West Chester University gave a heartfelt tribute to its outgoing President on Monday to celebrate the man who has led the institution through transformative changes and captured the love and respect of faculty, staff, and students.

Greg Weisenstein, who will be retiring on March 31st, set a new WCU record during his tenure by increasing enrollment by 20 percent. He has also expanded the academic programs and developed the campus as a whole, writes Candice Monhollan for the Daily Local News.

One of his biggest achievements has been building the academic resources and additional assistance needed to support American veterans studying at the university. It was especially fitting then, that the event also marked the unveiling of the renamed the Greg R. and Sandra L. Weisenstein Veterans Center in honor of him and his wife.

The unveiling took place on Monday afternoon where nearly 250 people crowded into the

to watch the touching tribute prepared for the retiring president by faculty, staff, and students.

“There comes a time when you need to move on and there is such a thing called retirement and it sounds very good,” Weisenstein told the gathered crowd while smiling. “It’s hard to leave West Chester University. It’s hard to leave a place that has meant so much to you.”

The numbers of ROTC and veterans has increased dramatically during his presidency, with close to 55 ROTC members and nearly 300 veterans now attending the university. Weisenstein also made arrangements for the Troops to Teachers program’s North Atlantic section to be headquartered at WCU.

“I can’t think of anything better to do than to develop programs that help our veterans, those who have sacrificed so much for us and their families, transition from active duty or reserve status to civilian employment,” he said.

Various music groups entertained the crowd during the event including the High Street Hamonix and the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band, which participated in the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last year.

At the end of the tribute, the Weisenstein’s were presented with two personalized gifts. A book filled with sentiments from individuals in the university’s community and a specially created purple bowl featuring the WCU logo and inscribed with a thank you note.

“I think West Chester University’s best years are still ahead,” noted Weisenstein. “You can leave a place, but you never leave your friends at that place. They are always your friends and you will always be in our heart and you will always be our friends, so we’re not leaving you.”