WVU Potomac State College named Levi Ferster as the 2026 Outstanding Student. He will represent the Class of 2026 with an address during Commencement activities on Saturday, May 9, at the Church McKee Art Center. He will also present the keynote speaker, Admiral Joe Lopez.
“Embrace those challenges, lead with kindness, and pursue your ideal career,” he said. “Like country roads, may your journey lead you home to success and a fulfillment of happiness.”
For the chief academic officer and provost at West Virginia University and the former interim president of WVU Potomac State College, the word “retirement” doesn’t exist.
The streak has ended.
“Be careful what you wish for” is a mantra April Shapiro carries with her. She not only believes in that phrase, but she has also lived it. And after almost a decade spent as the head of the WVU Potomac State College Nursing Department, she has absolutely no regrets about visualizing a career dream and then watching that wish come true.
More than 60 students and faculty were recognized by WVU Potomac State College for academic excellence and outstanding contributions to higher education during the 86th annual PSC Recognition Day and Induction into the National Sigma Phi Omega Honor Society on Sunday, April 26.
For everything Admiral Joe Lopez has accomplished in his impressive career with the U.S. Navy, he still believes his first lessons in how to overcome failures, how to become resilient, and how to lead were inspired by his two years spent at WVU Potomac State College.
It’s no coincidence that for the college student, the months of April and May are two of the most stressful and therefore, one of the very best times to keep one’s mental check in focus and remain on task, organized, and balanced.
At WVU Potomac State College, programs, events, and activities are designed throughout the year to support mental health. But as we approach spring and a student’s fancy turns to thoughts of summer vacation, those daydreams are often shattered by the reality of deadlines, overdue assignments, final exams, and upcoming plans.
Carl Smith is a man who believes in starting what he finishes.
WVU Potomac State College recently joined the celebration with all WVU campuses for the 2026 Student Employee of the Year recognition ceremony. The awards celebrate the invaluable contributions of student employees across WVU campuses as part of Student Employee Appreciation Week.
Student employees play a crucial role in the functioning and success of WVU, demonstrating exceptional dedication, skill, and a commitment to excellence. Faculty, staff, and supervisors nominated outstanding student employees who made a significant impact on their departments and the broader WVU community.