WVU President Dr. Gordon Gee shares his enthusiasm for the University at the Alumni Foundation Luncheon
WVU school president Dr. Gorden Gee served up healthy portions of Mountaineer pride and an optimistic outlook for the future of WVU at the annual WVU Alumni Foundation DC luncheon, telling the more than 300 in attendance that the university is uniquely poised to help the entire state. Gee used his appearance at the event, which honored the West Virginia congressional delegation, to share his strong belief in WVU’s ability to help create new opportunities and jobs, and to inspire residents and students alike to succeed in a “thoughtware society…. (where) West Virginians must out-think in order to out-perform.”
The luncheon is a major fundraising initiative of the WV NCAC, and proceeds from the event and many others held throughout the year support a variety of scholarship and work opportunities for DC-area WVU students. In addition to Gee’s enlightening and entertaining remarks, Chapter President Darren Feeley presented donations of $10,000 to the WVU Foundation to add to the chapter’s endowment of the John and Lucy Nicholas Memorial Scholarship Fund, and $7,500 each to the WVU Alumni Association and the Mountaineer Athletic Club.
Senator Jay Rockefeller attended his last Foundation luncheon as a member of Congress, as he’s announced his retirement from the U.S. Senate after nearly three decades of service. He was joined by Senator Joe Manchin, and Representatives Shelley Moore Capito, David McKinley, and Nick Rahall.
This year’s luncheon was held at the National Press Club, and was generously sponsored by The Hill newspaper, Consol Energy, The Greenbrier, Hamilton Insurance, and Widmeyer Communications, a Finn Partners company, as well as nearly 20 WVU colleges and units. You can read more about Gee’s comments in this press release issued by the university after his appearance, and we’d love to have you join us next year for the Mountaineer Mixer before the event and the lunch itself.
Upcoming NCAC activities include the WVU Night with the Washington Nationals, which will be the July 19th game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Tickets are now available for that, and for the hugely popular annual Crab Feast, which is scheduled for August 16th.