Why Do Students Choose WJU? - Wheeling Jesuit University

A Message from
Rev. James Fleming, S.J., Ph.D
WJU President
Winter 2014
Why Do Students Choose WJU?
The years that students spend pursuing a degree at Wheeling Jesuit University are a springboard to their future.
The choices of where and what to learn are critical.
This year, WJU had a 5% increase in new student enrollment as more and more students and parents discover
what WJU has to offer:
• rigorous academic program and research opportunities that develop informed, innovative and responsible leaders
• athletic, cultural and extracurricular activities that mold the future adults
• opportunities for students to explore their spirituality, whatever their faith
• faculty and staff who embody the WJU mission and educate students for life, leadership and service with and among others
• a safe and beautiful campus
• an affordable education
WJU also is a place where students learn about the rich rewards that come from service. Indeed, service to
the community is in our DNA at WJU. It flows naturally from our 450 year history of Jesuit education. Last year
our students volunteered 27,000 hours, helping in the poorest neighborhoods on behalf of the most vulnerable
individuals. They live what Maya Angelou was referring to when she said, “While I know myself as a creation
of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s
creation.”
These are just a few reasons why students choose WJU. On the following pages some of our students share their
reasons for choosing Wheeling Jesuit and reflect on their choices.
2014 - 2015 Academic Year
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304 new students in the fall of 2014
Students from 32 states and nine countries
Three-quarters of the incoming class from Ohio (102), Pennsylvania (33) and West Virginia (75)
Average overall grade point average of 3.4 for incoming freshman class
5 percent increase in new students
Rev. James Fleming, S.J., Ph.D
WJU President
WJU Milestones
The Mass of the Holy
Spirit celebrated WJU’s
60th anniversary. It
was held on Sept.
25th with a community
picnic following. From
left, Bishop Michael
J. Bransfield, Msgr.
Jeremiah McSweeney,
pastor of St. Michael’s
Parish in Wheeling and
WJU President, Rev.
James Fleming at the
Mass.
On Oct. 17th, WJU
dedicated the
newly finished
Bishop Schmitt
field--a success
made possible by
generous donors who
contributed $2 million
for much needed
improvements. More
about this event on
page 2.
Bishop Schmitt Field Dedicated and Ready for Play
Hundreds turned out for the spectacular Oct. 17 dedication
of WJU’s newly refurbished Bishop Schmitt Field, named
in honor of the late Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston
Diocese, with current Bishop Michael J. Bransfield offering
the blessing and dedication. The project was made possible
by incredible donor support in the amount of $2 million given
for Phase I of the project. This included a generous $500,000
gift from Bishop Bransfield. Future project plans include:
adding a state-of-the-art LED scoreboard, resurfacing the
track, rebuilding the press box and adding seating.
In addition to WJU athletes and students, the field also
WJU athletes line the field at the event.
serves Wheeling Central Catholic High School (the WJU field
will be the school’s home field) and community groups such as the Special Olympics, Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society, Faith in Action Caregivers and the Bill Van Horne Track Invitational Memorial Classic.
Bishop Bransfield, who gave funding
for the WJU field improvement project,
blessed and dedicated the field. WJU
President, Fr. James Fleming (right)
presided over the well-attended event.
Students from Wheeling Central Catholic
High School at the dedication event. The
WJU facility will be their home field.
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Why Do Students
Choose WJU?
The Perfect Fit
When senior Corrin Early graduates from WJU this December with a
degree in Elementary and Special Education, she will be prepared to
pursue her dream of teaching disadvantaged youth. Corrin has already
applied to the Teach for America program that places teachers in hardto-staff schools with large populations of underprivileged students.
It was important to Corrin to select a college with a well-respected
program that graduated high-performing teachers. She liked what WJU
had to offer—quality curriculum, faculty involvement, strong athletic
programs and a welcoming campus—all in the context of an uplifting
Jesuit environment.
Corrin has always wanted to be a teacher and decided on elementary
education while at WJU. “The first day of my elementary professional
education classes we were handed a key chain that said ‘you make a
difference every day’ and I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to
be.”
