West Virginia Department of Commerce Come Home to WV Essays

I have nominated Melanie to be West Virginia's Home campaign because in my opinion there is no one better to understand the beauty and fun that WV has to offer. Melanie has been brought up in the tourism industry all of her life. She is a raft guide for Songer Whitewater and also works the winters at Timberline Ski Resort. She spends a lot of time on blogs such as face book and My Space encouraging individuals from other states to come and see what fun and beauty WV has to offer. She strives on a daily basis to share the beauty of West Virginia with tourists. She is extremely enthusiastic about her hometown state and loves sharing it.
~ Kim Vickers, Fayetteville, WV V
(Nominates: Melanie Seiler, Friend & Coworker )

A Golden Horseshoe winner and former president of a statewide youth organization, my brother abounds with West Virginia pride. Having lived in six counties from the coalfields to the eastern panhandle, he left the state to earn degrees from Harvard, Vanderbilt and Tulane. He’s done everything from work on Capitol Hill to publishing a travel guide about France but he’s always said he didn't leave West Virginia, he took it with him. His resume reads more “New York than New Martinsville” but after living through Hurricane Katrina he moved back to West Virginia and vows to never leave again.
~ Conrae Lucas-Adkins, Branchland, WV
(Nominates: Conrad Lucas, Brother)

In 1999, after 35 years away from my birthplace, I came home to West Virginia. I don't ever want to leave again. From the huge picture windows of our log cabin, my eyes feast every day on the majestic mountains surrounding our retreat in the woods. Every ride to somewhere is a treasure of views each outdoing the other. The calm the peacefulness penetrates my spirit giving me the assurance that yes you can go home again. And I am one of the blessed ones who has made the journey. I am home now it feels right!
~ Christine Barbetti-Feamster, Caldwell, WV
(Nominates: Self)

My husband, Bil Lepp, has spent the better part of his life promoting West Virginia. The first thing he did after earning his Master s degree from Duke was to come back to WV. Bil is a professional storyteller traveling the country and doing over 200 performances a year. In each of those, Bil works tirelessly to promote WV. Bil shows through his stories and concerts that WV is a beautiful place and that the people of the state are intelligent, well spoken, funny and wise. In truth, Bil could live anywhere but he chooses to stay in WV.
~ Paula Lepp, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: William Lepp, Husband )

Growing up near the beaches of VA, I thought WV was the worst place in the world. My parents would drag me here to visit grandparents and family. When I moved here in my early twenties, I would make fun of my decision. After a short time I discovered a sense of community in my small town home. I moved away again to the big city and for 6 years wanted to come home. Now that I am back I never want to leave again. I love the diversity, opportunities and community togetherness.
~ Tammy Galligher, Princeton, WV
(Nominates: Self)

We were leaf hunting @ Kanawha State Forest for a school project for my oldest son. I looked up for Kyra and she looked beautiful standing on this bridge....






~ Rachel Kay, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: Kyra Moss, Future Stepdaughter )

I’m not sure how many generations my family has lived in West Virginia. What I do know is that this place I call home has given me the opportunity to forge outstanding friendships provide a safe and caring environment for my family and enjoy a wide variety of activities. You can find organizations, educators, government agencies and businesses in every corner of the state trying to improve their communities. What you can’t find is an excuse for nothing to do. Whether you enjoy trout fishing or a Broadway musical West Virginia has it or is close to it.
~ Barry Hunter, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: Self)

Country roads has brought this Mountain momma home. After I graduated Saint Albans High School I left WV to move North. After 4 years I realized I was missing something in my life, WV Mountains! There is nothing like hearing the enthusiastic roar of Country Roads coming from the Mountaineer Stadium. Nothing or no one can explain the beauty that lies here in our mountains and I would be proud to represent what I love the most! There is nothing like coming home to the beautiful mountains of West Virginia!
~ Ashlee Burgess, St. Albans, WV
(Nominates: Self)

I was excited and anxious when leaving the northern panhandle of WV after my college graduation. However, after nearly 20 years I have returned and am thrilled to be living here again. As a West Liberty State College graduate, I developed a successful career in chemical industries. However, I missed the warm peacefulness of a state that has more friendliness and beauty than I have witnessed in extensive travels since leaving this area. There is a strength and calm resolve that enables us all to be family and neighbors while experiencing great diversity throughout our Wild and Wonderful Mountain state.
~ Rhenda Ray, Wellsburg, WV
(Nominates: Self)

