Marshall Magazine Summer 2022

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are so proud of both Marshall and all the fine alumni involved in our chapter who have become family. This chapter is incredibly humbled to be recognized as an award-winning chapter, and we are off to a great start in 2022. “We will continue, as sons and daughters of Marshall, to promote and support our beloved university as we help provide scholarships to fellow West Virginians.” In July 2021, the Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter presented the Marshall University Foundation with $13,000 and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation with $21,000, for a total of $34,000. The

Ashley as second vice president, Larry Foster as treasurer and Kim Arden as secretary. Emerging Chapter of the Year is awarded to an up-and coming alumni chapter for its efforts toward fundraising, membership growth, activities and dedication to Marshall University. Due to the pandemic, the award was not given in 2020 or 2021, meaning the Eastern Panhandle Chapter is the second chapter to receive this award. The Eastern Panhandle Chapter was established inApril 2021. The idea for the chapter came from conversations between Adam Stewart and Tim Pownell, two Marshall graduates who work together at United Bank inMartinsburg

chapter also established the MU Southern Coalfields Scholarship Endowment, pledging $25,000 over five years. By the end of 2021, the chapter had fulfilled more than $10,000 toward this goal. The chapter’s events in 2021 included the Beckley Big Green Coaches Tour Golf Outing, which hosted 96 golfers and more than 40 businesses in support of the annual event. The chapter also hosted the Thunder in the Alley bowling event, which saw 108 bowl - ers in attendance and grossed $5,900. In con junction with the Beckley golf outing, the chapter hosted the inaugural Mark Walker Golf Ball Drop. This event was to honor Mark Walker, de scribed as a “true Son of Marshall,” who bat tled a terminal brain tu mor. This event would be Walker’s last public outing, as he passed two

and Charles Town in West Virginia. Stewart is the chap ter’s president with Pownell serving as vice president. “This award provides en couragement to continue to grow and expand the Eastern Panhandle Alumni Chapter,” said Adam Stewart, president of the Eastern Panhandle Chapter. “We want to keep the progress of growth and recognition going as we look to focus on student recruit ment for Marshall from the most eastern counties of the state.” T h e E a s t e r n Panhandle is one of the fastest-growing areas in West Virginia. Members of the Eastern Panhandle Chapter aim to recruit high school students to at tendMarshall, with plans to work with guidance counselors at area high schools. In addition to recruitment, the Eastern Panhandle Chapter wants to eventually create schol

The MUAA 2022 Emerging Chapter of the Year is the Eastern Panhandle Alumni Chapter, shown here tailgating at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

months later. Nearly 1,000 golf balls were dropped on the putting green to raise $1,800 for the Southern Coalfields Scholarship Endowment. The Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter is led by Cyrus as president, Doug Leeber as past president, Miranda Arvon as first vice president, Amanda

arships for Eastern Panhandle students. The chapter has seven members on its board of di rectors, and close to 20 additional members. In the year since its formation, the chapter has hosted a handful of tailgates and game-watching events with numerous at tendees at each .

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