WVU Potomac State College celebrated its 50th annual Homecoming Oct. 2-5 with the campus transformed into a swirl of activities for the alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the community. As graduates from near and far descended upon the campus, they shared fond memories as they walked familiar pathways, and explored their former classrooms, student union, library, and athletic fields. They also discovered new developments and future plans, while learning how they can support these improvements.
“We were excited to see so many alumni return to campus for our half-century Homecoming event. The deep and abiding support of our former students as they graduated and pursued successful career paths is a testament to their faculty, mentors, and peers who all shaped their journey from their time at Potomac State College,” said WVU PSC President Jerry Wallace.
The weekend kicked off with a Business After Hours event “From Campus to Commerce,” on Oct. 2, with local businesses sharing their services. The Mineral County Chamber of Commerce sponsored this event. Also, Thursday night included a special event planned just for the students with the Quad filled with Homecoming blue and gold themed decorations, DJ music, dancing, and food trucks to continue the festivities throughout the evening.
Retirees and remembrance events were featured Friday, with a Retiree Social to update retirees on recent campus developments, as well as a Candlelight Memorial Walk, attended by PSC faculty, staff, students, retirees, and alumni. It was a heartfelt time honoring those who meant so much to the campus community and who remain part of the fabric of the PSC story.
The Mary F. Shipper Library staff hosted a continental breakfast to start off Saturday’s celebrations. The Alumni Association gathered for their quarterly meeting in the morning as well. The afternoon featured the inaugural Catamount cookout. In addition to burgers and hotdogs, 200 pounds of barbeque chicken, donated by Pilgrim’s Pride, were served to PSC alumni, employees, students, and other guests.
Potomac State College Athletics kicked off their weekend of competition with a men’s soccer game on Friday night, where the Catamounts were victorious over the visiting College of Southern Maryland 4-2. Goals came from Carl Vales (2), Mateo Miranda, and Matthieu Baudry.
Saturday saw the Volleyball team face nationally ranked Butler County Community College, where they fell 1-3 and then rallied to beat Anne Arundel Community College 3-0. Softball faced Frederick Community College in a double header, in which they split with the Cougars. Prior to the games, they took time to recognize the 2025 Region 20 and Mid-Atlantic District team members, as well as Skyla Compton and Braylee Corbin, who received All-American honors last year. At Golden Park, on the newly named Doug Little Field, 44 baseball alumni showed up with talent from the decades. After the game, they enjoyed Hoover’s barbecue and recalled games from years past.
Saturday evening featured the WVU PSC Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception. Michael Blaine Withrow received the Young Alumni award; Tommy Lee Nester received the Alumni Achievement award; and Andrea Gail Schafer received the Distinguished Service award. “At this Homecoming ceremony, we love to celebrate and recognize our Alumni who are doing great work in our communities and around the state. It is a special time for us to celebrate their achievements,” said Sabrina Cave, President of the WVU Alumni Association. Nicky Brown (baseball) and Beth Cook (softball) were inducted into the PSC Athletic Hall of Fame. Additionally, Alexandrea “Alex” Kile was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously, honoring her groundbreaking accomplishments in cross-country, her invaluable contributions as a coach, and the unforgettable legacy she left in the hearts of the Catamount community. Coach Doug Little was also honored for his induction into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. It was announced that the baseball field at Golden Park, which he has poured love, hard work, and dedication into, will be rightfully named Doug Little Field. A new scoreboard with the name will be installed later this academic year, thanks to the generous support of Belt Paving.
On Sunday, the College gathered to honor the memory of Alex Kile with the first annual Alex Kile 5k. More than 125 runners and walkers gathered to compete. The funds raised from the event, through registrations and donations, will go towards the Alex Kile Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship funds will be used for future cross-country athletes. Alex’s legacy will live on through these runners. The 5k will be held annually during Homecoming weekend. Additionally, donations are accepted for the scholarship fund throughout the year by going to this link: https://give.wvu.edu/alexkile5k
For alumnus Ed Richards, coming back to campus for homecoming is a can’t-miss event, as he and his family drive in each year from Missouri. He says every time he visits his alma mater, he is flooded with memories of late-night study sessions as well as the occasional silly pranks he and his friends pulled. He notes that the camaraderie built during his college years led to life-long friendships with classmates and deep relationships with mentors. His warm memories lead to him writing a book, “Cows, Classes & Co-eds: My Two Years at Potomac State 1951-1953'.
Richards was the recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award in 2013, and his name was inscribed to the Duke Anthony Whitmore/Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Academic Achievement Wall in 2023. In addition to supporting Homecoming events each year and sharing his memories, Richards has supported the College with an endowed scholarship to encourage the next generation of students.
For alumni interested in celebrating WVU PSC’s 125th year, help support the WVU PSC Alumni Association by reserving your poster at https://give.wvu.edu/celebrate125. Visit: https://www.potomacstatecollege.edu/communities/alumni-and-donors to learn more about ways to engage with WVU PSC Alumni, including the New Mentorship Program, by emailing PSC-Alumni@mail.wvu.edu
Homecoming celebrations are a reminder that no matter how much time has passed, the connection and memories alumni have of their alma mater never truly fade and that they are always welcome back home.
As the College prepares to celebrate WVU Potomac State College’s 125th Birthday this February 2026, we invite all alumni to reconnect, engage, and give back to the place that helped shape your journey. Together, we can honor our legacy, strengthen our community, and inspire the next generation of Catamounts. Share your birthday wishes or support by emailing the PSC Office of Development at psc-officeofdevelopment@mail.wvu.edu.