It will be much like an Academy Awards in education when officials at West Virginia University pay tribute to some of the institutions finest faculty, staff, students and alumni during annual Weekend of Honors activities April 12-14.

“At WVU , we have a rich legacy of academic success,”said President David C. Hardesty, Jr.,”and we believe it is important to recognize and reward the excellence of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. I invite the families of our award recipientsalong with the general publicto join us in saluting those with outstanding achievement this past year.”

Throughout the weekend, WVU s colleges and schools will stage ceremonies, open houses and receptions, and exceptional students will give speeches and presentations, receive awards and be inducted into academic honoraries, Hardesty said.

Events actually begin Wednesday, April 10, when the College of Business and Economics holds its annual Honors and Awards Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair ballrooms.

On Thursday, April 11, the School of Nursing will recognize the scholarly achievements of students and faculty at 6 p.m. The ceremony follows the Judith C. Hightower Kandzari Lectureship to be presented this year by Joan Magilvy, a nursing professor from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The public is invited to her lecture titled The Significance of Nursing During Health Care Transitions for Rural Older Adults. Both events will be held in the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Centers Main Auditorium. For more information, contact Suzanne Gross, 304-293-1386.

The community can learn more about the history of coal mining when the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (COMER) holds an Open House in its COMER Museum in the Mineral ResourcesBuildings atrium from 1-3 p.m. Friday, April 12. For more information, call Royce Watts, 293-5965.

Throughout the afternoon Friday, numerous WVU schools and colleges will sponsor open houses, receptions and award ceremonies.

Two special ceremonies will highlight Friday activities. An Honorary Recognition Ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Woodburn Circle to acknowledge the induction of new student initiates into campus-wide honoraries, including Helvetia, Chimes and Mortar Board. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Mountainlair ballrooms.

At 7:00 p.m. Friday, a Weekend of Honors Convocation Ceremony will be held in the Mountainlair Gold and Blue Ballrooms. Outstanding achievements of students, faculty, staff and alumni will be recognized. President Hardesty will preside. A reception in the ballrooms will follow the program.

Festivities continue Saturday, April 13, with more open houses, banquets and receptions.

On Sunday, April 14, there will be a 1 p.m. Ring Day Ceremony at Erickson Alumni Centers Durrett Hall. WVU students who have purchased the official class ring are invited to attend the ceremony along with their families. President and Mrs. Hardesty will present the rings and host a reception afterwards.

The weekend concludes with a 3:15 p.m. Live at Falbo jazz concert at the Creative Arts Center. Call 293-SHOW for tickets.

For more information on the weekends events, call Kim Stafford, 304-293-8029.