It was also important to her to select a school where she could pursue
her other passion—volleyball. An outside hitter, Corrin has played
varsity volleyball during her years at WJU. The Cardinal volleyball team
is ranked in the top ten Division II teams in the nation and Coach Cristy
Benner was chosen as Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year.
Corrin Early
There were some extra benefits that Corrin discovered at WJU.
“I picked WJU because it was a great
fit for me. It had the major I wanted
and I absolutely loved the volleyball
program. It was a great choice!”
–Corrin Early
“I think that my favorite thing about WJU is the
closeness of the students with each other and the
faculty. I pretty much know everyone on campus.
Instead of being in a place where students just pass
each other by, it’s a place where we become a family.
And you get to know your professors better than at
most colleges.”
During her WJU career, Corrin has volunteered at
the Laughlin Memorial Chapel after-school program,
was a “buddy” at the Special Olympics, a member of the Choir for two years and performed in a WJU musical
production. She has been named to the Dean’s List multiple times.
Coach Benner had this to say about her — “Corrin is a wonderful student-athlete. She has been a big part of our
success on and off the court. She is a smart young lady and she loves Wheeling Jesuit. I have enjoyed my time
with her and know that she will be in my life for a long time.”
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Why Do Students
Choose WJU?
And the Rest is History
Steve Emswiler was skeptical about online courses and their
effectiveness, but as a full-time professional, he had little choice if
he was going to balance work and pursuing a Master’s degree.
Steve is a first grade teacher working for Loudoun County Public
Schools in northern Virginia. He is a committed educator, six
years a teacher, who wants to work toward a principalship.
Prior to his current position, Steve taught in West Virginia and that
is when he starting thinking seriously about pursuing a Master’s
of Educational Leadership (MEL) degree online. A respected
colleague was just finishing his MEL at WJU and gave the
program a solid and enthusiastic recommendation.
“I applied that very week,” Steve recalls, “and the rest is history!”
He started WJU’s MEL program in 2013 and expects to graduate
in fall 2015.
Steve Emswiler in his
first grade classroom.
“I have taken good and bad online courses at several institutions,
but I couldn’t be more pleased with WJU’s MEL program,” he shared. “The level of communication between peers
and instructors has exceeded my expectations. Having an archive on the discussion board of other classmates’
and professors’ thinking has been helpful with growing as an educator and leader.”
In addition to needing a flexible program that fit with his busy schedule, Steve wanted to pursue studies that
were rigorous, challenging, and current. He also wanted a program that would help him explore and develop his
leadership. And finally, he wanted to graduate from a well-respected program and university. “The WJU program
meets and exceeds all my requirements,” Steve shared. “I couldn’t be more pleased.”
At his elementary school, he serves as a team leader
and a member of the behavior intervention team. He is
also the school math contact for the county and provides
professional development for staff.
Steve intends to teach for about six more years while
preparing to serve as an administrator. “Teaching presents
a unique opportunity every day,” Steve explains. “No two
days are ever the same. It’s challenging, perplexing, and
interesting - a blend of art, science, and heart. My greatest
joys in teaching are the relationships built with colleagues,
parents, and students. This is where learning begins.”
“Our job is more than just content acquisition,” he
observes. “We are the quintessential human resource
industry.”
Steve with some of his first grade students.
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Why Do Students
Choose WJU?
A Fortunate Mistake
Brady Kukawka’s mother checked the wrong box.
She thought she had signed up for a tour of a totally different university and mistakenly requested a tour of
Wheeling Jesuit University. When she got a call from WJU, Brady recalls, his mother chatted with an admissions
representative for hours and decided they should visit WJU after all. She liked what she heard and knew that
Jesuit schools offered a quality program and a character-oriented experience.
“I loved Wheeling Jesuit right away,” Brady said. “I liked how everyone seemed
to know everyone. It was like a community. People seemed to care about each
other and were happy to be here. I have seen fake happiness while touring
other schools, but this was genuine and it was frightfully contagious. I felt like I
already belonged at Jesuit.
“We knew it was a God send!” he said.
