Students are Back!
The summer months on campus are typically quiet, so to enliven our College, we invited the public to several Catamount Cinema movie nights on the Quad. Special thanks to our facilities team, events, residence life staff, and local vendors for making this possible and creating a community-friendly event.
This week we welcomed students back on campus, and I must say, there is something special about this incoming Fall 2026 class! Their attentiveness during the new student orientations resulted in a laptop raffle that included the names of all students who attended. During my orientation welcome, I generally share Dr. Wallace’s Three Tips for College Success.
Get to know your professor
Ask for help
Get involved
While walking on campus and meeting students, I learned we have freshmen living in the residence halls from states as far away as California and Hawaii. We are also happy to share the new additions and upgrades to a few buildings on campus.
Highlights
July 10 - UPGRADE: The new WVU Potomac State College court looks amazing! We are thankful for all the support we received, including a generous gift from Potomac Valley Hospital. Mark Boucot, CEO of Potomac Valley, joined PSC to unveil the logo on the new court. It was great to see the support from PSC coaches, our athletics trainer, and WVU Board member Terry Hauser.
The Fort – UPGRADE: The Fort is being developed in several areas, each named with a connection to Potomac State's history as the site of Fort Fuller. The main areas include The Forge, an Olympic lifting and free-weight strength area; The Armory, which will feature cardio equipment, strength machines, and a stretching area; and The Battery, a softball performance training area. The overall project encompasses approximately 8,000 square feet.
The Battery softball area under construction
July 11 - The Wallace Family ventured to Frostburg, Maryland for the 6th Annual Western Maryland Food Truck Festival! The food was very tasty, and they had a little bit of something for everyone, even vegetarians. Potomac State College offers Maryland students a reduced Metro tuition rate.
July 24 – While in Michigan, I received one of the best office gifts a President can ask for. Jordan “JT” Taylor, a former student-athlete at PSC, made this custom rug for my office. Thanks to Athletic Director Mandi Larkin, JT’s rugs have become a major hit on campus, and everyone wants one of his custom rugs. Feel free to stop by my office and take a selfie with my famous rug.
Catamount Rug
August 5 - I traveled to Morgantown for meetings, and one highlight was the lunch discussion with colleagues Abby Esguerra, Keith Jackson, Josh Hall, and Will Green. Over the past year, Potomac State College has partnered with each leader at the table, and there is so much more to come. Let’s Go!
Dr. Wallace with WVU Morgantown colleagues
August 9 – WVU Potomac State Fall athletic teams moved into the residence halls and started their preseason. Women's Volleyball, Women's Cross Country, Men's Cross Country, Men's Soccer, and Women's Soccer brought welcome life to campus after the summer months.
August 15 - Potomac State's Volleyball Team participated in the inaugural NJCAA Region 20 Play4Kay Volleyball Tournament to benefit the Kay Yow Foundation. Twelve teams from across NJCAA Region 20 participated in the day-long event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tournament brought student-athletes, coaches, and fans together not only to compete on the court, but also to raise awareness and support for the fight against cancers affecting women. The event, hosted by Hagerstown Community College, started with a powerful message from Jennifer Dean, who is currently battling cancer and is the mother of Carita Mills, an athletic trainer within NJCAA Region 20. Dean spoke with student-athletes about the importance of advocating for their own health, encouraging them to listen to their bodies, ask questions, and take an active role in their own healthcare.
August 17 – Potomac State College Convocation kicked off the year with a warm celebration and lunch on the Quad. We enjoyed a wonderful address from NJCAA Trainer of the Year Carita Mills, and I had fun interviewing students around the campus. Our residence life staff, led by the two Karas, plan wonderful events for students to get acclimated to the Catamount lifestyle.
Dr. Wallace hit the quad to interview new students.
PSC employees line up to welcome new students into the Church-McKee Auditorium
August 17 - I showed appreciation for two stellar Potomac State College employees! Over the summer Shane has been producing amazing stories about PSC campus, students, alumni, and culture. Jamie works in our finance department and has not missed a beat, even with turnover and budget training for supervisors. Let’s Go!
August 18 - Got Questions? Need Directions? Want a Snack? “Welcome Tables” are all across campus for the 1st week of class. Organized by my executive assistant, Krista, we have faculty, staff, and pups helping to acclimate our new Catamounts on campus.
Dr. Wallace visiting welcome tables on campus
August 19 – WVU President Benson and I took our monthly selfie before the University Leadership Team meeting. A trip to Morgantown always brings on more traffic, but the opportunity to collaborate and share best practices with colleagues is unmatched! Let’s Go!
Dr. Wallace and President Benson at Blaney House
Upcoming Events:
WVU Potomac State College Homecoming Weekend: Oct. 1– 4
Doug Little Field Dedication: October 3
Alex Kile 5k: October 4