Published: September 05, 2007 10:13 pm         

Former astronaut to speak at MSU Foundation’s dinner

“Reach for the stars!”

That’s the theme for the Sept. 15 Mountain State University Foundation Honors Dinner.

Delivering that message will be former Beckley resident Jon McBride, a retired NASA astronaut.

“Like Mountain State University, John McBride has had a significant impact on southern West Virginia,” Roslyn Artis, president of the MSU Foundation, said.

The dinner is in recognition of the MSU 2007 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees.

Although the hall of fame banquet is an annual event, this is the first year it has been affiliated with the MSU Foundation, which will celebrate its one-year anniversary in November.

“Capt. McBride’s distinguished career with NASA personifies this occasion,” Artis said. “The honors dinner marks the launch of the MSU Foundation and provides us an opportunity to recognize our stars — alumni hall of fame inductees and our generous donors.”

The purpose of the foundation, which is a private, university-affiliated organization, is to secure and manage private contributions, support academic programs, student scholarships, faculty development, capital improvements and other interests of the university.

Roy Shrewsbury III, president of the foundation’s board of directors, said the organization “functions independently to ensure gifts are used according to donors’ wishes and to make sure the funds are protected for use by future students.”

“Every one of us is a guardian of Mountain State University,” he said.

Proceeds from this year’s dinner, Artis said, will go directly to the MSU Alumni Association and, in future years, will rotate among the various organizations that fall under the “umbrella” of the foundation.

This year’s hall of fame inductees are Price H. Calfee Jr., Robert Bolen, Nancy Pat Lewis-Smith, Ron Stennett and Barbara Gardner.

“We are proud of the opportunity to share this time with the foundation board and to recognize those alumni and friends who give their time, talent and financial support to MSU,” alumni association president Joe Long said. “We look forward to recognizing those friends who give financially to support education, athletics and the continual advancement of Mountain State University.”

Tickets are for the dinner, which will take place at Tamarack, are $35 per person and $60 per couple.

Also, Artis said, corporate sponsorship opportunities remain available.

Those wishing for more information are asked to contact Michael Ann Dulcie at 929-1580.

— E-mail: mjames

@register-herald.com