Brady is now a junior, majoring in nursing, making the Dean’s List every
semester and involved in a full slate of activities. He belongs to the Justice
and Peace in Our Time, Students for Life and the Student Sustainability Clubs.
He is a retreat leader and participates in several of the Appalachian Institute’s
service/immersion trips.
“When I left home I expected school to challenge me and force me to grow
holistically as a complete person,” explains Brady. “I can confidently say that
WJU has gone above and beyond fulfilling my hopes and dreams for college.”
This year, Brady is living at the Mother Jones House, an intentional living
community in East Wheeling. All of the Mother Jones House students attend
WJU and are committed to bettering the community through service, including
volunteer work at the Laughlin Chapel after-school program and the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center. He
is also in the Arrupe Scholars program that requires 33 service hours a semester.
Brady Kukawka volunteering.
Brady has also been active in WJU’s Student Government Association for all three years: class President in his
freshman year, Senator-at-large in his sophomore year, and currently the Executive Board’s Secretary. For the
past three years, he has been a philosophy tutor.
“My favorite thing about Wheeling Jesuit is the people,”
Brady shares. “This includes amazing friends, teachers,
faculty, community members, Jesuits and so many more!
This positive atmosphere is what I desperately craved from
college, and Wheeling Jesuit has provided just that.”
After graduation Brady plans on working in a hospital
before joining a traveling nurse organization and working
with underserved patients.
“I feel like Wheeling Jesuit is my
home and that I am surrounded
by people that love me and want
me to succeed.”
–Brady Kukawka
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Why Do Students
Choose WJU?
“I picked WJU because of its excellent nursing program that has
a great reputation. I also like the small class size. The professors
are very helpful and invested in my success and that makes a
big difference. Plus, WJU is a short commute from my home in
Bridgeport, Ohio.”
Shelby Toson
Class of 2018
“I want to work in professional sports and I know that a Masters in
Business Administration from WJU will help me achieve that goal.
It’s a well-accredited university and I have received a lot of one-onone support from my teachers. And financially, it’s a great value
and very affordable.”
Chad Morgan,
graduate student
Class of 2016
“WJU has so much to offer. It had everything I was looking for
and more—great academic programs, extracurricular activities
and such a welcoming campus. I know I will be challenged and
supported at the same time. I am proud of my choice and proud to
be at Wheeling Jesuit.”
Amber St. Clair
Class of 2018
“Wheeling Jesuit was the only school I looked at - and when I
had my campus tour I instantly fell in love. I wanted to come here
because of how friendly everyone was and how they treated me,
and the affordability—that was a big plus for me.”
Sam Happ
Class of 2017
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Wheeling Jesuit Welcomes Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J.
WJU wasn’t the only game in town when Fr. Denis Donoghue was deciding what to do next.
He had just earned his Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from the
San Francisco Theological Seminary at the Graduate Theological
Union and has Master degrees in Divinty, Philosophy and Pastoral
Counseling. In addition to his impressive credentials, he has
extensive ministerial, theological and education service and
experience. A number of universities across the country were
courting him.
So why Wheeling Jesuit?
“I was very impressed with WJU, what’s being accomplished
and where it’s going,” said Fr. Donoghue. “WJU provides a great
education and is committed to serving low-income students which
fills a compelling need. I am proud to be a part of that.”
Father Denis Donoghue and
student Brett Dipuma.
Fr. Donoghue was recently appointed WJU’s Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. He is working with
faculty to infuse Jesuit principles and Ignatian character into teaching and learning at WJU. He is also working
closely with the Office of Admissions and a variety of special projects related to WJU’s mission and identity.
He also looks forward to supporting students as they explore different pathways during their time at Wheeling
Jesuit. Fr. Donoghue will be helping to guide current students who are undecided about their major and important
life choices.
“Wheeling Jesuit is a
hidden gem.”
–Fr. Denis Donoghue
“The students here are remarkable in so many ways—eager minds
and spirits,” Fr. Donoghue observes. “So many of the students I’ve
met at WJU aren’t settling for easy answers or marking time until
they graduate. They want to ask the hard questions, figure out what
to do with their lives, and make it count,” Fr. Donohue observes.
