PARKERSBURG Though rainy skies moved the party indoors, nothing could dampen the celebration of West Virginia University at Parkersburg's 20th anniversary as a regional campus.
Students, staff and officials gathered Wednesday at the school for a cookout and celebration. Several state legislators and local officials also attended.
"We are celebrating 20 years of progress," said President Marie Foster Gnage, who celebrated her fifth year Wednesday as president of the college. "The college is very good at reinventing itself," based on the needs of the community and the decisions of the state Legislature, she said.
"I have been thinking a lot about what has happened over the last 20 years, and I think the relationship (between the colleges) has been good," said Joe Campbell, chairman of the WVU at Parkersburg Board of Governors. "It has helped this campus to grow and given us the ability to expand our bachalaureate programs. I think it has helped WVU as well. Without this relationship we wouldn't have been able to offer the services this community needs."
The college became West Virginia University at Parkersburg on July 1, 1989, following legislation that reorganized the state's public higher education system. WVU at Parkersburg served as a regional campus of WVU until 2008 when the state Legislature established an independent community college system and created a local governing board for WVU at Parkersburg.
Recently, the college's board of governors voted to continue the institution's affiliation with WVU and retain the WVU-P name.
WVU-P began as a branch of WVU in 1961 and was known as Parkersburg Community College from 1971 to 1989.
Tom Yencha, director of student activities for WVU-P, said Wednesday's event was a combination of events and circumstances that culminated in a perfect chance to celebrate the college's history.
"We were planning a cookout for celebrating the 4th of July, and it turned into a celebration of the college's 20th anniversary. We had planned to have the cookout out front, but the rain forced us here (into the courtyard) which is where the celebration was held 20 years ago," when the college became a regional campus, he said.
The event also followed several months of discussions, decisions and planning as the local board of governors considered severing some ties with WVU and renaming the college. However an agreement was reached only a few weeks back between the two institutions, allowing WVU at Parkersburg to continue using the WVU name and logo.
"We're happy that all got worked out, that is for sure," Yencha said.