My mother was born and raised in West Virginia and will never leave this state. She has so much pride in our state. She even finished her basement and made it into a WVU room (with gold/blue paint and carpet to match). She was a teacher in WV for 34 years and just retired 2 years ago. She loves kids loves her family and loves the state of WV. She is so proud of where she came from and lets everyone knows who meets her. She is West Virginia. She makes this state proud!!
~ Shelly Mazzie, Bridgeport, WV
(Nominates: Shirley Brown, Mother )

West Virginia has been my home for thirty-nine years and it has so much to offer. We have wonderful colleges and universities. The mountains are God’s gift to us with their wonder of all seasons. The people are hard workers and proud of their heritage which shows through their mountain music, craft making, and festivals throughout the year. The job opportunities are bountiful in any field or create your own with all of the resources we have to offer.
~ Lori Lynn Norman-Conner, Glennville, WV
(Nominates: self)

I would like to nominate my son, Joshua Feazell, for the “Come Home to West Virgina: Spokesmodel Contest.” He optimizes the West Virginia spirit, athletic, healthy, and full life. He has always touted the phrases of West Virginia to others in and out of the state. He travels some as part of his job and he tells others wherever he goes about the opportunities and beauty of his home state. A finer spokesperson for the state you will never find.
~ Thomas M. Feazell, Fayetteville, WV
(Nominates: Joshua M. Feazell, son)

After working in North Carolina for three years, Andrea was hired by First Community Bank in Beckley and “Came home to West Virginia.” She is once again able to enjoy the things she missed most – family, friends, neighbors, and the little community she grew up in. She is the ideal West Virginia girl – a competent, well-educated, successful young professional woman and a country girl who loves to hunt and fish and work on the land that has been in our families for many generations.
~ Andrea Halsey, Oceana, WV
(Nominates: Betty Halsey, daughter)

When you live in West Virginia, whether you were born here or you moved here, it’s that comfortable feeling deep within your heart that tells you: “You truly are home.” West Virginians are proud of who they are and are always ready to reach out when they are needed, whether it’s to serve their neighbor or their country. It’s the spirit, the generosity, and the feeling of community that binds us all together. We’re waiting to welcome you back home with open arms. It’s time to come home to West Virginia.
~ Barbara A. McClintic, Lewisburg, WV
(Nominates: self)

Mark Bowe is … Native. Loyal. Enthusiastic. Sensible. Enterprising. Honest. Prudent.
A modern mountaineer, striving toward a better WV. Giving. Loving. Thoughtful. Serves his community and lives by example.Down-home common sense. A Renaissance man. Creative. A resourceful, inspirational small business owner and public servant. Genuine.Proud of his roots. Sincere. Dedicated. Excited. A forward thinker positive about the creative future of his home state. Awesome. Mark Bowe IS West Virginia.
~ Cindy Lavender-Bowe, Lewisburg, WV
(Nominates: Mark Bowe, spouse)

From early childhood, Dad has loved West Virginia. His family traveled widely in the state. Although a move in his early teens took him westward, following college and post-graduate training, he came back home. Then married, beginning a career and family, the rugged mountain beauty, wealth of natural resources and most of all the heritage of its people created an overwhelming attraction. Now in retirement after a 42-year in-state career, with interests nearer the soil such as sheep farming and wildlife, there is a passion for new life experiences offered by the West Virginia wealth of diversity.
~ Scott Smith, Sumerco, WV
(Nominates: J. Loren Smith, father)

LaDonna was reluctant to move to Charleston from Columbus in 1984, even though her mom is from West Virginia. We thought we would stay a few years, then return to Ohio. Now she’s raised three boys here, two of whom are students at WVU, and she wouldn’t live anywhere else. An Administrator of Mountaineer Montessori and someone who had children in private and public schools, she is well aware of the wonderful educational opportunities here. And she’s familiar with the surprising diversity of culture and nationalities in Charleston from the student body at her school.
~ David Yaussy, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: LaDonna Yaussy, spouse)