CPASS graduating students celebrated 2020 Mountaineer Graduation Day on May 16, 2020, with all the same excitement and future expectations of previous graduates, with one notable difference. Their experience was entirely virtual. Everyone was invited — graduates, families, current and future students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University. And all came to honor our outstanding seniors.
Upon reflecting on their experiences at WVU, four CPASS students — Garrett Lord, Alisha Barnes, Lucas Facemire and John Foster — shared their achievements.
Alisha Barnes
Major, Sport and Exercise Psychology, minor, Scholastic Coaching and Psychology
Hometown: Purcellville, Virginia
“My favorite thing about WVU and Morgantown is the undying loyalty to the gold and blue — no matter where you came from, your views or what you study. The guidance of the advising staff and faculty of SEP led me down the successful road that was my four years at WVU.”
Lucas Facemire
Major, Sport Management with a minor in Business Administration
Hometown: Summersville, West Virginia
“Drs. Bravo, Jones, Lee and Lhotsky have been fantastic to me since day one. They truly care about the future of their students and want to see them end up being successful. As much as I love wings from the Fishbowl, the great people I have met over the past four years take the cake. My professors were great in working with me so that I could have the opportunity to help at various events on campus during normal class time; they understand the value of both coursework and field experience.”
John Foster
Major, Multidisciplinary Studies with a focus in Sport Communication and Sport and Exercise Psychology
Hometown: Darien, Connecticut
“CPASS was helpful because faculty and staff put the students’ needs first. As a transfer student, the guidance and counseling staff were always able to keep me on the right path, no matter how stubborn I chose to be. All the credit goes to the wonderful Theresa Scafella and Betsy Robbins. CPASS gave me the opportunity to pursue a career in sports by helping me obtain internships in both the WVU Athletics department and with the West Virginia Black Bears.”
Garrett Lord
Master’s in Physical Education Teacher Education
Hometown: Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
“I choose WVU CPASS because of the great environment and people within the College. Along with that, my amazing professors at CPASS helped me figure out that my calling was as a teacher. Drs. Emi Tsuda, James Wyant and others helped mold me into the young man that I am today. By far and away my favorite thing about WVU is the relationships that I have built and the friends that I have made. These are relationships and friendships that I plan to hold on to for the rest of my life. WVU is a passionate place, and the people around me have taught me that I will forever be a Mountaineer.”