MORGANTOWN — Hundreds of proud family members, friends and supporters filled the Mylan Park Event Center on Saturday as 167 graduates crossed the stage during the annual summer commencement ceremony for West Virginia Junior College (WVJC), East Ohio College, United Career Institute and Boardman Training Center.
The ceremony marked the culmination of months—and for many, years—of determination, perseverance and sacrifice. Graduates traveled from across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and neighboring states to celebrate earning credentials that will prepare them for careers in healthcare, allied health and professional services.
Founded in Charleston in 1892, WVJC has spent more than 130 years training skilled professionals to meet workforce demands. The institution has expanded to campuses in Morgantown and Bridgeport while growing its online programs to serve students throughout the region. In 2022, the Morgantown campus celebrated its 100th anniversary, continuing a tradition of career-focused education and hands-on learning.
“We are so excited to celebrate this day of accomplishment with our graduates,” said Samantha Esposito, campus president. “Our students come to us from all across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and beyond, and they have each worked incredibly hard to accomplish their goals. They have overcome so many challenges and emerged successful.”
Esposito said many graduates will enter healthcare professions, where they will provide quality care and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Academic Dean Brittany Nuzzo said commencement represents far more than completing an academic program.
“Graduation is much more than the completion of an academic program,” Nuzzo said. “It represents the perseverance, personal growth and dedication each graduate has demonstrated throughout their educational journey.”
Serving as commencement speaker, West Virginia House Majority Leader Dr. Pat McGeehan encouraged graduates to pursue lives defined by character and service rather than professional success alone.
“Do not merely aim to build a successful career,” McGeehan said. “Build a worthy life… Become someone whose word can be trusted—someone who chooses courage over comfort, truth over merely what’s popular.”
As graduates accepted their diplomas to standing ovations from loved ones, the ceremony celebrated not only academic achievement but also the beginning of careers dedicated to serving communities across Appalachia and beyond.
