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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/07/07
For more information:
Bob Edwards
Public Relations Department Assistant
����ֱ�� State College
����ֱ��, West Virginia
304) 462-7361x7610

����ֱ��, WV—Three ����ֱ�� State College staff members were honored at the 2007 West Virginia Association of

Student Personal Administrator Conference held at Stonewall Resort in early November. Three awards were handed out during the conference, and two of the three went to GSC personnel.

GSC Dean of Student Affairs Jerry Burkhammer received the WVASPA Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the student affairs field over an extended period of time. “Personally, it is very rewarding to receive this honor which indicates that my peers in the student affairs field recognize and appreciate the work I am doing. It also means that people are looking at all the good things that are happening, and the great people we have here at ����ֱ�� State College,” said Burkhammer. He is 1987 graduate of GSC and has been serving the college for over twenty years.

Kipp Colvin, GSC Director of Student Activities, received the WVASPA New Professional Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions of a student affairs staff member with less than five years experience in the field. “It is always nice to receive this kind of honor for the job you are doing. I also believe this is tremendous publicity for the wonderful staff and programs we have here at GSC,” said Colvin.

The WVASPA also elected new board members during the conference. Jodi Ocheltree, ����ֱ�� State College Residence Hall Director for Pioneer Village, was elected as President Elect. She was elected as a write-in candidate for a three-year term, serving as President Elect in 2008, President of the WVASPA in 2009, and past President in 2010. As President Elect, Ochletree will be responsible for planning and conducting the 2008 conference which will also be held at Stonewall Resort. Ocheltree has already served on the WVASPA board for four years, serving as the organizations secretary for the past three years. “For me the honor means that the members of the WVASPA felt strongly that I could do a good job. One of my goals will be to help put some passion back into student affairs,” said Ocheltree.

West Virginia Higher Education Planning Commission Chancellor Dr Brian Noland was the keynote speaker at the WVASPA conference. “It is extremely rare for one institution to receive as much recognition as ����ֱ�� State College did at the 2007 WVASPA conference. It is a testament to the high quality work that the school is doing. I had the opportunity to visit the GSC campus for the WVHEPC meeting and was impressed with what is being accomplished there. Congratulations to the students, faculty, and staff at ����ֱ�� State College,” commented Chancellor Noland.