Official Newsletter of the Marshall University Alumni Association | January 2022 |
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Diversity – Integrity – Loyalty – Pride – Respect |
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The great thing about the turn of the calendar is the unique opportunity presented to start fresh in a new year.
Want to eat better? Have more patience? Learn a new skill? The world is at your fingertips! While new year's resolutions are nothing new, they do allow us to make a course correction or completely start over each January.
For our team, our new year's resolution is a simple one - make this the best year ever for Marshall University, its alumni and its students. And the great news is you can help!
We need you, our dedicated alumni family, to be advocates for your university. Get involved in an alumni chapter (or start one in your area). Help recruit students. Volunteer your time or resources. Attend a university event. There are so many ways that you can make a difference at Marshall, both big and small.
In 2022, make it your resolution to help Marshall University grow and thrive like never before. To find out how you can do just that, reach out to us at [email protected] or visit us on social media @MarshallUAlumni. Let's work together to make this year the best year ever for Marshall!
Enjoy reading this edition of Sons & Daughters. GO HERD!
MU Office of Alumni Relations
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Brad D. Smith begins tenure as Marshall's 38th president |
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Marshall University’s 38th President Brad D. Smith officially joined the school this month, complete with a celebratory donning of a Kelly green jacket presented by Board of Governors Chairman Patrick Farrell and Vice Chairman Toney Stroud.
Smith’s day began in his Old Main office before dawn where he reviewed the upcoming schedule with his transition team. Also, on the president’s itinerary were calls with state and federal officials and meetings with senior administration officials at Marshall.
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Students return to campus
Marshall University students returned to campus on Monday, Jan. 10 to begin the spring semester which runs until the end of April.
Join us in wishing all of our future Herd Alums good luck in the new semester!
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Search underway for new athletic director |
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Marshall University announced it has begun a national search for an athletic director and has retained CarrSports Consulting to assist.
According to Jerome A. Gilbert, he and President Brad D. Smith have formed a nine-person search committee charged with advancing a slate of finalists for consideration.
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Marshall returning to Charleston for
annual MU Day at the Capitol Feb. 8
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Marshall University faculty, staff and students are once again preparing to make their voices heard on the biggest stage in the state when the university travels to Charleston to celebrate Marshall Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the West Virginia State Capitol building.
The annual event, which includes hands-on exhibits from departments across the Marshall community, provides a unique opportunity for the university to showcase its programs and students. Among the highlights of the event is an official proclamation declaring Feb. 8 “Marshall University Day” in West Virginia, as well as performances by the Marshall Fife and Drum Corp and special readings in the House of Delegates and Senate chambers.
University representatives will be at the Capitol from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., greeting visitors, interacting with legislators and promoting Marshall’s academic and community offerings. Many of the programs will have displays during the event, which is organized by Marshall’s Office of Alumni Relations.
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Former Herd greats honored on Southern Conference 100th anniversary teams |
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The Marshall Thundering Herd had 33 former athletic greats named to the Southern Conference 100th Anniversary Teams, the league announced as part of its celebration of its first 100 years. Marshall's players were honored across 11 sports.
Marshall University was a member of the Southern Conference from 1976-1997.
The league named teams in each of the sports it currently sponsors that it has sponsored for at least 25 years. There is also a special section on the league's website that is dedicated to the anniversary and history of the league.
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Football's recruiting class leads way in G5
Marshall head coach Charles Huff has announced the Thundering Herd's December newcomers in the 2022 football recruiting class. The group features 27 student-athletes and includes 12 who are mid-year enrollees.
The Thundering Herd has one five-star prospect, one four-star and 25 more as three-stars by ESPN.com, Rivals.com or 247Sports.com - or some combination of the three.
Marshall's class is currently ranked 48th nationally by Rivals.com, a program-high, and is the highest among those who have made a commitment to Group of Five membership, moving forward.
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Alumni Spotlight:
Jerry Frame
Bringing the magic of Walt Disney World to life
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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.
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Alumni News, Chapters
and Member Benefits
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Marshall legacies share the alumni tradition |
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Alumni and students are the most important people in the Marshall community, and the tradition of our legacy families help keep our university's proud traditions alive and thriving.
Marshall's legacy families make a Marshall education part of their family tradition. We encourage the Marshall spirit in students who are children, grandchildren and/or siblings of Marshall graduates. Generations of families have passed on the Marshall tradition, and we celebrate this special relationship.
This group is just one more way that we're strengthening the bond between the university, our alumni and our students.
Who is an Marshall legacy student?
Any student who has at least one parent, grandparent and/or sibling who is an alumnus/a of Marshall University (undergraduate or graduate program) is considered to be a legatee.
Are you part of a Marshall legacy family?
If you have been admitted to or are enrolled at Marshall and if you have a parent, grandparent or sibling alumnus/a of Marshall, please contact us at [email protected] to learn more.
We want to hear your story!
What is your legacy college student story? Has being a legacy college student impacted the trajectory of your career? We want to hear from you! Share your legacy story with us today!
