Image 1 / 2
Then, he offered an observation.
“In 20 years, it has become a tradition,” Stollings, a Madison physician and Boone County democrat, said of the two-day event that starts with a shindig at his home on Friday. “Hopefully, in another 20 years, it will become a legend.”
The annual event is well on its way.
According to the event program, the Boone County Chapter has awarded about $250,000 in scholarships to 174 students (37 current and 137 former) from Scott, Sherman and Van high schools in its 20 years.
"The scholarships are a huge thing for us," said Charlie Piccirillo, a Madison attorney who is one of the Boone County Chapter's founding members.
"We have tried to keep it local. We want every child in Boone County who wants to go to WVU to have the opportunity to go. We want to help. As we all know, education is the key to success in today's world."
Piccirillo said about 10 former scholarship recipients returned the favor this year by donating money.
"We have doctors, lawyers, accountants and reporters (among our local graduates), and a lot of kids have helped," he said. "They remember receiving (their scholarships), and they want to help others like we helped them."
The Boone County Chapter has been named the WVU Alumni Association's best chapter in three-fourths of the years it has existed, Piccirillo said.
It is an impressive accomplishment, especially considering the WVU Alumni Association has approximately 200 chapters worldwide.
The Boone County Chapter's ability to generate funds for scholarships is one of the main reasons, WVU Alumni Association President Steve Douglas said.
"First of all, you have to look at the total population of Boone County," said Douglas, who attended last weekend's festivities. "It’s a small county in West Virginia. But it’s not only alumni of WVU but also friends of WVU. If we had 55 counties like this one, we could win the war across the country.
"We aren't talking about (raising) hundreds of dollars. We are talking about (raising) hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's a great thing for Boone County and it's a great thing for WVU."
The pig roast and golf tournament "has become one of the (WVU) Alumni Association's signature events," Douglas added.
More than 400 people, including almost 150 golfers, attended Friday's function and/or Saturday's event.
"The attendance is up a little bit," Piccirillo said. "It continues to grow. We appreciate the support of the people in the community and from the university."
Among those attending one or both days of activities were dignitaries such as retiring WVU President David Hardesty, WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong and WVU men's basketball coach Bob Huggins.
Also attending were Craig Walker, the chief of staff for incoming WVU President Mike Garrison; Will Armistead, the director of development for WVU's Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center; John Perdue, the state treasurer; and Bob King, a federal judge.
"We had a great turnout," Piccirillo said. "What makes me so happy is we had so many Boone County students show up. It has always been a terrific event. This was one of our biggest and best, and they just seem to get bigger and better each year."
Walker said he always enjoys the event.
"It’s amazing," he said. "It’s a whole community, from all walks of life, coming together to support the students.
"The best thing about coming here is the people," he added. "There isn’t a friend you don’t meet the first time you talk to them. People are very engaging and very inviting. They make you feel wonderful when you come here."
In addition to the scholarships it awarded, the Boone County Chapter also donated $50,000 to the Erickson Alumni Center, which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008.
In honor of its donation, the WVU Alumni Association will name the bar at the alumni center after the Boone County Chapter.
"Those are all private contributions," Piccirillo said. "We didn't use any of the money from the pig roast."
Post a Comment
