Tuesday, Feb. 6, will not be just another visitorsday at the State Capitol. Tuesday is expected to be 2007s benchmark day when West Virginia University welcomes more than 800 volunteers, students and other supporters to share and learn about successful WVU service programs being showcased in the Cultural Center and State Capitol Building.
Organized around the themeWVU Extension hosts WVU s Service to the State,the day holds the unofficial record for drawing the largest and most diverse groups to designated day programs at the Capitol, according to Ann Bailey Berry, WVU Extensions associate director for organizational advancement.
During pre-registration, West Virginians from more than 40 of the states 55 counties signed up to be part of the historic outreach celebration.
Our volunteers, 4-H members and other supporters come excited about the chance to meet with legislators, watch the West Virginia Legislature in session, learn about the Capitol, share their successful WVU Extension Service experiences, and learn about other WVU and WVU Extension outreach opportunities,Berry said.
The day is designed to showcase WVU s contributions to West Virginians in their roles as family members, business owners, agriculturalists, employees, volunteers, lifelong learners and other capacities.
The focus is on both learning and fun, Berry said, as youths of all ages and adults from all walks of life see or participate in activities that span a wide range of interests. Visitors can be led in song by bagpipes; mine for chocolate chips at a science exhibit; make new connections with WVU through its interactive kiosk; design and sign Valentines for West Virginia veterans; and prepare individualA Wish, a Hope, a Dreamfor West Virginiamessages to be delivered to Gov. Joe Manchin.
The informal educational event opens with a formal welcome at 9:30 a.m. in the Cultural Center. Among those scheduled to greet visitors are Mountaineer mascot Brady Campbell, radio talk show host Hoppy Kercheval; Miss West Virginia Tiffany Lawrence; and state Treasurer John Perdue.
Campbell is a wood science and technology major from Charleston; Kercheval, vice president of operations at the West Virginia Radio Corp., host of Metronews Talkline and a commentator on the Mountaineer Sports Networks broadcasts of WVU sports events; Lawrence, a former 4-H member and current 4-H volunteer leader in Jefferson County, who aspires to be West Virginias first female governor; and Perdue, West Virginias treasurer, is a 4-H and WVU alumnus who credits much of his success to his 4-H activities.
4-H is among many WVU Extension programs to be featured Feb. 6. Exhibits will showcase the contributions of Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS), Master Gardeners, Energy Express, firefighter training, WVU Jacksons MillHistory Hitting the Road,and Extensions other farm, family, nutrition and community programs.
Among the WVU colleges, departments and programs scheduled to staff exhibits are Adventure West Virginia, First-Year Experience, WVU Press, Institute for Math Learning, Extended Learning, National Research Center for Coal and Energy, Center for Civic Engagement, Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, University Advancement and Marketing, and WVU Health Sciences Center Charleston Division.
The full schedule and other details about the day are available on the Web atwww.ext.wvu.edu.