Those of us who live on the two-lanes (and one-lanes) of central West Virginia are fortunate to have a four-year college located within striking distance of our homes. Glenville State, located among the inspiring hills of Gilmer County, has been serving the needs of the rural central counties of West Virginia since 1872.

Yes, I know that all of the students on the Glenville campus are not from central West Virginia. The beautiful little campus has attracted students from all over America for one reason or another. Even international students have found their way to Glenville over the years. They have added a new dimension to the campus atmosphere, to be sure. But the huge majority of students on the Glenville campus hail from the hills and hollows of central West Virginia. If you have ever reviewed a geographic enrollment breakdown of the student body, you will be convinced that the previous statement is accurate.

And as Martha Stewart is fond of saying, "That's a good thing." Those enrollment figures indicate that Glenville State is serving students that might not otherwise attend college. More importantly, campus is providing an environment where folks who grew up in the rural areas can be comfortable. This is not to say, of course, that folks from out of the area cannot also find comfort. I recall that many of the Japanese students who came to Glenville fell in love with the campus.

I vividly recall the time back in the last century when I was looking for a place to go to college. I the Navy at the time, I visited several colleges including UCLA. Just about everywhere I visited I came away with the feeling that I did not really want to be there. I remember that UCLA indicated that they really did not want me!

While on leave a few months before I was discharged I drove up to Glenville. I remember parking my car down in front of what is now the Alumni House. As I walked toward the Administration Building everyone I met greeted me with a warm smile and that old central West Virginia "Hi." Even before I got to the admissions office I was almost convinced that I had found my place.

I was directed to talk with a gentleman by the name of Bob Higgins. When I explained to him that my high school grades were not very good and that I had only enough money for the first year, he just smiled. He informed me that if I enrolled and did well, they would find a way to get me through. UCLA did not tell me that!

What about the quality of the education that I received at Glenville? All I can tell you is that I went on to graduate school at Ohio University and later became an administrator at the University of South Carolina. I studied and worked with people from a wide variety of colleges. I never felt like I had to apologize for the education that I received at Glenville.

Finally, what an inspiring place to attend college. You can walk outside during the spring and summer and walk on that green grass that grows only in central West Virginia. Needless to say, the Campus among the Maples becomes a place of many splendors during the autumn months. It is not as beautiful as it was when I was a student but, let's face it, nothing is as beautiful as it was when you were young.