One year ago today, on May 22nd, 2018, WVU alumnus Brian Cheripko and his partner, Geneva Keaton, made the final push to the summit of Mount Everest – the last piece of an 8-year journey to the top of each of the Seven Summits. From their first expedition up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to Mount Elbrus, Aconcagua, Denali, Vinson Massif, and Carstensz Pyramid, they had reached the summit of the highest peak on six continents and they only needed to check the 29,035 ft. Everest off their list. “We’ve been told by our guides that have done Everest that it’s about six to eight breaths for every step that you take,” Cheripko explained, “so you have to be able to deal with feeling like you can’t get a breath and at the same time, exerting the most energy that you have ever exerted in your life.” The Everest Expedition, which they had been training to complete for more than a year, began in March with an 83-mile trek to Everest Base Camp. Once there, they took a few days to get organized and train in ladder-crossing, one of the most dangerous parts of an Everest attempt, before starting on their first cycle up the Mountain. “Many people don’t realize that you have to take Everest in cycles. You have to go from Base Camp to Camp 1, maybe Camp 2, then come back to Base Camp. Then you’ll make your way up to Camp 3, then back. Your body needs the time to deal with the altitude and the lack of oxygen…” said Brian. “You end up heading through Icefall over and over.” The Khumbu Icefall lies toward the bottom of the South Col route to Everest’s summit and consists of large crevasses and towers of ice that are likely to move or collapse at any time. Climbers cross the crevasses using metal ladders and ropes. “Everest is in the Jet Stream and the Jet Stream shifts south for about two weeks. So when that happens, you’re looking for a good weather window to make the summit attempt. You want to be in the right position within the cycles to catch that weather window.” Once climbers reach Camp 4 (8000m), they don’t have long to make a summit attempt before their window ends. To get to the summit they’ll make a 15-hour roundtrip climb along a razor ridgeline with an 8,000 ft. drop on either side. “There’s just a little mound (at the summit) where you can see everywhere. It was cold, but it was a beautiful day, sunny with blue skies. For summit days, Everest was probably one of our best,” said Cheripko. “I want everybody to know that I don’t think I’d be here if it weren’t for my upbringing in West Virginia and what I learned going to WVU.” To read more about the Seven Summits and to follow Brian and Geneva’s full journey to the top, check out their blog from the Mountains here. http://www.journey2thetop.com

At 104 years old, Lieutenant Jim Downing is the second-oldest survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Lt. Downing was a crew member aboard the USS West Virginia (BB-48), but was on land at the beginning of the attack. In this Alumni Spotlight Video, Lt. Downing describes his journey back to the sinking ship in order to help his fellow crew mates.

To celebrate 100 years of ROTC at WVU, join us as we spotlight WVU Alumnus, LTC Dave Taylor (’96), Commander of the 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry, The Old Guard at Ft. Myer.

The Marathon Runner “I got into running because I hated to run.” Dave Jones hasn’t always had a passion for running marathons. In fact, for a long time he was an avid smoker – two packs a day. But in October of 2012, Jones decided he needed to make a change. He realized that if he could condition himself to associate smoking with going for a run (something that had always been considered a punishment), he’d train himself to never want to pick up another cigarette again. “I tossed the rest of my nicotine that night and when I had the urge to smoke, I went out and ran…to the end of the driveway and came back huffing and puffing. Ten minutes later I had to go out and run again.“ After just a few weeks Jones’ desire for a cigarette disappeared, but his stamina had gotten better. That’s when he decided he wanted a new challenge – he was going to run a marathon. He began to train every day, before and after work. He ran one marathon, then another, and another, getting 18 medals in his first year. The next challenge? Ironman. After that? Trimming three hours from his best Ironman time. But it was his next goal that truly set him apart in the running community. In January Jones successfully completed the Triple 7 Quest, running a marathon on every continent in less than 7 days. Perth, Australia to Singapore, on to Cairo, Egypt then Amsterdam, followed by New York, Punta Arenas, and finally King George Island, Antarctica. All public marathons, all within 168 hours. “It’s hard to run a marathon every day, but the most difficult part of the Triple 7 Quest is the constant go, go, go and stress on top of all the running. As soon as we (would) land we’d rush to the hotel and only have a few minutes to get ready for the race.” Jones says it’s difficult to describe what the support from fellow Mountaineers has meant to him, “It’s hard for me to put into words what WVU, and the mountaineer family mean to me. It is foundational to say the least…I was a mountaineer from a small child. I was always going to be a Mountaineer!” To learn more about Dave and stay up to date with his latest goals visit his website: https://www.eternalendurance.com/

