West Virginia University alumni in the Eastern Panhandle and Washington, D.C./Capitol area are gearing up for two important summer activities: WVU Night at the Charles Town Races on Friday, Aug. 2, and the Washington, D.C. Crab Feast on Saturday, Aug. 3.
“Our chapters have experienced great success with these two events,”said Stephen Douglas, chief executive officer of the WVU Alumni Association.”They have found activities that people enjoy and look forward to each year. They have good times down to a scienceand they are doing it all to support student scholarships and alumni programming.”
First out of the gate is the 5th annual WVU Night at the Charles Town Races beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 2 in the Skyline Terrace Dining Room. Organized by the Eastern Panhandle Mountaineer Fan Club and WVU Alumni Association, the program includes a reception, international buffet dinner and more.
“This event has been a huge success in past years, as it presents a great opportunity to socialize with fellow WVU alumni and fans while also helping to raise funds for a good cause,”said Todd M. Beckwith,’70, of Martinsburg, a member of the Alumni Association’s board of directors.
Mountaineers will be paying special attention to the fifth race on the card, which has been christened the”WVU Alumni Association Trophy Race”because alumni present the owner of the winning horse with a special trophy.
Beckwith notes that all proceeds will benefit the Eastern Panhandle Endowed Scholarship Fund.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Eastern Panhandle Mountaineer Fan Club hotline: (304) 264-WVU1.
A day after crossing the finish line in Charles Town, hundreds of WVU graduates are expected to travel to Washington, D.C., with mallets in hand to crack blue crab shells at the 25th annual Crab Feast, hosted by the National Capital chapter of the Alumni Association. The pots will be boiling at Bolling Air Force Base from 2-7 p.m.
“Rain or shine, come join fellow Mountaineers and enjoy delicious food, good music, fun sports and games and a great time,”urged Paul Farmer, an event organizer and native of Mullens, W.Va.
The planned menu includes steamed crabs, steamed shrimp, chicken, hot dogs, chili, watermelon, corn-on-the-cob, cookies and more. A DJ will provide music, and campus VIPs and the WVU Mountaineer will join the crowd. Prizes to be raffled include a football autographed by former Mountaineer standout and current Pittsburgh Steeler Amos Zereoue, a two-night stay at Canaan Valley Resort, Fiestaware china, a box of fine cigars and tickets to this season’s WVU football games. The raffle will also include a football autographed by WVU Head Coach Rich Rodriguez.
Proceeds from the Crab Feast will benefit the John F. Nicholas, Jr. NCAC Endowed Scholarship Fund, which makes two annual awards to local students attending WVU . The fund has already raised more than $37,000 in scholarship money.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call Farmer at 202-962-1472 during business hours. Reservations and advance payments are encouraged.
The WVU Alumni Association, chartered in 1873, represents more than 145,000 university graduates residing in every county in West Virginia, every state in the union and approximately 60 foreign nations. With nearly 100 registered chapters and constituent groups, the association’s 26,000 dues-paying members support Homecoming Weekend, the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and dozens of other social and philanthropic programs.