the following years with help from multiple areas of funding.”

The early years of the program started slowly and saw the Fairfield location shared by students and researchers from multiple disciplines. Eventually though, the forensic program grew and began to consolidate all its different areas of study into one location, a location that it would eventually share with West Virginia law enforcement and agencies from other states.

“Up until that time, the academic program had paid rent for laboratories located off campus, which stressed the program financially and was a hardship for the students,” Fenger said. “Medical school researchers occupied the second floor of the West Wing Annex until it was decided that the medical school labs would move to the Weisberg Engineering Building and that our second-floor labs would house various research laboratories of the master’s degree program and would be used to support local and state law enforcement.

“Really, one of the underlying missions of the Marshall University Forensic Science Center was to advance economic development in West Virginia.”

And that is when the program truly began to take off.

In addition to a strong curriculum and talented professionals guiding students, access to police laboratories and active cases gave Marshall University students a truly unique learning experience.

“Concomitant with the development of the academic program, the Forensic Science DNA Analysis Laboratory was established,” Fenger said. “Initially, under the authority of the West Virginia State Police Crame Laboratory, the MU laboratory DNA tested samples from convicted offenders within the West Virginia law enforcement system to develop the WV CODIS database.

“The fact that the accredited laboratory is housed on the same campus as the academic program allows students to see first-hand how technologies are utilized to solve crimes and how laboratories are managed to meet quality assurance standards. Marshall University is one of only a few universities that has accredited working laboratories on-site of its forensic science programs.”

Because of that unique relationship between Marshall and regional law enforcement, Marshall’s forensic science graduate program is considered by many to be the best in the United States, due largely to an atypical combination of small class size, breadth of curriculum and sheer proximity to actual forensic scientists doing real casework.

On the national stage, Marshall’s forensic science program has grown into an award-winning program that has attracted the attention of faculty and students from around the world. Just last year, students of the program achieved the highest collective scores in the nation on the Forensic Science Assessment Test.

There is still room for growth, however, and Fenger remains committed to doing his part to help advance the program, even after retiring in 2017.

“Because of the expansion in the number of forensic science programs throughout the United States, there is now competition for highly-qualified students. And not all of them have the financial resources to extend their education beyond a bachelor’s degree,” Fenger said. “That is where scholarships come into play to help students aspire to attain additional education.”

Earlier this year, Michael J. and Tamela J. Farrell, attorneys at the Huntington, West Virginia, firm Farrell, White & Legg, established the Terry W. and Sandra J. Fenger Forensic Science Scholarship to help aid students of the graduate degree program. Prior to that, Tamela Farrell established the Paul H. and Dixie O. Nicely Scholarship in honor of her parents, giving the program two strong scholarships to build upon.

“In the case of the scholarships established by Michael and Tamela Farrell, a primary focus will be to support qualified students from West Virginia and the metro area, although students from outside of West Virginia will also be viable candidates as the endowment increases,” Fenger added.

Already one of the most respected programs in the country, Fenger said there is no reason that the forensic science program at Marshall can’t continue to evolve and expand, especially as technologies advance and the need for talented forensic scientists grows around the world.

“In 10 to 20 years, I see the program expanding in the number of students enrolled in the program,” Fenger said. “As technologies develop and advance, students will be trained in these technologies. Computer analysis of forensic evidence and database development will continue to expand, which will place additional demands on practicing forensic scientists.

“And I know Marshall University will be well-positioned to accept these challenges.”