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In recognition of what it means to be a Mountaineer, the West Virginia University Alumni Association will celebrate recipients of the 2022 Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards during Homecoming Week, Oct. 24-30.

Jihad Dixon (’17, ’19) will receive the John F. Nicholas Jr. Award during the Homecoming festivities. Dixon, higher education program graduate, was highly involved in many aspect of campus life. He was the president of the WVU NAACP and the Higher Education Student Association, a resident assistant at Dadisman/Stalnaker Halls, a diversity ambassador within the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion , a member of Mountain Honorary, a student representative of the WVU Student Conduct Board and WVU Residency Committee, and a student senator and executive leader in the Student Government Association.

A passion for influencing children to thrive prompted Amber Nichols to shift gears in her career to become an educator.

Nichols chose the WVU Master of Arts in Teaching program because it supported her goal of becoming a teacher. She says she always knew that she wanted to motivate children. “I thought that was going to be a career in children's broadcasting. However, being a teacher and working with children in my classroom generates a deeper, more meaningful effect on their lives,” she said.

Elementary education graduate Josephine Valentine is one of five West Virginia University alumni selected for a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to teach English or conduct research abroad over the next year while building cross-cultural relationships.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to build community abroad while continuing my work in education,” Valentine, of Shepherdstown, W.Va., said. “Creating a safe space for students to learn is so important to me. I am excited to connect with my students in Spain and their cultures while providing authentic opportunities for them to practice English.”

A College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences faculty member and a CPASS alumna are members of an international team that received the highly competitive Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Global Award for Sports Research by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sport and Leader’s Development Institute.

Dana Voelker, CPASS associate professor of sport, exercise, and performance psychology and Amanda Visek, associate professor at The George Washington University (WVU PhD SEP 2007), aim to advance youth sports in Saudi Arabia. The group includes Lisa Delpy Neirotti, The George Washington University, and Mohummed Alkhraji, King Saud University.

The Hayhurst family is renewing its commitment to keep West Virginia students in the Mountain State with three gifts to support full-ride scholarships at West Virginia University's John Chambers College of Business and Economics and the new College of Applied Human Sciences.

The family’s latest contributions – totaling $873,000 – support one new and two existing scholarships established to honor brothers Robert, Robin and Ronald Hayhurst and their shared passion for WVU.

Jihad Dixon, a native of Charleston, W.Va., made the most of his time at West Virginia University. The list of accomplishments, roles and clubs are too long to list, but suffice it to say you aren't named one of the Daily Athenaeum's most influential people in 2016 by just sitting in your dorm.

Dixon left WVU after receiving a bachelor's degree in political science (2017) and a master's degree in higher education administration. He has leveraged his skills learned in the classroom and as an active member of campus to land him as the associate director for strategy and operations for the My Brother's Keeper Alliance through the Obama Foundation.   

A dual M.S. in sport management and master’s in business administration degree at the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences has provided a solid foundation for Adrian Dowell's career path. Dowell serves as the vice chancellor and director of athletics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a position he has held since December 2021.

In this role, Dowell oversees Omaha Athletics, a Division I athletics program in the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conferences. He also serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet which includes additional leadership roles on campus. Currently, a typical day includes six or so meetings with staff, coaches, student-athletes, campus peers and external constituents and usually a game, according to Dowell.

Courtney Hudnall was honored this spring with the Greenbrier County Teacher of the Year Award. Hudnall, Physical Education Teacher Education M.S. graduate (May 2021), is a physical education teacher at Ronceverte Elementary School in Greenbrier County.

“I chose teaching because I wanted to do something that would have an impact on others while also doing the things I love. I love athletics. I also had an amazing PE teacher in elementary school who, to this day, is one of my role models,” Hudnall said. “So, when choosing a career, teaching PE seemed like a no-brainer. It has been so rewarding and worthwhile.”

A graduate assistantship position with the West Virginia University Athletics Department propelled Ray Booker, from rural Amelia County, Va., to transition as a student to launching his professional career in the sports field. Booker, WVU Sport Management M.S. graduate (2021), serves as the stadium and game operations coordinator for the College Football Playoff postseason event that determines college football’s national championship.

Booker says he was determined to make his dreams come true, even if it meant making sacrifices. He never imagined that one day he would have the opportunity to work for the College Football Playoffs. A typical work-day for Booker involves strategic planning and preparation for the annual CFP Championship game. His tasks include preparing manuals that effectively communicate the CFP policies to all participants, coordinating game operations and addressing potential risk management issues.

The West Virginia Black Bears have announced Leighann Sainato, M.S. in Sport Management (2019), as their general manager. As the second general manager in Black Bears history, Sainato oversees a broad range of responsibilities, from budgeting and team travel arrangements to sales and marketing.

With an extensive range of duties, Sainato has learned to strategically schedule her work time. “Every day is about completing specific tasks. I map out my agenda down to the hour because I have multiple responsibilities. I’m a very hands-on GM. I directly oversee our public relations efforts, from marketing to writing press releases and creating graphics,” she said.