Category: News

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News

89.7 WSHC Appoints New Chief Operating Officer for Student-Led Programming

Shepherdstown, West Virginia – 89.7 WSHC is excited to enter into a new chapter in Knutti Hall with the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer. Shepherd University alumna and former WSHC Operations Director Jenna Taylor-Tennant has been named to the role, effective July 1, 2025. She will succeed Mike Hurst, who is stepping away from the station to pursue external opportunities.

Taylor-Tennant brings four years of radio experience to the position, having started at WSHC as a student. She continued her radio journey with award-winning WVRC Media stations: WDZN, WDYK, WKLP, WCMD, WQZK, and WDYK in Cumberland, and WLTF in Martinsburg. After graduating from Shepherd University in 2024, she returned to assist Dr. Kevin Williams with the Radio Practicum course and continued contributing to WSHC’s mission.

“I’m looking forward to student involvement growing as we reach out to our fellow Rams and our community members,” Taylor-Tennant said. “I am very fortunate to have a passionate team of students working hard to improve the station and bring WSHC to a new generation.”

For any questions relating to the radio station, please reach out to Jenna Taylor-Tennant at JTAYL03@shepherd.edu.

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News

Bancroft, Caperton, Floyd, Kercheval and Scully join Stubblefield Institute Board of Advisor

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. — Steven L. Scully, Happy Kercheval, Jade Floyd, Gat Caperton, and David Bancroft recently joined the Stubblefield Institute Board of Advisors. With other members of the Board, they will help guide the nonprofit to continue to study and promote civil political discourse.

Scully is currently the host of “The Briefing with Steve Scully on Sirius XM.” Previously with C-SPAN, Scully has conducted over 8000 interviews, including with every U.S. president from Ford to Biden. He is a Senior Strategic Advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Kercheval is known as the radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters and is recently semi-retired from his position with West Virginia Radio. West Virginians are familiar with his steady and insightful interview and commentary style from many years with MetroNews and Talkline.

Kercheval is a native of Summit Point, in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Floyd is executive vice president of Communications and Public Affairs at Global Strategy Group. Previously she was vice president of Communications at the Case Foundation and Revolution Venture Capital. She teaches graduate classes on Social Impact Communications at George Washington University. Floyd received her master’s degree in applied politics from the University of Akron.

Caperton is the CEO of Gat Creek furniture company. As a business leader, he works to promote rural economic development, higher education attainment, and sustainability. He is on the Board of Governors of Shepherd University, the home of the Stubblefield Institute. Caperton’s father, Gaston Caperton, was governor of West Virginia from 1989 -1997.

Bancroft’s experience includes leadership in multiple organizations, including the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Council on Environmental Affairs. He has served in Wisconsin and Maryland on election campaigns ranging from the mayoral to presidential level. He served on the Obama campaign as a member of the Energy and Environment Work Group.

“The Stubblefield Institute has groundbreaking programs to help average citizens state their case about issues important to them in factual, respectful ways,” said Bancroft. “Atthe same time, it opens the minds of students to advocate for their concerns in a manner that yields understanding and a constructive debate. For those reasons, I am proud to be member of the Stubblefield Institute Board of Advisors.”

“Each of these distinguished professionals brings so much to our Institute, the cause of elevating our civil discourse, and developing strategies for unplugging the ‘outrage machine’ and tribalism from our political communication,” said Kelly Johnston, co-chair of the Stubblefield Institute Board. “I’m personally grateful for their willingness to join and help lead this cause.”

The Stubblefield Institute was founded in 2019 with offices and programming hosted at Shepherd University.

Press Release from The Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communication at Shepherd University

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Community News Picket

Historic Firsts: Shepherdstown’s First Annual Pride Parade 

Shepherdstown, West Virginia – On Sunday, June 1st, hundreds of people, both Shepherd University Students and local community members, lined Shepherdstown’s German Street as they prepared to kick off the 2025 Pride season with the first annual Shepherdstown Pride Parade.  

The parade, founded and largely organized by Joan Moossey, followed the theme of “Historic Firsts”, with the parade celebrating local queer icons such as Silas Starry, the first openly gay mayor of Shepherdstown, and Stephen Skinner, the first openly gay person elected to the West Virginia state legislature. 

“We need to show our strength as a community,” says Shepherd University student, Katherine Aronhalt, “We’re so strong here. There are so many people that showed up, that are supporting each other, that are complimenting each other’s outfits, and there’s so much community and love here,”  

The parade, which ran through German Street, started at 6:00 pm and ended approximately. 20 minutes later. Though it was a short parade, it was a beautiful one. The celebration was opened by Grand Marshall Rosemary Ketchum, the first openly transgender person elected official in West Virginia. Ketchum was followed by a group of people holding a banner that read “1st Annual Shepherdstown Gay Pride Parade.”  

Participants included local businesses, including Alma Bea, Bee City, and The Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea, and local churches, such as the Shepherdstown Presbyterian and St. Peter’s Lutheran Parish. The parade ended with the crowd joining in on the route and eventually dispersing at the intersection between German Street and Princess Street.  

There was no hide nor hair of a homophobic protester in sight. The parade was a pure expression of love and celebration of identity.  

“I think it’s important now, especially with everything that’s going on in the world, to go out, and support, and be a part of that community,” said Solace Gildowan, Shepherd University student and active member of the campus Gender Sexuality Alliance. 

For many Shepherd students, this was their first Pride parade. “This is my first time being truly at a pride parade… I feel like I get to be a part of something great, something that’s hopefully going to continue for a long time,” says Brenna Nowlan, another Shepherd University student.  

Reporter Carter Combs

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Community Spring 2025

Brunswick Art Market

On this episode of Community Spotlight, Jenna sits down with Tara Zabriskie, president of the Brunswick Arts Council, to talk about their upcoming event, BAM! (Brunswick Art Market). This is the second art market hosted by the Brunswick Arts Council (BAC), the first having been in December. The BAC is very new, having just started in October of 2024. The best way to get involved is by attending their monthly meeting on the second Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. at the Brunswick Branch Library.

The art market will feature over 30 vendors, including authors, craftsmen, photographers, and jewelers. There will be a craft table specifically for children, allowing them to experience the art hands-on. There will be a juggler for a portion of the day and local musicians.

After the BAM!, don’t forget about the afterparty from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Smoketown Brewing Station. Local band Living Fossils will be performing, capping off another great BAM!

Connect with the Brunswick Arts Council on Facebook and Instagram!