WVU president invites community to celebrate graduates as he ends ‘Welcome Home Tour’ with Water Tower lighting

WVU President Michael T. Benson will end his nearly yearlong, statewide "Welcome Home Tour" in Monongalia County with a special Water Tower lighting ceremony at 8 p.m. May 15 on the Evansdale area of the Morgantown Campus. (WVU Photo)

WHAT: West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson will make the last official stop on his statewide "Welcome Home Tour" in the University's home county - Monongalia County - when he lights the iconic Water Tower on the Evansdale area of campus during a community event.

With support from Hope Gas, the Water Tower has been repainted and sealed in recent months, and LED lighting, designed by City Neon, has been added to the "Flying WV" logo, allowing the Water Tower to be lit for Commencement and other future Morgantown Campus celebrations.

WHO: President Benson; Hope Gas Chief Executive Officer Morgan O'Brien; Cooper Sampson, Suncrest Middle School student and WVU Medicine Golisano Children's patient and his family members; representatives from WVU Facilities Operations, Hope Gas and City Neon; University faculty, staff and students; graduates and their families and friends; and members of the University and Morgantown communities

WHEN: May 15, 8 p.m.
Musical entertainment and refreshments will be available starting at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Blaney House, 948 Riverview Drive, Morgantown

NOTES: This community event is free and open to the public.

Parking for the event will be available next to Allen Hall and Percival Hall in lot 50, and adjacent to the Water Tower in lot ST-6. Those parking in ST-6 should enter through Evansdale Drive near the WVU Evansdale Greenhouse.

Once he makes this closing stop in Monongalia County, President Benson will have officially visited all 55 West Virginia counties in the 10 months since becoming the University's 27th president.

During the "Welcome Home Tour," he has been to more than 180 historical, cultural and educational locations, traveled upwards of 6,700 miles, and met thousands of state residents, students and University supporters.

Read more about the WVU Water Tower project.

Find the full schedule for WVU Commencement Weekend.

-WVU-

5/6/26

MEDIA CONTACT: Shauna Johnson
Executive Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
304-293-8302; [email protected]

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