#marshalluniversity

[overeasy-entertainment]

We visited Marshall Marathon in 2017! Here’s a short recap. See you in 2018!

[beautifulballers]

***Beautiful Baller Alert*** @mychellejohnsonn 😍😍😍🏀🏀🏀🔥🔥🔥 #BeautifulBaller #BeautifulBallers #Hooper #MarshallUniversity #CollegeBasketball #WomensBasketball #Baller #BallHer

[ledenews]

Two West Liberty University Aviation Students Earn Private Pilot Licenses

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty University proudly announces that aviation students Brady Bauer and Jeremiah Ratcliffe successfully earned their Private Pilot Licenses (PPL) on February 2, 2026, marking a significant milestone in their academic and professional aviation journeys. Earning a Private Pilot License is a major achievement that requires extensive flight training, comprehensive ground instruction, successful completion of FAA written examinations, and a rigorous checkride conducted by a certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examiner. Completion of the PPL demonstrates advanced aeronautical knowledge, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to safety and professionalism in aviation. “Earning a Private Pilot License is a major milestone in any pilot’s journey,” said Tasha Taylor, Aviation Coordinator at West Liberty University. “Brady and Jeremiah have put in countless hours of training and preparation, and this achievement reflects their dedication, discipline, and passion for aviation.” The West Liberty University aviation program is designed to prepare students for careers in professional aviation through a combination of rigorous academic coursework and hands-on flight experience. Bauer and Ratcliffe’s accomplishment reflects both their individual dedication and the strength of WLU’s aviation training environment. Both students will continue progressing through the program as they pursue additional ratings and certifications in support of their long-term goals within the aviation industry. West Liberty University congratulates Brady Bauer and Jeremiah Ratcliffe on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to their continued success in the skies. For more information about the WLU aviation program, visit https://www.westliberty.edu. West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. To apply or learn more about West Liberty University, visit westliberty.edu. Read the full article

[ledenews]

WV Dept. of Ed. Launches 2026 Governor’s Schools Applications

Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is accepting applications for the 2026 Governor’s Schools of West Virginia. This program offers summer residential learning experiences at designated universities for high school students.Founded in 1984, West Virginia Governor’s Schools offer students unique experiential learning opportunities in the humanities and the arts, computer science, business communications, entrepreneurship, leadership and more. In addition to refining talents and workable skills, young scholars develop lifelong personal and professional networks and receive instruction from practicing professionals in their areas of interest.The grade level is the grade the applicant currently holds. Application deadlines are as follows: “Governor's Schools take student learning to the next level, empowering them to recognize their potential and exceed what they thought was possible," said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. "From experiencing the multi-disciplinary impact of the arts to learning from industry-leading professionals and building elaborate business proposals, students leave these programs well-equipped for future success in their chosen career paths.”Host universities are planning events to celebrate America250. This initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, honors the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Each Governor’s School will embed a variety of activities to recognize the historic occasion.Learn more about the Governor’s Schools program by visiting the WVDE website. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Prosecutor Turak Announces First SAKI Cold Case Conviction in Ohio County

Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, releases the following statement: On October 22, 2025, Joseph Earl Jones, 43, formerly of Pittsburgh, was convicted of “Sexual Assault, Second Degree” and “Abduction with the Intent to Defile” and sentenced by the Honorable Judge David J. Sims to not less than thirteen nor more than thirty-five years in prison. The investigation and conviction were part of a collaborative effort between the Wheeling Police Department and the West Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) team.  The crimes occurred in 2008 when the victim, A.M., then 23 years old, was offered a ride by Jones who took her to a secluded location on City View Drive, a dead-end road, and brutally sodomized her.  Law enforcement and EMS arrived, the victim was taken to the hospital and a sex crimes kit was collected.  No offender was able to be charged based upon the evidence available at the time. In 2017, all untested sex crimes kits in the State of West Virginia were taken to the West Virginia State Police Crime Lab or Marshall University Forensic Science Center for processing and testing, including the sex crimes kit taken from A.M. from 2008. Forensic evidence was processed as part of the WV SAKI project and the suspected offender’s DNA was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).  An association was made by the Marshall University Forensic Science Center in late 2020.  The lab connected the suspect’s DNA with a known DNA profile of Joseph Earl Jones whose DNA had been entered into CODIS as a result of his convictions for Second and Third Degree Sexual Assault in Ohio County from 2013.  Jones was sentenced in 2013 to 12 to 35 years for sex crimes committed against a mentally handicapped woman, including sodomy. Based upon the association made by Marshall University Forensic Science Center, the 2008 sexual assault investigation resumed and a SAKI investigator was able to collect and send a known swab of Jones’s DNA to Marshall University Forensic Science Center.  Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, stated “The statistical probability of the DNA being anyone other than Joseph Earl Jones was 1 in 87.12 sextillion.  With that evidence, I submitted the case to the Ohio County Grand Jury in January 2025, which resulted in the Indictment against Jones.” This case was part of the West Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).  Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative aims to create a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to sexual assault cases. Through this program, funding is provided to support multidisciplinary community response teams engaged in the comprehensive reform of the jurisdiction’s approaches to sexual assault cases resulting from evidence found in previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.  Additional information on the program can be found at https://www.sakitta.org/westvirginia/. “I was particularly excited to work on this case with the SAKI team. I am proud to have been a part of this County’s first SAKI cold case conviction,” noted Prosecuting Attorney Shawn R. Turak, who added, “Sometimes justice delayed feels like justice deprived. I think we can all understand that.  As the then Assistant Prosecuting Attorney who handled the case against Jones in 2013, when I saw his name on the potential hit confirmation letter, I was all the more committed to re-opening the investigation.” Turak further stated, “The State was able to reach this conclusion with the full approval and cooperation of the victim, who was seated in the courtroom when Mr. Jones was convicted and sentenced. Every time I met with her or spoke with her by phone, her focus never wavered:  she wanted to ensure no woman would ever go through the ordeal she experienced.”  When discussing the victim, Turak said, “she is braver than she knows and I truly hope that putting this behind her for once and for all may put her on a path of healing and closure.” Finally, Turak noted that she remains committed to working with victims and prosecuting sexual assault cases, both freshly reported and cold cases, no matter the age of the victim. “This crime is so very pervasive and so personal. It is particularly satisfying to me to restore to a victim her voice and equilibrium, but even more empowering to that victim to be restored.” If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are encouraged to contact law enforcement and the Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center at [phone]. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Wheeling Park High School Named 'WV PBIS Tier 1 Model School'