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Resolve to make a difference with the American Red Cross |
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.
“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.”
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Volunteer Opportunity
Local alumni! Join with the Marshall University Office of Student Affairs on Monday, Jan. 17, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteer activities begin with a kickoff on the Memorial Student Center Plaza at 10 a.m.
Service projects benefit: the A.D. Lewis Center, the Huntington City Mission, Lily's Place, Facing Hunger Foodbank and the City of Huntington. For more information or to volunteer, email Hannah Black at [email protected]. |
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Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter |
3rd Annual Semi-Formal Winter Dance Jan. 29 |
The Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni & Big Green Chapter will hold its annual semi-formal winter dance "Marshall Mardi Gras" on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 from 6-11 p.m. at the Historic Black Knight Country Club in Beckley.
All proceeds benefit the Marshall Student Scholarship Fund awarded to students in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming Counties.
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In this photo, the new student center can be seen in the background behind Shawkey Student Union in this wintry scene. The new center opened in September 1971 and the old building was torn down the following spring.
See more throwback photos and #HerdHistory every week on the Marshall University Alumni Association social media channels.
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Marshall Foundation
News and Updates
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See what's new for the first quarter of 2022
Decluttering Piles of Paper? Read This First. Do you know what to keep, what to shred, what to share, where to keep things or how long?
30-Second Quiz: What Do You Know About Your Estate?
Your Estate Plan Might Be Missing Something. Did you remember your pets, your online accounts, an ethical will?
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Marshall Rises is the university’s largest fundraising effort to date. The comprehensive campaign includes five pillars where support is most needed:
1. Enhancing the Student Experience
2. Expanding Academics and Growing our Reputation
3. Creating an Environment of Innovative Learning
4. Forming a Foundation of Research and Creative Discovery
5. Deepening Community Partnerships
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Articles of Gratitude:
Winter 2021/22
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In this issue find out why one young grad, 2015 alum Kyle Tibbs gives back to Marshall University!
Plus, learn about what went in to building Marshall's first giving day, read about Brad D. Smith's journey to becoming president of Marshall and much more!
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New Marshall-themed Little Free Library installed at Tri-State airport
Marshall University Libraries and the Cabell County Career Technology Center (CCCTC) unveiled a second Marshall-themed Little Free Library (LFL), this time at Tri-State Airport in Huntington (HTS), on Monday, Dec. 20.
The first LFL was installed in May at Yeager Airport in Charleston (CRW). The Kelly green, M-shaped libraries were created from an idea by Dr. Kelli Johnson, associate university librarian at Marshall.
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Research corporation announces research awards for faculty and undergraduates
The Marshall University Research Corporation has announced the winners of the Spring 2022 Undergraduate Creative Discovery and Research Awards and the Summer 2022 John Marshall Scholars Award program for faculty.
The 14 awardees of the Spring 2022 Undergraduate Creative Discovery and Research Awards will receive a $750 stipend, $1,000 for travel and materials and $750 is provided for the participating faculty mentor.
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Society of Physics Students earns Outstanding Chapter Award
Marshall University’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students has earned an Outstanding Chapter award from the national SPS office for the second year in a row.
The SPS chapter at Marshall has been advised by Sean McBride since 2017 and is led by student officers.
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Visiting Diversity Scholar honored by the West Virginia Library Association
Dr. Cicero Fain III, a Visiting Diversity Scholar at Marshall University, was presented the West Virginia Literary Merit award from the West Virginia Library Association for his book, "Black Huntington: An Appalachian Story," which the association described as “an outstanding publication that contributes to West Virginia or Appalachian literature.”
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MU PerksConnect
The Marshall University Alumni Association is excited to offer a brand new perks program available to all alumni of Marshall University called MU PerksConnect!
The MU PerksConnect portal opens alumni up to a bounty of savings on a variety of offerings, both locally and nationally. Simply register your free account at http://marshall.perksconnection.com and immediately start saving on everything from food to travel. MU PerksConnect will use your location to bring you specific savings at stores, restaurants, and more where you live, or visit the national deals to find savings on travel, theme park and event tickets, and much more!
The MU PerksConnect portal also offers handy access to insurance benefits for auto, home and pet and long-term care resources.
If you want to save even more, you can sign up for a free cash back program called Koiyn! Koiyn provides cash back offers at places you already love. Cash back offers are tied directly to your card from participating popular national brands, plus your favorite regional and local retailers too!
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One of the Herd Podcast
Hey Herd fans, listen up!
The Marshall University Alumni Association has officially unveiled One of the Herd, the official podcast of the MUAA featuring news, updates and alumni interviews!
Do you know an alum that would be a great guest on our show? Let us know at [email protected] and stay tuned for more information about how to listen!
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Submit Your
Content Today!
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Have something you would like included in an upcoming issue of the Sons & Daughters alumni newsletter or an upcoming Marshall Magazine?
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519 John Marshall Drive,
Huntington, WV 25703
(304)-696-3134
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