MORGANTOWN, W.Va. _ Each year, hundreds of alumni volunteers donate their time and energy to extend the reach of West Virginia University. On Friday, April 16, chapter and constituent group leaders will return to campus as part of the 13th Annual Alumni Leaders Institute at The Erickson Alumni Center.

The event, hosted by the WVU Alumni Association, provides chapter and constituent group leaders the opportunity to network with university administrators, participate in panel discussions and learn about events and activities taking place on campus, as well as those hosted by various alumni groups.

More than 20 chapters and constituent groups will participate in the institute, including representatives from chapters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, among others.

The event will kick off on Friday at 3 p.m., with presentations from chapter leaders on topics ranging from student recruiting and volunteer opportunities to professional and social networking and community service projects.

The day will conclude with a networking reception in The Kennedy Club Room.

“Our Alumni Leaders Institute is a great way for our volunteers to network with other leaders, brainstorm about ideas to further our mission, and learn about key issues and activities involving our alumni. It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm and dedication that our alumni share for WVU,” said Darin Gilpin, chair of the Chapter Relations Committee and member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The University Chapter will host a “Books for Brews” reception later that evening, for alumni leaders and other guests, at the Morgantown Brewing Company. As part of the social, alumni and friends are encouraged to bring a new or gently used book to donate to the WVU Alumni Association’s national service project to benefit WVU Children’s Hospital.

Chapters have been collecting books since February, and the donations will be presented to Children’s Hospital during the Association’s Gold & Blue Golf Tournament at Lakeview Resort & Spa in July.

On Saturday, attendees will join the Mountaineer Parents Club and the WVU Baseball Alumni Reunion for a pre-game tailgate at Hawley Field. The tailgate will begin at 1 p.m., and the groups will wrap up the weekend by cheering on the Mountaineer Baseball Team as they take on the Louisville Cardinals at 3 p.m.

For more information about the WVU Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

lm/04/13/10

CONTACT: Tara Curtis, WVU Alumni Association
304-293-0972, tecurtis@mail.wvu.edu

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