ALUMNI “WALL OF HONOR” The West Liberty University Alumni Board of Directors instituted a project in 1990 to demonstrate to current students, visitors, and friends that the college has some very successful graduates. This project, known as the “Alumni Wall of Honor,” is a dramatic way to honor some of the college’s most distinguished alumni and display pride in the accomplishments of its graduates. The concept was suggested by then Associate Professor of Physics Robert W. Schramm, who is a 1958 graduate of the college and a 2002 Alumni Wall of Honor inductee. The Alumni Wall of Honor is housed in the south end of the Union known as the Alumni Lounge.
Donald Bruno
Inducted 2013After graduating from West Liberty in 1952, I enlisted in the United States Air Force and was place in the Air Force Band Program. I was subsequently assigned to the Air Force Band at Langley Field, Virginia. During my time at Langley, I was promoted to Director of the 564th Air Force Band and Supervisor of all TAC Bands worldwide.
In 1956, I started my teaching career as a Middle School Band Director and then moved to a High School Band Director. In 1964, I was appointed as an Elementary School Principal, and this was followed by tenure as a High School Principal.
In 1974, I was appointed to serve as Superintendent of the York Count, Virginia Public Schools. I ended my public school career as Superintendent of Schools in Newport News, Virginia, from 1984-1991.
In 1991, I joined the faculty of the School of Education at The College of William and Mary, where I organized and served as the Executive Director of the Urban Superintendents Association of America. My company, Educational Management Services, served as a platform for providing staff development opportunities for prospective and current school superintendents nationwide.
While I have had many experiences and received numerous awards during my education career, these are some that were the most meaningful:
- Chosen in 1990 by Executive Education magazine as one of “The Executive Education 100”
- Awarded the 1988 John F. Kennedy Center and Alliance for Arts Education :School Arts Administrator Award”
- Selected as the 1989 “Administrator of the Year” by non-certified personnel in Newport News
- Received the Exchange Club’s highest civic award, “The Book of Golden Deeds”
- Elected President of NAFIS, a national organization committed to providing quality education to military children
- Testified before the U.S. Congress, the Virginia General Assembly, and the Virginia Board of Education
- Authored and published my autobiography: “My Journey, My Way”
In an effort to “pay it forward” we have established two Scholarship Programs to assist Elementary and Music Majors at The College of William and Mary as well as West Liberty University.