Official Newsletter of the Marshall University Alumni Association | August 2023

It is officially our favorite time of the year!

In just a few short days the quiet calm of our summer campus will be replaced with the hustle and bustle of student life.

The return to campus is more than just a physical transition; it's a reconnection with a space that has played a pivotal role in shaping the personal and intellectual journey of countless students.

As students once again step onto the campus grounds, they embrace the beauty of their surroundings, the nostalgia of the past, and the limitless potential of the future. Campus becomes their home for learning, growth and connection, reminding us all of the enduring power of the college experience.

Join us in welcoming our students back to Marshall. Join us in welcoming them home.

Enjoy reading this edition of the Marshall University alumni newsletter. GO HERD!

MU Office of Alumni Relations

Schedule set for Homecoming 2023

Join us for the annual Homecoming Parade, Reunions, Tailgates and more!

Homecoming 2023 is just around the corner, and we can't wait to celebrate it with you. This year's theme is "Super Marco: Level Up," inspired by Super Mario Bros., and the leveling up of our university - and it's going to be a blast!

The university has planned a fantastic week of festivities from Sept. 25-30, welcoming back our amazing alumni and supporters.

There are so many awesome events lined up for Homecoming, including the annual Unity Walk, Homecoming Parade, and tons of tailgates and gatherings! It's going to be a week filled with laughter, fun and catching up with old friends. Some of the highlights include:

Unity Walk - Monday, Sept. 25

Homecoming week kicks off with the Unity Walk and Homecoming Court announcement. The Unity Walk focuses on diversity and inclusion across Marshall's campus. "The Unity Walk embodies what it means to be a member of the Marshall Family," said Matt James, executive director of alumni relations.

Office Decorating - Thursday, Sept. 28

All week Marshall University offices will be decorating using the “Super Marco: Level Up” theme! On Thursday, Sept. 28, you can help us decide the best offices by voting for your favorites on our social media channels located @ForMarshallU.

25th and 50th Class Reunions - Friday, Sept. 29

Please join us on our beautiful patio for light refreshments at 4 p.m. The classes are then invited to participate in the Homecoming Parade aboard a special Marshall trolley provided courtesy of the Alumni Association at 6 p.m. Seating on the trolley is limited, so reserve your spot today! Additionally, class members are welcome to walk the parade route alongside the trolley, or join us in watching the parade in front of Foundation Hall.

CLICK HERE to register!

Parade and Bonfire - Friday, Sept. 29

Floats, marching bands and everything you love about parades fills the air on a Friday night! After the parade, join us for the bonfire on Harless Field. And if you can’t make it, join us on social media at @ForMarshallU and @MarshallU for a broadcast of the parade.

Marshall University Alumni & Family Tailgate - Saturday, Sept. 30

Presented by Woodlands Retirement Community

The highlight of Homecoming week! ALL are invited to this wonderful tailgating experience! Located in the Joan C. Edwards Stadium East Lot (beside the Chris Cline Indoor Athletic Facility), come enjoy great food, hang with friends, play tailgating games, enjoy live music, and appearances by special guests including coaches and players.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!

Homecoming Game - Saturday, Sept. 30

The Thundering Herd battles two-time Homecoming rival Old Dominion University in the annual Homecoming game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!

Mark your calendars and spread the word, because Homecoming 2023 is going to be one for the books. We can't wait to see all of you there! 

Read the summer edition of the Marshall Rising magazine

Enjoy reading the summer edition of the Marshall Rising magazine, the official magazine of the Marshall University Foundation!

In this issues you will:

• Learn about the history of the annual Scholarship Brunch pairing scholarship donors with their students each spring.

• Meet an inspiring young Yeager Scholar from Florida.

• Find out how business graduate John Rahal is changing Appalachia.

• Be inspired by the story of NFL High School Coach of the Year nominee Larry Choates

• Discover the history behind the famed Marshall Beech Tree

• And more!

The Marshall Rising Magazine is published twice a year sharing the inspiring stories of alumni and donors who are impacting Marshall University in profound ways.

Herd supporters enjoy Fans First Day at The Joan

Athletics relaunches Thundering Herd Kids Club

Marshall University fans had an opportunity to meet the teams, get autographs and enjoy a fun day at Joan C. Edwards Stadium during the kickoff to the 2023-24 season at Fans First Day.

Also during the event, Marshall athletics announced the relaunch of the Thundering Herd Kids Club for children 12 years and younger.

"We are beyond thrilled to relaunch the Kids Club," said Sydney Shelton, director of marketing and fan engagement. "Marshall Athletics is a special family and we want to teach kids our tradition and pride at a young age to ensure that they will be part of the Herd family for years to come. The hope is that as our young fans grow, so too does their love for Marshall. The Thundering Herd Kids Club is one way to accomplish that."

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Marshall receives $45 million from state for revolutionary cyber security institute

Marshall University, building on its reputation as the premier cyber security academic institution in Appalachia and in an unprecedented move that will bolster national cybersecurity capabilities in protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure, has received a substantial investment of $45 million from the state of West Virginia.

This boost will establish a state-of-the-art Institute for Cyber Security, positioning the university at the forefront of cyber defense and research.

