BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College and Notre Dame High School have signed a formal agreement to begin a creative and performing arts partnership between the institutions.

Under the agreement executed today, WVWC will employ an instructor to teach in the Performing Arts Conservatory at Notre Dame High School. 2022 WVWC graduate Pippa McGinley will facilitate Notre Dame’s “Shamrocks” Show Choir program and assist students in preparation for musical theater and thespian performances and competitions.

West Virginia Wesleyan College will also provide performance space for up to three NDHS productions in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts yearly. Notre Dame students will be eligible for unique scholarship opportunities through WVWC and will interact regularly with Wesleyan faculty and staff members to learn more about the arts, college application processes, and financial aid.

There will be more opportunities for the two entities to partner in the future with hopeful projects including dual credit and college credit courses, performances with West Virginia Wesleyan ensembles, and arts camps and intensives held on the residential campus.

Dr. James Moore, interim President, said, “West Virginia Wesleyan College is thrilled to partner with Notre Dame High School to further the cause of their already amazing Performing Art Conservatory. The quality of all Notre Dame High School students is well known to us, and we applaud the teachers there for their focus on the whole student, for providing a thoughtfully rigorous environment, and for doing so in such a holistic manner. We truly believe that this is the first step of many for our two institutions. The sky is the limit.”

Kelly Light, principal at Notre Dame High School, said, “Notre Dame High School is thrilled to forge a partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College. We are incredibly excited to work with such a prestigious institution, not only for the growth of our Performing Arts Conservatory (PAC) program, but also for the potential opportunities for all Notre Dame students. As institutions with shared Christian values and an emphasis on academic rigor, we believe WVWC is a great fit for our college-bound students and look forward to working with WVWC to show them all the college has to offer.