My Fellow Mountaineer Alumni and Friends,

Whether you’re living in West Virginia, near West Virginia, or not so near, in such places as North Carolina, South Florida, Utah, the West Coast, or even outside the country, as a graduate of our WVU School of Dentistry, you have a lot to brag about.  You may think I am referring to Coach Stewarts fantastic football debut in the Fiesta Bowl and Coach Huggins unbelievable run in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  No doubt these two athletic programs exceeded almost everyones expectations, and the upcoming year looks to be even more exciting.  But, not to far from the WVU Coliseum and just a short walk from Mountaineer Field is another exciting story- our own WVU School of Dentistry. 

If it has been some time since your last visit to the Dental School, you may not recognize the place.  Renovations have been made in the registration area, oral surgery has a new clinic and new location, the large clinic has received a state of the art Aextreme make over, and the students now have a modern, high tech clinic support area (my personal favorite).  Even if it has been just a few years since you have been on campus, you may have difficulty finding your way around.  Morgantown and the University are experiencing major growth and development, and the Health Science Center is no exception.  The main entrance, known by many as the Pylon entrance, is now engulfed by the new, ultra modern learning center.  This beautiful addition includes multiple lecture rooms fully equipped with the latest in audio and visual technology, smaller study rooms, the library, and the spacious commons area which was built around the Pylons.  Thats right, the Pylons are still in the same location, but now inside the Health Science Center.  Also included in the commons area is a snack and beverage bar appropriately named (for us old timers) Cavanaughs. 

Rather than going on and on about the changes at our School of Dentistry, I would like to invite you to come back as often as possible to see for yourself all that is happening.  Your alumni association sponsors special events in the fall and spring.  Detailed descriptions are sent before each event.  During football season, the popular tailgate receptions will continue before each Mountaineer home game.  Be there for the great food, fantastic fellowship, and an occasional visit from The Eer Man.

As well as visiting your school and participating in sponsored events, I also would encourage you to continue membership in the association and invite fellow classmates and alumni to do so.  Your Board of Governors is working to make the association an organization that provides many benefits to its members and provides assistance to future alumni in both the dental hygiene and dental programs.  Over the last few years, you probably have noticed that our alumni CE committee has been providing top quality, nationally known speakers at relatively inexpensive cost to members.  This has been due to first the generosity of Kathryn and Leo Vecellio in providing an endowment for CE in memory of Kathryns parents Dr. Clarence and Maxine Cottrill.  Also, Drs. Ed White and Bill Queen have spent a great deal of time and effort to bring us excellent continuing education

In closing, I want to express my appreciation to several individuals who contribute greatly to the success of our organization.  I already mentioned Ed White and Bill Queen.  I want to thank them and all previous members of the Board of Governors who have laid the ground work and set the tone for all that this association has achieved.  I would also like to thank our secretary, Dr. Norton Smith, and our administrative assistant, Cathy Boyce, for all the hard work they do in managing the day to day operations of our association.  Thanks also go out to Coach Wanker for his dedication to and all he does for our alumni.  Finally, a very special thank you to outgoing president Laura Stevens Aliff, our first dental hygiene graduate to serve as president.  Laura had a tremendous year as president and set the bar high for her successor.  I hope that I can, with the help of the members and the board, maintain her intensity during my year as president.  To outgoing board members Bill Queen, Bob Wanker, and Laura Aliff, you will be called on from time to time for your expertise and advice.  Thanks again.

Yours in the True Mountaineer Spirit
Everett Eer Man Bowling, D.D.S. '75