"Cromania!" comes to Pierpont

On July 13th Crom Saunders is bringing his one man show "Cromania" to Pierpont Community & Technical College. The nationally touring show features comedy, improv, storytelling and more than 40 different characters. The show will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the Pierpont/Fairmont State shared main campus. Doors open at 5:00pm. Admission is a suggested donation of $5.

Crom Saunders is a deaf actor from Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to his solo performances, Crom also travels with the ICEWORK touring troupe, which he co-founded. He also directs and acts in plays. You will not want to miss the opportunity to experience "Cromania" for yourself. To learn more about Crom and his show visit his website: http://cromsaunders.tripod.com/.

It All Adds Up

Pierpont Community & Technical College is dedicated to helping all students, both traditional and adult, prepare for success at the college level. One of the ways we do this is by providing students the opportunity to brush up their skills in math, reading and writing. Student readiness in these areas is assessed through standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT. For adult students or for those students with lower scores in these areas, another test call the COMPASS is used for placement.

Typically, students needing assistance in these academic areas complete Developmental Skills courses as part of the normal course load. This summer Pierpont’s School of Academic Studies is offering students who have been placed in MATH 93, MATH 94 and MATH 95 an opportunity to improve their scores and their readiness for college level course work through self study. We have designed a study review tool specific for our math courses called MyMathTest. For just $10, students can purchase the MyMathTest program which will provide tutorials, worksheets and tests that help improve their math skills. The program is available through the Bookstore on campus beginning June 15 or online at http://www.mymathtest.com/. Completion in the self study program does not guarantee placement in a higher math course. Placement will be based on the official results of the COMPASS re-test. Students who participate and wish to retake their COMPASS Math placement test must do so by August 4th.

Pierpont Celebrates with GED Graduates

Pierpont Community & Technical College had the privilege of hosting the Marion County Adult & Community Education Center's 2009 Graduation and Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, June 2. It was a wonderful evening, with more than 200 people filling the Turley Center Ballroom to celebrate the accomplishments of those students who were completing their GED or being recognized for other achievements. James Skidmore, Chancellor for the Community & Technical College System of West Virginia, delivered the keynote addressed. He told graduates that it was easy to start something but difficult to finish. Their participation in the ceremony as graduates indicated that they were finishers. He challenged them not to look at the evening's festivities as the end of their educational journey, but rather the first step in life long learning. Chancellor Skidmore talked about the kinds of jobs that were available in West Virginia and how many of them paid good wages and only required associate degrees for entry level employment. With 10 Community Colleges to choose from and more than 50,000 students enrolling in those community college annually, there are a lot of options for students to take the next step and enroll.



Pierpont Community & Technical College awarded Tiffany Pysell, one of the GED graduates, with the Francis H. Pierpont Scholarship as part of the ceremony. The scholarship award will cover tuition costs for one academic year. Ms. Pysell hopes to study Veterinary Technology at Pierpont.

Launch into a career in Aerospace!

On May 28, Pierpont's Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center was abuzz with middle school and high school students from all around north central West Virginia. They came to participate in the Aerospace Industry Expo that was sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex (MACC), Fairmont State Gear-Up and RESA VII. The goal was to get these kids thinking about the possibility of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and specifically to let them know about local opportunities in the aerospace industry. Nearly 27% of the aerospace manufacturing workforce will become eligible for retirement this year. And with aerospace industry employment at one of its lowest levels in nearly 60 years, there are great opportunities here.

The event featured a bottle rocket launch. 18 teams participated in the event and were judged on an oral presentation as well as on the actual flight time of their rocket. More information can be found about this event at the following link:

http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=9812

New traditions and a new look, too!

Pierpont Community & Technical College celebrated it's first independent spring commencement on Friday, May 15. What a wonderful evening! It was truly inspiring to place the focus on our students and their achievements. A time to reflect on our history, our name and to unveil a new icon to represent our institution.

Nearly 90 students participated in the commencement ceremony. They came from all walks of life. Some came to Pierpont directly from high school. Others came to Pierpont from the school of hard knocks. But they all came to the Feaster Center on Friday night proud of their accomplishments and excited about their futures.

Pierpont's Spring Commencement was the second separate ceremony observed by our college. The first was in December 2008. And, like at the December ceremony, we learned a little about the Pierpont story from Julia Pierpont herself. She came and shared the living history and helped us realize the importance and power of the Pierpont name. Professor Emerita JoAnn Lough, who brought Mrs. Pierpont to life, began her remarks with these words "to be remembered is to live on in history." Francis Pierpont transformed our state with his leadership, vision and contributions just as our graduates, faculty and staff transform it still today. And with their contributions we continue to build and celebrate the Pierpont legacy.

As part of the ceremony, Board of Governors Chair James Griffin and President, Blair Montgomery unveiled the new Pierpont logo. When asked why a new logo was needed President Montgomery remarked " Pierpont Community & Technical College is a special place and deserves a special insignia to respresent it and all that it does for the people of West Virginia." The new logo embodies growth, change, community and flexibility. It incorporates technology and arts and crafts. It shares some elements with the logo of Fairmont State, just as we share main campus, but has it's own look and feel as we have our own distinct mission. Pierpont is indeed a special place, with a special history and a name of distinction. We should all be proud to be part of the Pierpont family.

Pierpont Honors Outstanding Students

The Colebank Gymnasium was packed on Friday, April 24 as Pierpont Community & Technical College hosted its Annual Awards Banquet to recognize and honor outstanding students and faculty. President Blair Montgomery remarked that it is easy to see why he loves his job because he gets the priviledge of working with talented and gifted faculty and students everyday.


