BUCKHANNON – West Virginia Wesleyan College alumni have donated backpacks and school supplies to help the Upshur Parish House with the annual backpack and school supply distribution.

Trent Girard ’97 discussed ideas for a community service project involving alumni with WVWC Director of Development for Alumni Joshua Stump.

“We collectively decided that a Backpack/School Supply Drive would be an excellent way to support the Upshur County School children in need of assistance,” he said. “This project would become known as “Backpacks and Bobcats.”

Girard contacted Kristi Wilkerson ’99, director of the Upshur Parish House, to initiate the project. He then worked closely with Pam ‘77 and Barry Moll ‘76, who coordinate the backpack program at the Upshur Parish House to determine what items were needed and establish a time for alumni to assemble backpacks with school supplies. Donations were dropped off or mailed to the Erickson Alumni Center.

“Without hesitation Wesleyan alumni always rise to the occasion and supported this endeavor with quick and tremendous outpouring of support,” Girard said. “I want to say a big thank you to each and every Wesleyan alum who generously supported this worthwhile endeavor. The success of the ‘Backpacks and Bobcats’ will allow many happy and gracious school children to start the new school year off in the right direction.”

Alumni, along with WVWC faculty and staff, helped assemble backpacks this week at the Upshur Parish House which will be distributed beginning next week to underserved students in Upshur County.

Upshur County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sara Stankus ’89 expressed her thanks to all who donated.

“As School Superintendent, I am honored to be part of the Bobcat tradition of service above self,” she said. “Thank you to our amazing Wesleyan alumni who continue to make a difference for our Upshur County students by donating to the backpack program. This has a very positive impact on our students as they begin school.”