By Maurisa Warren
Grants
In early September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $1 billion in opioid-specific grants to help combat the national opioid crisis. West Chester University is the only academic institution in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware — and one of only 21 academic institutions across the country — awarded a grant. With Pennsylvania sitting fourth in the list of states with the highest number of opioid-overdose deaths, the regional need is immediate.
WCU has been awarded $297,970 from the U.S. HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program. The university is partnering with three regional health centers that provide opioid and other substance use disorder treatment, other behavioral health services, and primary care to medically underserved populations:
- Community Health and Dental Care, Inc. in Pottstown
- PhiladelphiaFIGHT
- Project H.O.P.E., Inc. in Camden, N.J.
Each of these health centers will receive $400,000 over the two-year term of the grant, bringing total funding for this supplemental grant to $1,497,970.
Men’s Golf Team
Chris Warner was crowned the individual champion, while teammate John Abbott finished one stroke behind him, as the WCU men’s golf team recently won its fifth team title in program history at the 2018 PSAC Men’s Golf Championships at Hershey Country Club’s East Course.
“This win was, without a doubt, the most rewarding win for the team and the school,” said coach Harry Hammond. “The team’s second round of 8-over (par) set up today’s win. To have John (Abbott) and Chris (Warner) finish first and second shows their leadership.
“To also have our women’s team win its team title, makes this doubly rewarding for our players.”
Warner shot a third-round 78 to finish with a 226 for the 54-hole event, while Abbott carded a third-round 77 and finished at 227.
Golden Rams Football
Lex Rosario caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, while 11th-ranked WCU ran up 564 yards of total offense during a 48-14 victory over visiting Lock Haven on Homecoming Weekend.
Mike Class rushed for 71 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to pace WCU’s offense. Defensively, Jarey Elder finished with six tackles, one interception in the end zone, and one pass breakup.
The Golden Rams (9-0, 6-0 PSAC East) will travel to Slippery Rock on Saturday for the 2018 PSAC Championship Game.
Ruby Jones Hall
The West Chester Downtown Foundation has recognized the university with its Bricks and Mortar Preservation Award for the careful and continual rehabilitation of Ruby Jones Hall.
WCDF’s website explains that these honors “may be awarded to recognize construction projects of exceptional quality that have a positive impact on the preservation of West Chester’s historic fabric.” Ruby Jones is included in WCU’s Quadrangle Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Originally opened in 1899 as the Demonstration School, the building served as an elementary school for faculty children and the West Chester School District. It now houses classrooms, plus faculty and staff offices. Following extensive renovations to the building in1978, it was named in honor of Ruby Johnson Jones ’40, who returned to her alma mater in 1961 to teach until her retirement in 1972. She was WCU’s first faculty member of color.
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