Fr. Donoghue knows a lot about service. He has extensive
experience starting as a Jesuit volunteer at the Paschal Sherman
Indian School in Washington in 1991. Since then, he worked on behalf of African American and Hispanic urban
youth, the Nation’s First People of the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation and Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota
Sioux peoples, among some of his contributions. As a Jesuit, he taught in the Theology and Religious Studies
Department and Matteo Ricci College at Seattle University. In his most recent assignment, he served as a
Chaplain to the Coast Salish People and a psychotherapist for the Tulalip Tribes.
Fr. Donoghue says he “stumbled” into becoming a Jesuit priest. After caring for his terminally ill brother for 15
months, he developed relationships with Jesuit priests at Seattle University who helped him on a journey of self
and spiritual discovery.
“Helping people is the essence of what the Jesuits are and do,” Fr. Donoghue shares, “and that’s what I want to
do with my life.”
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BOARD SPOTLIGHT
Jane Straub Friday
Jane Straub Friday ‘61, applied to Wheeling Jesuit in 1957, when many colleges still were
not accepting women. She has since worked side-by-side her husband in his business
endeavors and together they have raised five children.
What is it about your Jesuit education that impresses you most now, looking back on
your college years?
It was a treat while at Jesuit to have mostly Jesuits as teachers and I learned as much in
the cafeteria as I did in the classroom. The Jesuits and lay professors spent many hours
interacting with us. We wondered how we would stack up with the grads of institutions like
Georgetown and Notre Dame, but upon graduation and later - there was no question – we were right there or better!
I think that those same Jesuit ideals are evident in the students today and this has been accomplished with major help
from the lay professors interacting with the students – as witnessed by the percentage of students doing research at
WJU and the tremendous number of service hours performed by WJU students.
My experiences at Wheeling College (as it was called in those days) inspired me to continue to give back and serve
my community and especially to WJU in various capacities – Advisory Committees, the Alumni Council and the Board
of Trustees. It has been a fulfilling and rewarding lifetime of trying to live up to our University motto: “Let Your Light
Shine”.
Carlos C. Jimenez, M.D.
Carlos C. Jimenez, M.D. and his wife, Conchita, have supported WJU in a variety of ways,
most recently by hosting a fundraising event for the Mount de Chantal Conservatory of Music
at Wheeling Jesuit that raised $27,000. Dr. and Mrs. Jimenez gave a gift of $10,000 to this
cause. Read more about the event on page 9.
Although you were not an undergraduate at the University, it’s clear you feel emotional
ties here. What about WJU draws you to support the University and be actively involved
in its programs?
I’m attracted to Wheeling Jesuit because I believe small schools allow students to bloom and grow – nobody can hide
in the shadows. You have to do your part. My goal is to be sure that both the students and the University can shine.
That’s why I wanted music and non-music students to play a role in the Conservatory event – so that they could talk
about their experiences here at Wheeling Jesuit.
Why was it so important for you and Mrs. Jimenez to not just support the Conservatory with a donation, but
also hold an evening of special performances?
The idea was to go out there and make something happen. We wanted to showcase the Conservatory and the talents
of Wheeling Jesuit students and alumni. I invited people who are not privy to what’s happening at Wheeling Jesuit. I
also wanted to invite people from the community, who may think of Wheeling Jesuit as a sectarian school. I think
this University can be a shining star that will attract people and provide the needs of the state and community.
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OF NOTE...
Prestigious Rankers Give Wheeling Jesuit Top Marks
For the 18th straight year, U.S. News Best Colleges Guide rated WJU the top rated college in West Virginia,
11th best in the South Region and third in the South Region as a Best College for Veterans. Washington Monthly
ranked WJU the fourth best baccalaureate college in the country based on WJU’s contribution recruiting and
graduating low-income students, producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D.’s and student service. The
rankings focus on the institutions offering students and taxpayers a bigger bang for their buck.
