Tag: Student Radio

Categories
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.

Categories
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

Categories
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

Categories
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!

Categories
Picket Spring 2025

April 14, 2025

Transcription:

In a March SGA meeting, members of the Student Government Association outlined blueprints and concept designs for the proposed dining hall/multipurpose facility that will be built on Shepherd University’s West Campus. 

The building will house meeting rooms, locker rooms, training and treatment rooms, offices, and a state-of-the-art weight room that will accommodate the athletic department. Along with this, the building will feature a new dining hall to offer more dining options to students living on campus. 

According to Hans Fogel, Executive Director of University Communications, moving forward with the construction of the new dining hall/ multipurpose building aligns with Shepherd’s “strategic plan” to give students on west campus more dining options and to meet the needs of student athletes. 

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Shepherd University’s School of Music will offer summer camps again this year. The camps include a one-level string orchestra camp and a two-level jazz camp that will run concurrently from June 23 to June 27. A junior string camp is open to intermediate-level string musicians in grades 3-12 for the current academic year and to intermediate adult musicians. All students should have basic note-reading skills. The cost is $150.  

Junior and senior jazz camps are also available, with students in grades 6-8 during the 2024-2025 academic year invited to junior camp and students currently in grades 9-12 invited to the senior level camp. Both levels include jazz band rehearsals, individual and group coaching, combo/improvisation classes, theory classes, and faculty performances. Senior camp also includes master classes. Both camps conclude with concerts on June 27 and cost $310. All three camps culminate with concerts on June 27. To learn more or to register, visit www.shepherd.edu/musiccamp. 

Shepherd Performs on 89.7 WSHC

The Bonnie & Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications at Shepherd University announced the 2025 Campus Civility Award winners. 

Shepherd University students in the Stubblefield Institute Civility Club selected one student, one staff member, and one faculty member to recognize for their dedication to civility on the Shepherd University campus. This year’s student awardee is Joshua Molina; the staff awardee is Rachael Meads, director of Student Activities; and the faculty awardee is Dr. Craig Cline, associate professor of Social Work. These individuals engage in constructive interactions, show respect despite disagreement, and inspire others to be civil. 

Important Events:  

Sans Merci, Volume 49, release party will be on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. in the Marinoff Theatre.

The American Conservation Film Festival will be showing Planet Walker, a 31-minute film on conservation. The film will be followed by a discussion led by faculty member Pippa McCullough on the power of listening.   

Shepherd Panhellenic and Fraternity Council are hosting a Car Wash at Domino’s Pizza on Thursday, April 17, from 11a-3p. All proceeds will go to Relay for Life.  

The 77th Annual Student Recognition Day will be held on Tuesday, April 22, at 4:30 in the Frank Center.  

Midnight Breakfast will be held on Sunday, April 27, from 10 pm to midnight.  

Categories
Shepherd University Programming

Shepherd Performs

Join Patrick each Tuesday for a replay of a concert from Shepherd University’s School of Music. These performances come from community, student, and honor band performances. Patrick also interviews prominent figures from the program, including professors, students, and music enjoyers everywhere. Catch it live on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. and the next day on all major podcasting platforms.

Step into the world of collegiate artistry with Shepherd Performs, a podcast celebrating the Shepherd University School of Music’s rich musical talents. Each episode features captivating live recordings from our renowned student ensembles, including the Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Orchestra, and more. Whether you’re an alum, music lover, or curious listener, Shepherd Performs brings the beauty and spirit of our campus performances straight to your ears. Experience the passion, precision, and power of Shepherd University’s finest musicians.

Categories
Picket Spring 2025

April 7, 2025

Transcription

A Student Government Association meeting took place on March 25. SGA applications ended on April 4. Shepherd Students had the chance to vote on Rampulse. Nobody applied for the Junior and Sophomore Class President position or the Student Life Council position. Those spots will be appointed by the President and Vice President. The applications for the SGA Executive Board will remain open until April 7. 

As fellow reporter Courtney Blank writes, “In April, the Rude Mechanicals are performing four plays. One is Hrothsvita’s The Conversation of Thaïs. The other three were written by Shepherd students from Dr. Carrie Messenger’s Creative Writing: Drama Class. Rachel Carroll wrote Earth Boys are Easy. Caitlin Carson wrote The Galathea Effect. Hannah Tinsman wrote Blood and Garlic. There will be performances on April 4 and 5, as well as April 9 through the 12 at 7:30 pm. There will be a performance on April 6 and April 14 at 3:00 pm.” 

A recent string of hot dog-themed vandalism has taken place in parking lots across campus. Users have been posting to location-based, anonymous site, YikYak, photos of their cars, hotdogs skewered on antennas. One user even posted where The Mystery Meat Marauder had taken a bite out of the sausage before placing it on the user’s car. Rain or shine, parking lot to parking lot, hot dogs continue to appear on people’s personal vehicles. Contact the Shepherd Picket Newspaper with tips. 

Author Denise Giardina will be talking about her novel, “Saints and Villains,” on Tuesday, April 8 from 7 to 8:30 pm in the Robert Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education Auditorium. 

Hannah Williams-McNamee, director of Student Support and Transfer Pathways, announced on April 2 that the next selection for the Shepherd University Common Reading Program is Black Bear Creek: Stories by Shepherd English alumnus Dr. Joshua Cross. Cross is the first Shepherd graduate whose book will serve as a common reading selection at the University.  

Set in the fictionalized town of Black Bear Creek in West Virginia’s Coal River Valley, the book explores a community that has been ravaged by the declining mining industry. The characters in Cross’ debut story collection struggle to survive against poverty and environmental degradation; ultimately, they find ways to have hope and resistance.   

