West Virginia University Potomac State College will recognize award recipients (l-r) Dr. Mark Manchin, Phillip Douthitt, Jessica Robey, Jared Hallow, and George Messich during Homecoming festivities at the Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Reception on Saturday, Sept. 28.
This year, the West Virginia University Potomac State College Alumni Awards Event will take on a new look. What formerly was known as the Alumni Awards Banquet, will now be the Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Reception. This innovative approach will allow individuals to be a part of both events.
The reception is scheduled for Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. in the Davis Conference Center, giving guests the opportunity to mingle with each other and enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. The Awards program begins at 6:15 p.m. and ends around 7 p.m.
Tickets for the event are available online at the Potomac State College website or at https://go.wvu.edu/PSCAwardsReception.
Honorees this year include Mark Manchin, Ph.D., recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award . After attending Potomac State College, Manchin served as a superintendent in various West Virginia counties, was elected to the West Virginia State Senate, and currently serves as president of Glenville State University.
Phillip Douthitt , a 1981 PSC graduate, is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Douthitt currently serves as dean of Academic Affairs at Potomac State. During his 36 years at the College, he has served in numerous roles and continues to work tirelessly toward shaping PSC's academic landscape.
Jessica Robey, our Young Alumni Award recipient, attended Potomac State from 2007 to 2009 and exemplifies service and leadership. After attending PSC, she served with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, working on community development projects in Jamaica.
Our Athletic Hall of Fame honorees include Jared Hallow and George Messich. Hallow, attended Potomac State from 2015 to 2016 and led the cross-country team to a WPCC Championship, including a fourth-place slot at the NJCAA National Championship. His individual records in the 8K and 6K still stand today.
George Messich a Potomac State football standout in 1973 and 1974, was a two-time NJCAA All-American and a key player in Pitt's 1976 National Championship team. He has more than 40 years of coaching under his belt.
Other events are also planned, including a Homecoming Party on the Quad, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.; a PSC Football Reunion, Sept. 27, at the North Branch Pub from 6:30 to 10 p.m.; and Campus tours, Sept. 28, at 12:15 p.m. (meet at the Student Union).
Be sure to check out the College’s athletic events as well: Sept. 26, Women’s Volleyball at 7 p.m. (Lough Gym); Sept. 28, Women’s Softball at 11 a.m. (Softball Field); Baseball Intersquad at 12:30 p.m. (Golden Park); and Men’s Soccer at 4 p.m. (Stayman Field).