“Through our West Virginia Forward efforts, which identified cyber security as a potential growth area for our state, Marshall has emerged as a national leader in developing advanced techniques, tools, and methodologies to protect critical infrastructure, and state, national, and industry assets; as well as developing the skilled workforce,” said Marshall President Brad D. Smith. “This is a landmark moment for our university, marking profound commitment to safeguarding our digital future and addressing the escalating challenges of the cyber landscape.

“West Virginia has many legislative leaders with the economic foresight and passion for strengthening West Virginia’s competitive edge in our global economy. The Marshall University community thanks them for their steadfast leadership.”

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Welcome Back!

The 2023-24 semester will get underway this month with two big events scheduled for students and the greater Huntington community.

The first is Week of Welcome (WOW) set for Aug. 15-20. WOW is a campus-wide series of activities, special programs and events designed to engage, inform and welcome students to the Marshall community. At WOW, students will connect with classmates, establish connections within their chosen academic area, become familiar with campus resources and enjoy a week of fun!

The second big event to begin the semester is the annual Herd Rally. Marshall and Kindred Communications will get the athletic season underway on Friday, Aug. 25, beginning at 7 p.m. along 9th Street between Third and Fourth avenues in Huntington. Held in conjunction with the 9th Street Live celebration, the event features coaches, players, the Marching Thunder and plenty of giveaways for the community.

Join us as we get ready for another exciting year at Marshall University!

A new era for alumni relations

In the fall of 2022, the Marshall University Foundation announced the hiring of Matt James as the new executive director of alumni relations at Marshall University.

A bright young mind from Bluefield, West Virginia, with more than a decade of experience on the student side of the university, James hit the ground running with a plethora of fresh ideas and a vision for how to better connect Marshall’s alumni population to the university. Through that vision, James hopes that alumni around the globe will experience a renewed passion for their alma mater and, in turn, get involved in ways that they never have in the past.

So where does that vision begin? Right in their own backyards through an extensive alumni chapter network.

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Welcome Board Members!

Members of the 2023-24 Marshall University Alumni Association Board of Directors met in July on campus at Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall to welcome new members and begin planning for the upcoming year.

Board members discussed the goals and priorities of the association for the coming year, assigned committees and took a tour of the construction sites of the new baseball stadium and Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation.

For more information on the MUAA Board of Directors, or to learn how you can join, click on the button below!

ALUMNI CHAPTERS

Huntington Alumni Chapter

A Busy Month for Alumni Chapters!

It was a busy month for alumni chapters around the country during the month of July.

Beginning in the middle of the month, alumni, fans and supporters converged at Great American Ballpark for Marshall Day at the Cincinnati Reds (below). The game began with head football coach Charles Huff throwing out the first pitch and was attended by more than 100 fans, along with the president and athletic director. In total, the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Alumni and Big Green Chapter raised over $10,000 toward scholarships and university support.

In late July, Marshall University traveled to Washington D.C. for the annual State of the University and was joined by members of the brand new Greater Annapolis Area Chapter (right). Other chapters met up as well at this unique event, including the newly formed Society of Yeager Scholars Chapter.

Finally, nearly 100 alumni showed up in early August at Savannahs Restaurant in Huntington for the kickoff of the newly reformed Greater Huntington Alumni Chapter (above).

Alumni chapters across the nation are regrouping, expanding or being formed. To learn more about how you can be a part of an alumni chapter, or to start one in your area, click on the link below.

Marshall For All a 'lifesaver' for incoming member of the Herd

Skyla Hilliard among first group of students to begin earning her degree debt-free with Marshall for All.

Marshall University has launched Marshall for All this year with hopes to expand over the next 10 years, allowing Marshall students to combine scholarships, grants, work opportunities and family contributions to earn their bachelor’s degrees without needing student loans. In return, it asks students to maintain 15 credit hours per semester with satisfactory academic progress, to file a FAFSA form annually, to work a paid internship or federal work study position, to complete a financial literacy course and to participate in career readiness and/or other learning experiences.

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Scarbro named director of expanding Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center

Marshall University officials announced the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) – formerly the Robert C. Byrd Institute – has a new leader.

Derek Scarbro, who has served as interim director since last year and previously deputy director and director of business development, assumed the position in July.

Scarbro replaces longtime director Charlotte Weber, who now serves the university as vice president for government relations. Scarbro praised Weber’s leadership and her dedication in building the former RCBI into a nationally recognized leader of entrepreneurial and manufacturing support.

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Marshall to receive $2.8 million to expand nurse practitioner training

The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has been awarded $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand its nurse practitioner training program through Marshall Health.

The four-year HRSA grant (#23-009) will allow Marshall to effectively double its internal medicine nurse practitioner (NP) fellowship program to include four trainees per year.

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Marshall's M.S. Cybersecurity degree earns second-place ranking from FORTUNE

Marshall University’s M.S. in Cybersecurity program ranked second in FORTUNE’s Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Degrees in 2023. Marshall’s 30-credit-hour program, which cost $509 per credit, is offered through the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences and does not require applicants to submit a GRE score for admission. According to the report, Marshall accepted 66% of applicants for the 2022-23 academic year, and accepted students had an average GPA 3.75 for their undergraduate work.

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