University is not just a word – it has meaning, and sometimes with the hustle and bustle of getting everything prepared for a celebration, we can forget the real reasoning behind the whole matter. A Master’s of Arts Degree in Education are the words of why we are becoming WLU.  It took approximately NINE YEARS for us Hilltoppers to achieve such prestigious status. However, we need to stop and think and thank those who worked hard to create this program.

On a recent taping of “Inside West Liberty,” my guest was Dr. Beth Musser, the retiring Dean for the School of Education. We talked immensely about the Master’s Program, its creation and how it is currently going for graduate students.

Dr. Musser had in her hand a copy of every document that was typed and created for this program, as the book was very thick. She told me she has been Dean for the past nine years, and we’ll nine years ago is when the thoughts of a Master’s Program was first discussed.

At the end of my show, I caught Dr. Musser by surprise and thanked her for her 33 years of teaching, 9 years serving as Dean, and countless on the side hours and dedication to this Master’s Program. Dr. Musser got emotional and simply said, “West Liberty will always have a special place in my heart.”

I had never felt so touched in my 32 shows that I have produced on WLTV-14.

If it were not for people like Dr. Musser and her respective school, the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs and current Chief Administrative Officer Dr. John McCullough, then President Ronald Zaccari, and the many others who piloted this program—Thank You. Thank you for allowing me as a student to witness such a historical time that comes once in a lifetime.

So, after the day arrives, and summer begins, remember when you leave West Liberty University and travel down Route 88 and see signs for WLU—remember the true meaning behind the name and the hard work it took for us to get there.

Enjoy these next few weeks—they will go by fast.

Be Sociable, Share!

•