BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) announces the recipients of its 2025 Alumni Awards, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and achievement. An additional award was given to two non-alumni who have gone above and beyond in service to the college. These individuals embody the values of leadership, service, and excellence that WVWC seeks to instill in its graduates. All winners will be recognized as part of the Founders Day Convocation at Homecoming on Friday, September 26, 2025 in the Wesley Chapel at 4 PM. This event is free and open to the public. 

Alumni Achievement Award

This award celebrates alumni who have achieved remarkable status in their professions or have shown extraordinary leadership in service to their community, state, or nation.

Doug Ritchie ’83

A fourth-generation resident of Ravenswood, West Virginia, Doug Ritchie is a true pillar of his community. After graduating from WVWC with a B.S. in Business Management in 1983, he founded Star Plastics in Ravenswood in 1988. He grew the business into a global enterprise with operations in West Virginia, China, and Italy, providing local employment for around 150 people. Throughout this growth, Ritchie and his employees have been good corporate citizens, supporting many different projects and philanthropies. When he sold a portion of the company in 2021, he ensured every full-time employee received a share of the proceeds based on their tenure.

Beyond his business success, Ritchie is a committed philanthropist. Following the sale, he and his wife, Judy, created the Fund for Ravenswood, a charitable fund that has already delivered over $412,000 for projects in the community. His passion to give back has also sparked new initiatives like “Renewable Ravenswood,” a project aimed at revitalizing his hometown. Ritchie’s generosity and dedication to his community, as well as his commitment to sharing his time, talents, and resources, make him a beacon of positive change. His nominator stated, “His passion to share his time, talents, and resources with the people of West Virginia, and in particular those in the Ravenswood community, is a positive beacon that deserves to be recognized through receipt of the Alumni Achievement Award from WVWC.”

Dr. Charity Metz Schuller ’95

Dr. Schuller is a distinguished global leader in the pharmaceutical and regulatory affairs industry. After earning her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from WVWC in 1995, she built a career spanning over two decades dedicated to ensuring the safe delivery of life-saving medicines worldwide. As Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs and Head of Regulatory Intelligence & Delivery at PPD Clinical Research Business of Thermo Fisher Scientific, she oversees international teams and provides strategic consultation on global development strategies. Her professional contributions have earned her prestigious recognitions, including the WVU School of Pharmacy Centennial Hall of Fame and the Alpha Gamma Delta International Talent of Leadership Award.

Dr. Schuller’s career path exemplifies the spirit of leadership, mentorship, and service. She has taught as an adjunct professor, served as a regulatory affairs residency director, and contributed to professional organizations. Her published articles and presentations have advanced public understanding of complex regulatory topics, such as pediatric drug development and expedited FDA pathways. She is also a mentor to early-career professionals and a role model in workshops and conferences, showing a deep commitment to uplifting the next generation of leaders in science and medicine. Her nominator wrote that, “For her contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences, her steadfast dedication to mentorship and advocacy, and her demonstrated excellence in leadership and service, Charity Schuller richly deserves the West Virginia Wesleyan College Alumni Achievement Award.”

Young Alumni Achievement Award

This award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the last fifteen years and have achieved professional success or demonstrated exceptional leadership in service to their communities.

Jordan Godwin ’11

A proud third-generation WVWC graduate, Jordan Godwin earned both his bachelor’s in economics and his MBA from the college in 2011. His career began in defense and federal contracting before he found his true calling in mission-centered work. As the youngest-ever CEO of Valley Health Care (VHC), a federally qualified health center, he oversees an organization of over 100 medical professionals dedicated to serving rural West Virginia communities.

Godwin’s leadership has been transformative for VHC. He has guided the organization through critical expansions, improved financial operations, and increased patient access to high-quality care through provider recruitment, strategic partnerships, and boosting telehealth capabilities. He also successfully navigated the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying critical testing supplies and PPE to some of the most remote areas of the state. His work exemplifies how a strong business acumen, combined with a commitment to service, can create a lasting positive impact on public health. His nominator stated that Jordan’s executive role is the “full culmination of his WVWC experience” and that his work is providing patients “greater, more efficient access to services and providers.”

Angel Wilson ’13

Angel Wilson, a 2013 WVWC psychology graduate, is a successful entrepreneur, author, and filmmaker. After earning a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts, she founded Silent Books Publishing (SBP), a full-service self-publishing company in Baltimore dedicated to helping aspiring authors, particularly those from historically unheard communities, bring their stories to life. Through SBP, she has helped five WVWC faculty and students become published authors, a project that holds a special place in her heart.

