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.
Sara Ellen Wiedt
Inducted 2011Born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, Sara Wiedt first came in contact with Professor Al de Jaager and West Liberty University when chosen for the West Virginia state-funded FACTS (Fine Arts Center for Talented Students) program. She attended Webster University and Missouri State University before earning a degree in vocal performance from West Liberty State College in 1976. While in college, she performed as an actor and singer in a number of theatrical productions, both on- and off-campus.
Her professional credits began with an open call to Pittsburgh’s Civic Light Opera while still a WLSC student. Pittsburgh performances included four summer seasons of small roles and chorus, with a few solo turns.
After graduation, a stint with Theatre Arts West Virginia brought such roles as Nurse in “Romeo and Juliet” and Constance Neville in “She Stoops to Conquer.” She also played the roles of Lucrecia in “Rape of Lucrecia” and Carrie in “Carousel” as part of a scholarship stipend opera program at Carnegie Mellon University.
Her New York credits began off-Broadway at the York Theatre company, but her biggest break was an open call for the Metropolitan Opera chorus. For her audition, she sang “Tu che ci gel sei cinta” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot.” Her selection for the chorus has resulted in a lengthy and respected career of over 20 years. Solo performances at the Met include such roles as “Ancelli” in “Turandot” with Luciano Pavarotti, and “Millener” with both Kathleen Battle and Renee Fleming.