Huntington, WV, June 2025 – Wheeling Park High School was named a 2024-2025 West Virginia PBIS Tier 1 Model School by the West Virginia Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center (WVBMHTAC). In collaboration with the WV Autism Training Center at Marshall University and the WV Department of Education, the WVBMHTAC oversees, in addition to other initiatives, the state’s school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) project. For the 2024-2025 school year, the WV PBIS Leadership Team began searching for West Virginia PBIS Tier 1 Model Schools in January. The process for schools renewing their status involves the school team submitting evidence of their work, data analysis, and impact stories. The WV PBIS Leadership Team is looking for ongoing evidence of a multi-tiered, problem- solving framework that produces positive outcomes. WV PBIS Coordinator, Alicia Ziman, says “The Model Schools initiative is an integral part of our project. Identifying Model Schools gives us the opportunity to showcase the work these schools have found to be effective. We also have the ability to share their experiences with schools across the state and with outside stakeholders. Model Schools can instill an excitement in others through their passion and dedication to the PBIS Framework that is hard to capture in any training alone.” Wheeling Park High School, along with principal Mrs. Meredith Dailer and her PBIS team, surpassed our standards to be awarded this recognition again this year. Designated for multiple years, WPHS continues to be an inspiring example to others throughout West Virginia. Their unwavering commitment to meeting student needs through the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support, dedication to success for all students, and implementation of best practices sets them apart as a true model school. The WVBMHTAC is so appreciative of Wheeling Park’s dedication to the PBIS framework, and we look forward to how this recognition as a Model School can help support other schools across the state. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Wheeling Park High School Named 'WV PBIS Tier 1 Model School'

Huntington, WV, June 2025 – Wheeling Park High School was named a 2024-2025 West Virginia PBIS Tier 1 Model School by the West Virginia Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center (WVBMHTAC). In collaboration with the WV Autism Training Center at Marshall University and the WV Department of Education, the WVBMHTAC oversees, in addition to other initiatives, the state’s school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) project. For the 2024-2025 school year, the WV PBIS Leadership Team began searching for West Virginia PBIS Tier 1 Model Schools in January. The process for schools renewing their status involves the school team submitting evidence of their work, data analysis, and impact stories. The WV PBIS Leadership Team is looking for ongoing evidence of a multi-tiered, problem- solving framework that produces positive outcomes. WV PBIS Coordinator, Alicia Ziman, says “The Model Schools initiative is an integral part of our project. Identifying Model Schools gives us the opportunity to showcase the work these schools have found to be effective. We also have the ability to share their experiences with schools across the state and with outside stakeholders. Model Schools can instill an excitement in others through their passion and dedication to the PBIS Framework that is hard to capture in any training alone.” Wheeling Park High School, along with principal Mrs. Meredith Dailer and her PBIS team, surpassed our standards to be awarded this recognition again this year. Designated for multiple years, WPHS continues to be an inspiring example to others throughout West Virginia. Their unwavering commitment to meeting student needs through the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support, dedication to success for all students, and implementation of best practices sets them apart as a true model school. The WVBMHTAC is so appreciative of Wheeling Park’s dedication to the PBIS framework, and we look forward to how this recognition as a Model School can help support other schools across the state. Read the full article

[ledenews]

Wheeling Park High School Named 'WV PBIS Tier 1 Model School'

Huntington, WV, June 2025 – Wheeling Park High School was named a 2024-2025 West Virginia PBIS Tier 1 Model School by the West Virginia Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center (WVBMHTAC). In collaboration with the WV Autism Training Center at Marshall University and the WV Department of Education, the WVBMHTAC oversees, in addition to other initiatives, the state’s school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) project. For the 2024-2025 school year, the WV PBIS Leadership Team began searching for West Virginia PBIS Tier 1 Model Schools in January. The process for schools renewing their status involves the school team submitting evidence of their work, data analysis, and impact stories. The WV PBIS Leadership Team is looking for ongoing evidence of a multi-tiered, problem- solving framework that produces positive outcomes. WV PBIS Coordinator, Alicia Ziman, says “The Model Schools initiative is an integral part of our project. Identifying Model Schools gives us the opportunity to showcase the work these schools have found to be effective. We also have the ability to share their experiences with schools across the state and with outside stakeholders. Model Schools can instill an excitement in others through their passion and dedication to the PBIS Framework that is hard to capture in any training alone.” Wheeling Park High School, along with principal Mrs. Meredith Dailer and her PBIS team, surpassed our standards to be awarded this recognition again this year. Designated for multiple years, WPHS continues to be an inspiring example to others throughout West Virginia. Their unwavering commitment to meeting student needs through the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support, dedication to success for all students, and implementation of best practices sets them apart as a true model school. The WVBMHTAC is so appreciative of Wheeling Park’s dedication to the PBIS framework, and we look forward to how this recognition as a Model School can help support other schools across the state. Read the full article