WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 27, 2025 – West Liberty University (WLU) and the West Liberty University Foundation (WLUF) announce the first awards from the Aspire Fund.
Established in 2024, in conjunction with the inauguration of WLU’s President Dr. Tim Borchers, the Aspire Fund is designed to promote and support student experiential learning opportunities at WLU. The fund provides financial support for projects that enhance students’ academic and professional development through research, creative activities, internships, conferences, service-learning projects, and other hands-on experiences.
The inaugural recipients represent a diverse range of academic disciplines, demonstrating the impact of donor generosity on the University’s mission.
From the Classroom to the Campus: A Pen Pal Adventure
Recipient: Dr. Angela Curfman, Associate Professor of Teacher Education
Angela Curfman’s year-long project, From the Classroom to the Campus: A Pen Pal Adventure, will create a collaborative partnership between preservice teachers and local elementary students. This initiative provides aspiring educators with real-world experience in literacy instruction, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based reading practices. By fostering connections between West Liberty University and the community, this program reinforces the university’s commitment to integrating mind, body, and community through experiential learning.
Recipient: Dr. Angela Curfman, Associate Professor of Teacher Education
Angela Curfman’s year-long project, From the Classroom to the Campus: A Pen Pal Adventure, will create a collaborative partnership between preservice teachers and local elementary students. This initiative provides aspiring educators with real-world experience in literacy instruction, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based reading practices. By fostering connections between West Liberty University and the community, this program reinforces the university’s commitment to integrating mind, body, and community through experiential learning.
Japanese Art & Culture Study Abroad Program
Recipient: Dr. Jeffrey Grubbs, Professor of Art Education
Professor Jeffrey Grubb’s award will support student travel to Japan as part of an eight-week experiential course for undergraduate and graduate art students. The program, which includes visits to Tokyo, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, immerses students in Japanese art history, culture, and international travel knowledge. Hosted in partnership with Tenri University in Nara, this experience provides students with firsthand exposure to Japan’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.
Recipient: Dr. Jeffrey Grubbs, Professor of Art Education
Professor Jeffrey Grubb’s award will support student travel to Japan as part of an eight-week experiential course for undergraduate and graduate art students. The program, which includes visits to Tokyo, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, immerses students in Japanese art history, culture, and international travel knowledge. Hosted in partnership with Tenri University in Nara, this experience provides students with firsthand exposure to Japan’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.
NYC Art & Design Educational Trip
Recipient: Moonjung Kang, Professor of Visual Communication Design
An award from the Aspire Fund will subsidize student travel to New York City under the guidance of Professor Moonjung Kang. This trip serves as a transformative educational experience that enhances students’ artistic growth, professional development, and critical thinking skills. By engaging with the city’s vibrant creative industries, students gain exposure to real-world applications of their studies and expand their professional networks.
Recipient: Moonjung Kang, Professor of Visual Communication Design
An award from the Aspire Fund will subsidize student travel to New York City under the guidance of Professor Moonjung Kang. This trip serves as a transformative educational experience that enhances students’ artistic growth, professional development, and critical thinking skills. By engaging with the city’s vibrant creative industries, students gain exposure to real-world applications of their studies and expand their professional networks.
Operations Management Industry Experience
Recipient: Dr. Lihua Chen, Professor of Management
Students in Dr. Chen’s Operations Management course will visit Leveltek Processing LLC, in Benwood, WV, for an industry visit. This hands-on experience will allow students to observe real-world manufacturing processes, apply classroom theories to practical applications, and network with industry professionals, reinforcing their understanding of operations management in a live business environment.
Recipient: Dr. Lihua Chen, Professor of Management
Students in Dr. Chen’s Operations Management course will visit Leveltek Processing LLC, in Benwood, WV, for an industry visit. This hands-on experience will allow students to observe real-world manufacturing processes, apply classroom theories to practical applications, and network with industry professionals, reinforcing their understanding of operations management in a live business environment.
Conference Travel for Undergraduate Research Presentation
Recipient: Reagan Bally, student in the Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Zoo Science
Student researcher Reagan Bally will receive support to present her work at multiple academic conferences, including WVFAS, Mid-Atlantic ESA, and SFS. Her research, which analyzes benthic macroinvertebrate communities in local streams, provides critical insights into regional stream health and environmental impacts. Presenting at these conferences will offer Reagan invaluable opportunities for professional networking and career development in her field.
Recipient: Reagan Bally, student in the Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Zoo Science
Student researcher Reagan Bally will receive support to present her work at multiple academic conferences, including WVFAS, Mid-Atlantic ESA, and SFS. Her research, which analyzes benthic macroinvertebrate communities in local streams, provides critical insights into regional stream health and environmental impacts. Presenting at these conferences will offer Reagan invaluable opportunities for professional networking and career development in her field.
“The Aspire Fund is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovative learning experiences and supporting both faculty and students in their academic and professional pursuits,” said WLU Foundation Executive Director Betsy Delk. “We are thrilled to support these exceptional projects that align with our mission to advance West Liberty University’s impact on education and community engagement.”
Applications to the Aspire Fund are solicited twice annually and reviewed by a committee of faculty members led by Dr. Ann Saurbier, Dean of the Gary E. West College of Business.
The Aspire Fund is made possible through generous contributions from donors who believe in the power of education and experiential learning. Contributions to the Aspire Fund can be made at wlufoundation.org or by contacting the Foundation at 304-336-8847.
