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11-05-2009 'Most Loyals' selected for Mountaineer Week at WVU Two couples who have provided distinguished support to the University, an associate dean of the WVU School of Dentistry and a longtime Student Affairs employee are being honored as “Most Loyals” during the 62nd annual Mountaineer Week, a celebration of Appalachian Heritage, Nov. 7-15, on West Virginia University’s campus. The 2009 honorees are Eddie and Betty Barrett, Most Loyal West Virginians; Edward “Jed” and Nancy DiPaolo, Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineers; Dr. Shelia Price, Most Loyal Faculty Mountaineer; and Pat Reeves, Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer. The group will be honored during halftime ceremonies of Saturday’s (Nov. 7) WVU-Louisville football game. The Most Loyal West Virginian and Alumni Mountaineer awards have been presented since 1974, while the Most Loyal Faculty and Staff Mountaineer award was created in 1994 and split into two separate awards in 2001.
Most Loyal West Virginian  Eddie and Betty Barrett of Huntington, W.Va., are being honored for their time and dedication to the University. Mr. Barrett grew up with a love of the gold and blue and graduated from WVU in 1952 with a degree in English. He worked in the WVU athletic department while attending classes and then spent 14 years as the athletic publicity director. He currently serves as president of Tax Sheltered Benefits, Inc. Mr. Barrett is a member of Mountain Honorary, Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Jerry West Society, and is a past president of the WVU Alumni Association Emeritus Club. He and his wife, Betty, have contributed financially and/or with gifts of time to several WVU programs, including the Alumni Association, athletics, community development, English, journalism, physical education, political science and the President’s Office. Mrs. Barrett has won numerous prestigious awards for her work with homelessness, affordable housing, mental health and poverty issues. Both are Old Gold members of the WVU Alumni Association and members of the WVU Foundation’s Irvin Stewart Society.
Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineer  Edward “Jed” and Nancy DiPaolo of Spring, Texas, have been longtime active leaders and faithful supporters of WVU. Mr. DiPaolo graduated from WVU in 1976 with a degree in agricultural engineering. He spent more than 25 years with Halliburton Company, serving in numerous positions including Group Senior Vice President of Global Business Development. He is currently chairman of JNDI Corporation. Mr. DiPaolo has maintained a strong commitment to the continuing development of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources by serving on the college’s advisory committee. He also chaired the CEMR’s Building Greatness campaign which raised nearly $23 million. Mrs. DiPaolo, who earned her degree in business from WVU in 1976, is currently the financial officer of JNDI Corporation. She has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater, currently serving as vice chair of the WVU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and chair of the Texas chapter of the WVU Parents Club. In 2004, Mrs. DiPaolo was honored with the WVU Alumni Association’s James R. McCartney Award in recognition of her unwavering commitment to WVU. The DiPaolos are lifetime members of the WVU Alumni Association.
Most Loyal Faculty and Staff Mountaineers   Dr. Shelia Price and Pat Reeves, both of Morgantown, have provided consistent and dedicated service to WVU for many years. Dr. Price is currently associate dean for admissions, recruitment and access and professor of diagnostic services at the WVU School of Dentistry. During her tenure at WVU, she has led academic support programs and shepherded several signature programs in the School of Dentistry. Dr. Price has mentored countless students, and her leadership in dental education has been recognized nationally by the American College of Dentists, Executive Leadership for Academic Medicine and the Pew National Dental Education Leadership Program. A former member of the WVU Faculty Senate and WVU Alumni Association Board of Directors, Dr. Price earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Education in educational leadership and master’s degree in higher education all from WVU. Pat Reeves has provided student assistance at WVU for several years, serving in positions in Student Affairs, Housing and Residential Education. Since 2006, she has worked at the main desk of Stalnaker Hall. Prior to that, she worked at the WVU Bookstore. During the summer months, she works as a member of the WVU conference staff. Known as “Miss Pat” and “Mom away from home” to students, Ms. Reeves is a mentor and friend of students whose unwavering WVU spirit and loyalty serve as an inspiration to others. |
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