WVU Alumni Association announces 2025 Homecoming and Alumni Service Award honorees

WVU will honor a slate of dedicated Mountaineers who have been tapped for this year's Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards. The honorees, including industrial engineering alumnus Brian Rohrig will be recognized during the Homecoming Parade scheduled for Friday, Oct. 24, and during halftime of the WVU vs. TCU football game on Saturday, Oct. 25. (WVU Graphic)

As Mountaineers return for West Virginia University Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 24-25, the WVU Alumni Association will honor recipients of the 2025 Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards.

Story by Kallie Nealis, Assistant Director of Alumni Marketing, WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
Photos supplied and graphics by WVU

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The winners embody the leadership, service, innovation, commitment and generosity that exemplify what it means to be a Mountaineer.

Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal
Dr. Clay Marsh  (’81, ’85), chancellor and executive dean for WVU Health Sciences, will serve as the grand marshal for the 2025 Homecoming Parade at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, on High Street in downtown Morgantown.

Known for his calm, compassionate leadership and steadfast dedication to the people of West Virginia, Dr. Marsh has become one of the state’s most trusted and transformative voices in health and higher education. A Charleston native and visionary leader in medicine, Dr. Marsh has transformed how West Virginia approaches health and well-being.

Since being recruited to WVU in 2015, his leadership has united institutions and communities across the state to improve lives, including mobilizing statewide testing and vaccine initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthening research and clinical networks that now serve as national models.

Under his leadership, Health Sciences gained approximately $1 billion in research funding over the past decade, with WVU emerging as a leader in rural clinical trials and health innovation. His collaborative, “can-do” spirit and deep love for West Virginia continue to shape a culture of compassion, discovery and resilience that reaches every corner of the Mountain State.  

Outstanding Alumni Award
With a 37-year career defined by vision and loyalty to his alma mater,  Narvel G. Weese Jr. (’83) has left a lasting mark on the University. Rising from a project cost accountant at WVU to vice president for administration and  finance, he guided five major divisions and more than 1,400 employees while advancing projects that transformed the University’s landscape and strengthened its future.

Known for rejecting the status quo in favor of innovative strategies, his leadership helped reimagine the  Evansdale area of campus, including the addition of new facilities like the  Advanced Engineering Research Building,  Agricultural Sciences Building, and what is now the  Applied Human Sciences Building. Additionally, the  Evansdale Crossing building and student housing projects pioneered new public-private partnerships that enhanced the University’s long-term stability.

Even in retirement, his Mountaineer spirit endures through community service with Meals on Wheels and continued involvement with the  WVU Palmetto Alumni Chapter, ensuring his legacy of care and commitment extends far beyond Morgantown. 

Paul B. “Buck” Martin Award 
Terry Jackson  (’11, ‘18) embodies the true spirit of a Mountaineer by being service-minded and deeply committed to advancing the WVU values and traditions. A proud 2018 graduate of the  Integrated Marketing Communications program, Jackson leads with authenticity and heart, whether guiding prospective students as senior director of the  WVU Visitors Center, advancing the University’s service to the community through Leadership West Virginia, or serving on the Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Board. As incoming chair, his work has strengthened the University’s connection to communities across the state, inspiring others to discover their purpose through education and service. 

Always willing to go above and beyond, Jackson’s enthusiasm for WVU shines through in every interaction, making him a trusted ambassador for the University and an example of what it means to live out the Mountaineer mission each day. 

James R. McCartney Community Service Award
A lifelong advocate for education and community advancement, two-time WVU graduate  Donna Hoylman Peduto  (’77, ‘80) has dedicated her career to empowering West Virginians through education and service. Her career journey began as a classroom teacher, to a policymaker in the West Virginia Department of Education, followed by service as the director of operations for the state Board of Education. This pathway led to her current role as executive director of the  West Virginia Public Education Collaborative which focuses on creating a seamless pathway from K-12 to higher education.

Guided by compassion and a belief in the power of education, she has become a trusted connector and changemaker whose efforts continue to create opportunities for generations of West Virginians. From strengthening her family’s philanthropic legacy across cancer research, athletics, entrepreneurship and student scholarships to leading transformative public education efforts statewide, her service demonstrates a steadfast dedication to uplifting WVU, its students, and the broader West Virginia community.  

Margaret Buchanan Cole Young Alumni Award
A trailblazer in professional sports and a proud two-time graduate,  Jackie Riggleman (’13, ’15) is redefining leadership through service and inclusion. From her early career with the West Virginia Black Bears to her role with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Riggleman has used her platform to create opportunities for others, from championing gender equity in sports to fostering community engagement through charitable initiatives.

Her efforts have supported veterans, survivors of domestic violence and youth athletes while promoting diversity and belonging in baseball. Recognized as a WV Living “Wonder Woman” in 2018 and recipient of the New York-Penn League’s Female Executive of the Year award, Riggleman continues to inspire others with her passion, authenticity and commitment to making a difference both on and off the field.  

John F. Nicholas Jr. Award
As president of the  WVU Rocky Mountain Alumni Chapter,  Brian Rohrig (’08 industrial engineering) has transformed a regional alumni network into one of the most active and engaged Mountaineer communities in the country.

Through his energetic leadership and welcoming spirit, Rohrig has helped unite alumni across Colorado and the surrounding states, creating a lasting sense of home for Mountaineers far from Morgantown. His ability to inspire participation, attract new leaders and foster genuine connections has strengthened the chapter’s presence and impact.

Known for his enthusiasm and dedication to WVU, Rohrig shows what it means to lead with purpose, ensuring that Mountaineer pride thrives wherever alumni gather, leading him to receive this award honoring graduates who have given outstanding service and contributions to a geographic chapter, special interest or college alumni group. 

David W. Jacobs Lifetime Service Award
A proud graduate and tireless volunteer, Angela Williams (’92, ’94) has exemplified what it means to be a lifelong Mountaineer. Over several decades, she has dedicated her time and talent to strengthening the WVU Alumni community, most notably through her transformative leadership in the WVU Black Alumni Association. Williams played a central role in revitalizing the organization, creating opportunities for generations of graduates to reconnect and for students to see themselves in the success of those who came before them.

Her service on the Horace and Geraldine Belmear Scholarship Committee has further expanded access to higher education, ensuring that future Mountaineers can pursue their dreams. Known for her warmth, humility and steadfast commitment to others, Williams’ legacy is one of connection, empowerment and enduring love for her alma mater. 

The WVU Alumni Association Homecoming honorees will be recognized during the Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 24, and at halftime of the WVU vs. TCU football game on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Find more information about Homecoming 2025.

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