The Seeing Eye “It’s interesting that we’re talking about WVU and The Seeing Eye at the same time because I’ve said to many individuals that those are the two organizations that made the most impact on my life.” One year before making his way to West Virginia University, Dr. James Kutsch lost his sight after an accident in his junior year of high school. After completing his freshman year at the University by navigating campus with a long white cane, he came the conclusion that a guide dog could help him become more mobile. He attended The Seeing Eye, the oldest and most recognized guide dog institution. “I found that working with a dog was much easier and much faster. I was always a very fast walker before I lost my sight and I was able to return to that very fast pace.” With the help of his first dog from The Seeing Eye, Shiba, Dr. Kutsch completed a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at WVU before making his way to the University of Illinois to complete is PhD in Computer Science. Dr. Kutsch is credited with designing the first talking computer for blind individuals as well as developing one of the earliest screen readers. Before becoming an engineer at AT&T Bell Labratories, he came back to West Virginia University as Professor of Computer Science. In 2006, Dr. Kutsch returned to The Seeing Eye as President & CEO where he helps to change lives with each new class of blind individuals matched with Seeing Eye dogs. “I have the best job in the world…I was always touched and impressed by the difference WVU made in four years when I was a professor there. We get to see that here at The Seeing Eye, we’re able to change people’s lives in four weeks as they graduate with their new Seeing Eye dogs.”

“I don’t think I really knew for sure where I wanted to go until I got to the Superdome and started realizing some of the avenues I could follow. I was fortunate to be working in a building that did everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to conventions.” After graduating from West Virginia University with a degree in Sports Management, Ken Kuhl took a position at the Superdome in New Orleans, “having never really spent much time out of West Virginia before.” Although he admits he may have felt a little culture shock at first, he says he relied on the foundation he created in West Virginia to excel. “It was a great learning opportunity; I was able to learn about this unique business and get my feet wet in a 24/7/365 industry. I was fortunate to work there for six years and work my way up into a senior management position.” Kuhl is now the Senior Vice President of Arena Programming at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. With a primary responsibility to ensure that there is never a dull moment in the arena, he keeps an active calendar of notable bands, comedians and other events playing for sold-out crowds. Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Kevin Hart, and Bruno Mars have each graced the stage at American Airlines Center in the last couple of years. “One minute I’ll be on the phone with Drake’s agent and the next I’ll be working with a patron from a basketball game the night before; I love that every day is just a little bit different in this business.” The Center is also the home of two permanent residents, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NHL’s Dallas Stars, professional sports teams whose seasons overlap. “We’re fortunate here in the way we can convert our building. We can change from a hockey game to a basketball game in about an hour and a half so that allows me the flexibility of doing a hockey game and a basketball game on the same day. There aren’t many arenas that can flip those events in 90 minutes.” Though he has built a life and career in Dallas, Kuhl says that he fondly misses his home in West Virginia where he got his start. “I am very proud of my West Virginia roots and try to make it back as often as I can…I think WVU gave me a great foundation to succeed in the rest of my career.”

Brian Harold, a true West Virginia native, dedicated Mountaineer fan, and family man, exhibits a passion and admiration for West Virginia University that extends far beyond Morgantown. He credits the University for the positive impact of exceptional staff and experiences throughout his life and career. During his time at WVU, Harold met his wife, Lori, originally from Weirton, WV, and they soon made it official by tying the knot in Milan Puskar Stadium. Harold, who has now relocated to Mobile, Alabama to pursue his career in Business, took on the role of Managing Director of APM Terminals Mobile. Harold works with both State and Federal Government officials, Port Authorities, and individual clients to ensure that goods entering the United States are safe and timely. He is responsible for each of the 4500 shipping containers that make their way through the Port of Mobile in a given week. “As the sole gateway for containerized cargo in the state of Alabama, we facilitate a lot of economic value to the state. We create a lot of jobs, not only directly in the facility but indirectly as we talk about 1400 truck transactions that are coming in every day, the people who operate the tug boats, and all of the borders and customs agents who are scanning the cargo to make sure everything is safe.” “In my job that I do right now here in Mobile, Alabama, the thing that I like most about it is the economic value that it creates. We as a company are helping attract new companies down here to this area; we are creating jobs for people that can help improve their lives and that, to me, is more satisfying than anything I can do.” Even though Harold lives quite a few miles from West Virginia, that doesn’t mean he lost the great pride and sense of home it means to be a Mountaineer. His affinity for West Virginia University is evident as soon as you walk into his office at the Port of Mobile as a large, framed photo of Milan Puskar Stadium greets visitors as soon as they walk in. “I take so much pride in being from West Virginia and graduating from West Virginia University, I can’t even describe it. We have a lot to be proud of as West Virginians….and now I’m in the business of teaching my kids to be proud West Virginians even though they were born in Alabama. Both kids can sing every word to “Country Roads” and know all the words to our Fight Song. As a family, we are very proud West Virginians and always will be.” Written by Caroline Brophy

“It’s pretty rare for a person to work at one organization for their entire career, but I love what I do.” Abe Key grew up playing baseball in Washington, Pennsylvania. After making his way through the league’s age brackets, he was offered a part-time job at PONY’s headquarters as a junior in high school. “That led to a couple years of cutting grass, running the printing presses and picking up people at the airport. When I went to WVU…I ended up doing three internships with the PONY League as well.” Only a few days after graduating from West Virginia University in 1981, Key took a full-time position with PONY Baseball & Softball, rising to become President of the organization by 1995. Now more than 500,000 young players compete in the PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) organization all over the world. “It’s an honor for us to honor those kids and those parents and coaching staff who put so much time and energy into making it to a World Series.”