Important Events: 

  • Graphic Design Portfolio Exhibit will be this Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 at the CCA, room G-03.
Categories
Picket Spring 2025

March 31, 2025

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/wshc-shepherd2/episodes/March-31–2025-e30telf

Shepherd University’s English program, in partnership with the University’s National Writing Project (NWP) site, will highlight the work of English alumna Lilli Sutton during an April 1 event.  

Sutton, who graduated from Shepherd in 2019, is now a contemporary adult fiction writer based in Colorado. She published her debut novel, “Running Out of Air,” in November 2024 through HarperCollins Publishers.  

“Running Out of Air” tells the story of two sister mountain climbing in the Himalayas as they encounter the costs and risks of pursuing their dreams. Sutton will read from the book on Tuesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education. 

The Shepherd University accounting program received a new Accounting Faculty Excellence Award from CohnReznick LLP, a leading advisory, assurance, and tax firm. Huge congratulations to Dr. Cindy Vance and Dr. Vahid Biglari!  Support the Shepherd University Accounting Club here!

Important Events

  • Wicked will be screening at the Shepherdstown Opera House on Thursday, April 3. The Opera House is located on 131 West German Street. Admission is free for the first 50 Shepherd Students. Non-Students can get in for $13. 
  • The Bookstore is reopening in the Student Center on Monday, April 7. In the meantime, scantrons and Greenbooks will be available in Ram’s Den at the information center. 
  • Scheduling for the Fall 2025 semester starts on April 7th.  
  • On Saturday, April 12, the Relay For Life event will be taking place in the Wellness Center Parking lot. Parking will be available in H-Lot for participants. 
  • Friday, April 4, the Stubblefield Institute will host their annual Civility Ball in the Storer Ballroom from 7p-9p 

Categories
Picket Spring 2025

March 24, 2025

Transcript:

From March 9th to the 19th Alternative Spring Break happened. This annual initiative lets Shepherd students engage in a week-long service program during spring break. This year, the group partnered with the Appalachia Service Project, an organization dedicated to home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.

Students traveled to Jonesville, Virginia, where they worked to improve the living conditions; tackling critical home repair projects, including installing new flooring, plumbing, insulation, and underpinning the home to provide a safer and more stable living environment. 

Shepherd University invites the community to participate in this year’s Relay for Life on April 12 at noon. The University and Jefferson County are again partnering to host the event through the American Cancer Society (ACS). ACS provides resources to cancer patients and their families. Come enjoy, engaging with Shepherd students and community members who will be hosting fund-raisers and fun activities around the Relay track. 

Funds raised through Relay for Life events help provide money for critical cancer research. Participants will also experience local food trucks, engage in fundraising, and experience educational activities. Members of the community will be walking laps in honor, memory, and support of our friends and family who have or have had cancer. 

Important Events: 
     

On Monday, March 24, Pizza and Politics will be happening in the Cumberland Room in the Student Center from 4 to 5 pm. 

Greek Week will take place this week, starting March 24. This is open to all campus co-curriculars and organizations as well as Greek Life.  

The Stubblefield Institute Civility Club will be hosting their annual Civility Prom on April 4th at 6pm in the Storer Ballroom.  

Don’t forget to meet with your advisors this week! Registration week is from Monday, April 7th to Friday, April 11th. 

Categories
Picket Spring 2025

March 10, 2025

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0KQMYUbVL7FZHe5yQwJUn5?si=b527de2d537d4491

Transcript:

On Feb 27, the Shepherd University Student Government Association and student volunteers worked on taking out furniture in the Little House to begin the process of removing lead paint from its walls. 

“Hopefully the Little House will be open again later this Spring. We’re aiming for April,” said SGA Communications Director Joanna Schoonover. 

The team of both students and staff worked on removing the furniture, assessing it for future use, and making sure the interior of the house was clean. The furniture of the Little House is being stored in the basement of Eric’s accounting firm, CMI2, previously the old HR Building. 

A number of SGA officer positions have been open for application since Feb. 28. All the following positions are open: SGA President, SGA Vice President, Senior Class President, Junior Class President, Sophomore Class President, Transfer Senator, Resident Senator, Commuter Senator, SLC Representative. 

“Serving on the SGA is a great way to represent your fellow students and advocate for their needs and concerns, build leadership skills, and become more involved on campus,” stated the email sent by Student Affairs. 

The deadline for most applications is March 18. However, Communications Director, Campus Relations Officer, Treasurer and Parliamentarian positions will remain open until April 7. 

Shepherd’s annual Day of Giving will take place on March 19. Organizations that wish to participate should make a custodial account soon through the Shepherd Foundation. If a group is not sure if they have a custodial account, they should contact the Director of Donor Engagement and Strategic Initiatives Meg Patterson. Organizations that wish to make a video to promote their group should do so before March 19 to get it approved by the Shepherd Foundation. 

Check out our website for a new piece from Elizabeth Walsh on the coffee companies of Shepherdstown. She ranked the Shepherdstown Sweet Shop, Little Brick Coffee, Lost Dog, MJ’s, and Bistro 112.  

Our very own reporter, Luna Barr, sat down with renowned local business owner, Garth of LostDogCoffee. Check our website to see the article and listen to the full interview.  

This past weekend, at the Butcher Center, the Shepherd Men’s Basketball Team hosted the PSAC playoffs. The basketball teams played a great season and enjoyed this opportunity to open their court to the rest of the conference. 

Important Dates 

Shepherd University’s spring break is this week, March 10th through March 14th.  

The Blessings Closet will host a Prom Dress Giveaway on March 22, 2025.