More than 30 students were recognized for their achievements. Each was introduced by faculty from their program of study. It was amazing to sit and listen to the stories of the students being honored. Some drive more than 50 miles just to come to class. Many manage the competing responsibilities of work, family and class. Some had overcome great loss - of employment, of a loved one - and were moved to go back to school to make a better life for themselves. It was inspiring.


Mary Stockinger was awarded the Women of Pierpont scholarship. First Lady Sue Montgomery shared Mary's winning essay with the crowd and there was not a dry eye to be found. She was a non-traditional student who was encouraged by her husband to go back to school. He convinced her that she could be successful in college and she has been. Despite managing the demands of her family and home responsibilities, Mary has maintained a 4.0 GPA since her return to school.


Taylor Pyles, a graduating senior from Hundred High School in Wetzel county, was named the first Pierpont Board of Governors Scholar. Taylor will begin the Veterinary Technology program this fall. She was selected to receive the award based on her application, essay, recommendations and personal interview. The Board of Governors scholarship is a full-ride scholarship that covers tuition & fees, room & board and provides a $1000 textbook stipend. One award is made annually to a Pierpont student. To qualify, students must be WV residents and must receive the PROMISE scholarship.

Ni-Hao Pierpont!

Pierpont had the pleasure of hosting a delegation from China on our campus for two weeks in April. The group included four Vice Presidents from model Technical Colleges in China and a liaison with the China Education Association for International Exchange. Our visitors included Mr. Zhenyi Deng, Vice President of Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute; Mr. Chuan Qin, Vice President of Qingdao Technical College; Mr. Shixing Cheng, Vice President of Wuhan Institute of Technology; Mr. Xuemin WU, Vice President of Nanjing Institute of Industry Technology; and Ms. Sufei Li with CEAIE. Above they are pictured with WV Community College Chancellor James Skidmore and Pierpont President Blair Montgomery.

During their time with us, our guest met with many administrators, faculty, staff and students learning about Pierpont's programs and organizational structure. They also had the opportunity to sit in on classes, tour facilities, and experience hands on learning activities. Their "best" day was the day we visited the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center where they got to fly light bulbs, practice taxing a plane, rivet in the sheet metal lab and experience flight in the simulator.

Pierpont Community & Technical College was one of five community college nation wide selected to participate in the Vocational Educational Leadership Training Program. The VELT program is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges and the China Education Association for International Exchange. In the coming years, China hopes to train 500 higher education administrators in the United States. They also hope to host groups from the U.S. in China.

Mr. Cheng, Mr. Wu, Ms. Li, Mr. Deng and Mr. Qin

A time of transition

On March 24, 2009 Pierpont Community & Technical College hosted Governor Manchin and a group of workers from our region who have already or soon will loose their job. The Governor and his staff came to campus to meet with these workers to let them know about support that is available for them during this trying time. Governor Manchin fielded questions from participants and talked with them about the layoffs they were experiencing. When Commerce Cabinet Secretary Kelley Goes addressed the crowd, she told them that it was no coincidence that the meeting was happening on at a Community College because Community Colleges play a vital role in the training and retraining of the workforce in West Virginia.

Following the town hall meeting, workers and their families were invited to participate in a Community Resource Fair where they could learn more about retraining opportunities, support programs and employment options. More than 50 information tables were available. The event was co-sponsored by WORKFORCE West Virginia and the Region VI Workforce Investment Board.

Extreme Makeover - Pierpont Edition

The Erikson Alumni Center, serving both Fairmont State and Pierpont Alumni, was in desperate need of a makeover. The paint and decor was tired. Things had been the same for many years. And members of the Alumni and Foundation Boards were struggling to find the budget to do anything about it. Until Pierpont President Blair Montgomery hooked them up with a group of Applied Design students to work their extreme makeover magic. The student group included those taking the Contract Design course with instructor Angie Retton. The interior design students approached the makeover as they would work with any client. They created a portfolio of colors, window treatments, floor covering and other accessories that would give the EAC new life. The results are amazing!















Devanna Corley, Director of Alumni Relations said "the vision and hard work of these students is unprecedented. The knowledge they brought to this project is amazing and these students have very bright futures."

The following students are in the Contract Design course and participated in the makeover: Barbara Bonasso, Tabatha Bookheimer, Danielle Edmond, Angela Ferguson, Debra Fortney, Felicia Harper, Emily Hulme, Kristin McCullough and Stacie Haythorn.

What's in a name?

Welcome to the new Pierpont blog. My name is Jennifer Weist and I have worked for Pierpont for nearly 9 years. Our President, Blair Montgomery, has asked me to start a newsletter to keep everyone informed about things happening at Pierpont. The idea of a newsletter seems overwhelming and somewhat inflexible, so I've decided to start a blog instead.

My first big challenge was to come up with a name for my blog. I have one (Pierpont Happenings) but I am not very happy with it. So I am asking you, the reader, for help. If you have suggestions for a blog title, please reply to this posting.

I never cease to be amazed about all the really cool things that happen at Pierpont. I hope to share many of those things with you as I write this blog.

Many people wonder where the name Pierpont originated. The name itself comes from a really amazing man, Francis "Frank" Pierpont. Frank Pierpont grew up in Middletown, VA (now Fairmont, WV) as a tanner working in his father's business. At age 21 he walked to Meadville, PA to attend Allegheny College. That is 175 miles! Frank Pierpont, like many of our students, had several career transitions in his life. He worked as a teacher, a school superintendent, a lawyer, a small business owner and a politician. He was a visionary, helping to restore Virginia to the Union during civil war times and paving the way for western Virginia to become the State of West Virginia. Pierpont is memorialized in the Congressional Hall of Statues as the "father of West Viginia."

Stay tuned to learn more cool things about Pierpont. Feel free to post comments and especially suggestions for names.