Generous Gift for the WJU Mt. de Chantal Conservatory
Dr. Carlos Jimenez and Mrs. Conchita Jimenez gave a $10,000
check for the Mt. de Chantal Conservatory of Music at Wheeling
Jesuit at a special musical evening and event, planned by Dr.
Jimenez and held on Oct. 15. Dr. Jimenez is an Ohio Valley
physician, and sits on the board of trustees at WJU. The check
was presented to WJU President, Fr. James Fleming (left)
by Mrs. Conchita Jimenez (center) and her daughter Cynthia
(right).
Cutting-Edge Research Funded
WJU researchers received $1.2 million over five years from the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop learning activities
to teach high school students about biology using historic
pandemic flu outbreaks as the model to engage young learners.
Making a Difference
WJU held its 21st annual Make a Difference Day in August with the WJU freshman class out in the community,
pitching in to help these community groups: Sisters of Saint Joseph, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center,
Appalachian Outreach, Grow Ohio Valley, Laughlin Memorial Chapel, Ohio Valley Children’s Museum, Schrader
Center, Gabriel Project, Wheeling National Heritage Area Mt. Wood Cemetery Project, and King’s Daughters
Childcare Center. The day-long activity introduces students to WJU’s commitment to serve with and among
others.
Fourth Straight Regional Title
For the fourth consecutive year Wheeling Jesuit’s
Volleyball team is the 2014 NCAA Atlantic Regional
Volleyball Tournament Champion! The #1 ranked
Cardinals ended thier regular season 34-3 and
16-0 in the Mountain East Conference. The Lady
Cards squared off against #3 California University of
Pennsylvania for the Atlantic Region Championship
advancing to the Elite 8. Coach Christy Benner, now
in her 13th year as head coach said, “I am honored
to have such a strong group of women who have
dedicated their time making this team one of the best in
the nation. I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished
this year.”
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OF NOTE...
New WJU Housing
WJU opened its graduate and adult student apartment complex,
“Cardinal Commons,” along Washington Avenue in time for the new
academic year. Work began on the 36-unit apartment-style housing
facility in late February. The project developer and complex owner
Double J Realty, Inc. is leasing the entire building to WJU.
WJU’s Online Nursing Program Rated #1
WJU’s RN to BSN program was chosen as the top offering by
the online service SuperScholar.com. In developing the Smart
Choice ranking of the best online undergraduate nursing programs,
SuperScholar only considered online nursing schools that are accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) to ensure that all online
programs have met the highest standards of recognized institutional accreditation.
WJU’s Fine Arts & History Programs Host Exhibit
Wheeling Jesuit University hosted an exhibition chronicling the work of an anti-Nazi resistance group, the White
Rose, in its art gallery in November, with a public display and discussion. The exhibition included photographs
and narratives about White Rose, a non-violent resistance group of students from the University of Munich
that protested Hitler’s Nazi regime during World War II. A talk presented by Associate Professor of History Jeff
Rutherford helped kick off the exhibit.
WJU Faculty Members Author New Books
A book by a Wheeling Jesuit professor examines the foreign policies of five emerging
nations and the affect they could have on the United States. “The Formation of the
BRICS and its Implication for the United States – Emerging Together” is a new book
by Wheeling Jesuit’s Dr. John Poffenbarger, associate professor of political
science and chair of the department of social science.
Associate Professor of History Jeff Rutherford has
written a book that looks at the combat and occupation
activities of three German infantry divisions operating in the
Leningrad region during the Second World War. “Combat
and Genocide on the Eastern Front: The German Infantry’s
War, 1941-1944,” is a look inside the German military during
World War II and based on research Rutherford conducted
for his dissertation.
Professor John Whitehead has written a book on an American film classic, “The
Graduate.” Whitehead is assistant professor and director of fine arts at the University.
His academic focus is on film and visual studies, contemporary literature, and creative
writing. “The Graduate” is a film that he often uses in class so he saw a real need for a scholarly look at the
pivotal American film that was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 1968.
For more about the information in this communication, please contact Sarah Kelly, Vice President
for Institutional Advancement, [email protected] or (304) 243–2637.
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