In addition to her publishing work, Wilson is a multidisciplinary artist. She is the author of Am I Doing This Right? and the co-director of the award-winning film, Hiding in the Walls. Her creative work has been studied at several universities, including her alma mater. Wilson’s dedication to empowering others to share their powerful narratives with the world showcases her commitment to using her creative skills to make a meaningful impact. Her nominator noted that building her company and empowering others to tell their stories “has been one of the most meaningful achievements of her life.”

Alumni Service Award

This award honors alumni who have provided outstanding service to the college.

Paula Lowther McGrew ’78

A third-generation alumna, Paula McGrew is a true champion of WVWC’s history. She returned to her alma mater in 2001 and served as the Director of Library Services and a faculty member until her retirement in 2017. During her time on campus, she taught first-year seminars and created a Library Science Minor, sharing her knowledge and love for the college with countless students.

Since retiring, she has held the title of Professor of Library Science and Director of Library Services, Emerita, and serves as the official WVWC Historian. One of her most significant contributions is the creation of DreamersAndGiants.com, a comprehensive website she launched to collect, organize, and share the college’s history. Her tireless work in documenting the college’s story—from its founding in 1890 to the present day—and her continued engagement with students make her an invaluable asset to the Wesleyan community. Her nominator wrote, “When I think of WV Wesleyan, Paula instantly comes to mind; she possesses unparalleled knowledge of our history, and her dedication to preserving and sharing it continually motivates our students to follow the Orange Line after graduation.”

Young Alumni Service Award

This award recognizes young alumni who have provided outstanding service to the college.

Jessicah Cross ’15

Jessicah Cross is a tireless advocate for her alma mater, West Virginia Wesleyan College. Since graduating with a B.A. in Political Science in 2015, she has consistently promoted WVWC and its mission. For nearly a decade, she served in various roles with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, where she was a strong voice for higher education and consistently advocated for support for WVWC and other West Virginia institutions.

Currently, as the Chief of Staff for the West Virginia First Foundation, she continues her work to better the state, including its higher education institutions. Beyond her professional life, Cross remains a loyal and active alumna of Zeta Tau Alpha, where she has served in various leadership roles. Her unwavering pride and continuous support for the college, both professionally and personally, make her a deserving recipient of this award. Her nominator simply said, “Jess exudes Wesleyan in everything she does.”

Extra Mile Award

This award recognizes non-alumni who have gone above and beyond in service to Wesleyan, their community, or their country.

Drs. Lynn Gableman Rupp and Robert O. Rupp

Dr. Robert Rupp is a noted historian and political scientist. He served as a professor of history and political science at WVWC, where he was recognized for his expertise in American politics and the presidency. In his advanced classes, students noted that Rupp’s syllabus was often obsolete by the middle of the semester, because he harnessed current events as substance for his lessons.  Rupp performs his craft with humor, imagination, and gentility. Educated at Ohio Wesleyan University and Syracuse University, Dr. Rupp contributed regularly as a regionally known and recognized political analyst to newspapers and public radio. In his final years of teaching, he published, The Primary That Made a President: John F. Kennedy and West Virginia. Throughout his career, he held numerous public service positions, such as being a member and chair of the West Virginia State Election Commission and serving on the Upshur County School Board. 

Dr. Lynn Gableman Rupp (1948–2023) was a beloved educator, department chair, and Director of the Master’s in Education program at WVWC. With degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and Syracuse University, she spent over thirty years shaping secondary social studies education at the college, where she was known for her commitment to teacher preparation and excellence in social studies. In recognition of her impact, WVWC awarded her its Exemplary Teaching Award in 2004. Beyond the college, Dr. Rupp was a leader in advancing social studies education throughout West Virginia. The Lynn Rupp/Lynn Bennett Award for WV Social Studies Excellence was named in her honor to celebrate her lifelong contributions to the field. She was instrumental in securing and directing three Teaching American History grants, known as American HEART, which helped to enrich history instruction and professional development for educators across the state.

Their impact on the students at WVWC cannot be overstated. When speaking of Dr. Robert Rupp, the nominator had this to say, “Rupp extended the reach of Wesleyan, and deepened the relationship between the College and Town of Buckhannon, by practicing what he preached.  Rupp engaged in public service for many years with the Stockert Youth Center, the West Virginia Election Commission, and the Upshur County Board of Education. And quite importantly, Rupp was smart enough to engage his late wife, Dr. Lynn Rupp, in all of these ventures, and together they served Wesleyan Students, the College Campus, and the broader Community.” The Rupps served WVWC with excellence and distinction. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2025 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan ninth in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 20 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu