College of Creative Arts

The WVU Innovation Awards recognize new and established WVU faculty, administrators or staff members for their contribution to innovation, and for their commercialization of ideas that impact and benefit the public's well-being. Faculty and staff can apply for a chance to receive $5,000 for their innovation. To learn more, check out the Innovation Award Guidelines.

Students studying for a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting in the School of Theatre & Dance presented a showcase performance in New York City on March 28. The experience is designed to help graduating students make industry contacts and create work opportunities for the future as they move into their professional careers.

"To work together as a performing ensemble has long been a dream of ours," said Dr. Mitchell Arnold, who directs the group. "The talent and performing energy of my colleagues is fantastic. We cannot wait to bring this exciting program to regional audiences."

Music alumnus Jay Chattaway, one of America's premier composers for film and television and known for his musical compositions for the TV Series "Star Trek," will be the guest speaker for the College of Creative Arts graduation commencement on May 18.

Dance has been a part of student life at WVU for the past 84 years, and now it is a new major in the College of Creative Arts. It will be available to students in the School of Theatre & Dance beginning in the fall of 2013.

Alison Deem, of Bridgeport, W.Va., has been named Distinguished Friend of the College of Creative Arts, a special recognition given to an individual who is not an alumnus of the College, but who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and contributions to both the College and to WVU.

The WVU College of Creative Arts presented its annual faculty awards during a ceremony at the Creative Arts Center in April. Faculty winners include: Rhonda Reymond, Joseph Lupo, Robert Klingelhoefer, Kristina Olson and Brian Plitnik.

WVU Emeritus Professor of Genetics Joginder Nath is making an additional gift to the College of Creative Arts to benefit the Art Museum of WVU, which will soon be under construction adjacent to the Creative Arts Center.

Printmaking students in a class taught by Joe Lupo were able to reach out to fellow art students a half a world away when they participated in a portfolio exchange with art students at Zayed University in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, during the spring semester.

The Sincell and Wagoner families of western Maryland have strong multigenerational ties with WVU that have helped them go places in life. The families are now giving back to WVU - to help current and future students find their own success - by pledging $25,000 to the College of Creative Arts to establish the Sincell-Wagoner Family Travel Endowment.

For almost 20 years on Star Trek, the starship Enterprise soared through the galaxies to the musical motifs of composer Jay Chattaway, a graduate of the College of Creative Arts. Now, as part of a new enterprise, Chattaway has presented his entire Star Trek music collection to the WVU School of Music.

Five undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Creative Arts were named winners of the annual Faculty-Mentored Research Awards, during a ceremony in April. The students are: Ben Gazsi, Daniela Londono-Bernal, Jennifer Marcus, Vlad Basarab, and Sheila Barnhart.

The WVU Wind Symphony, conducted by John Hendricks, III, with assistant conductor Dearl J. Drury, will go on tour this spring, presenting free public concerts in Charleston, W.Va. in Charlotte, N.C.

Six outstanding musicians who represent musical excellence at WVU took the stage with the WVU Symphony Orchestra, as the Orchestra presented its annual Young Artists Concert on Feb. 28.