West Virginia Department of Commerce Come Home to WV Essays

My wife and I moved back to WV in 1990. A year later we had our first child; so, she, too, is a native West Virginian. I wrote a song called "Come Home" about people realizing how great it is to live in this area. It was turned into a high-quality recording and is now used as a theme song for the TV station where I work. West Virginia needs more people in their 20s and 30s to "Come Home" and raise their families and give back to the state which has given so much to them.
~ Roger Sheppard, Parkersburg, WV
(Nominates: self)

Imagine a place where you can spend summers splashing in lakes and rafting Americas oldest river. Picture the rainbow of mountains in the fall and a winter filled with snow and holiday fun. This is the place that I call home this is West Virginia. I am proud to raise my children here and teach them the rich history this beautiful place has to offer. The memories of traveling the state with my family are some of the best in my life. I would like to encourage all West Virginians to come home and experience the majesty and adventure.
~ Jennifer Greer, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: self)

i am nominating myself after coming home to wv last year. i was born and raised in charleston, wv, and left there when i was 18. since leaving wv i have lived in new york, philadelphia, florida and baltimore. it was drug addiction that took me away from here and now i am happy to say that i am home and clean and sober. i love being back in wv with my family and friends. no other state that i lived in was as nice as wv. so come home to wv we really miss you.
~ Kelly Stone, St. Albans, WV
(Nominates: self)

Sarah was born in 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. She was adopted as an infant and moved to Grafton, West Virginia where she lived most of her life until moving to Morgantown. Sarah works especially on the local level to improve our state and region. She loves living in West Virginia and always speaks highly of it to friends and family, arguing that there is no better place on Earth to live. I feel Sarah being young, intelligent, beautiful and from a diverse background makes the type of spokeswoman needed to change WV's image with the country.
~ Thomas Bias, Morgantown, WV
(Nominates: Sarah Bias, wife)

My mom has been modeling and acting since before I was born. She does everything she can to support me and my two brothers. That includes being gone for long periods at a time. I just want her to come home to West Virginia and remember what its like to call this state HOME. The picture I'm sending is of me and my mom when she came in for my cheerleading competition. I got hit in the eye with her hat. lol.
~ Destiny Ketchum, Winfield, WV
(Nominates: Mindy K., mother)

I was born and raised in Charleston, graduated from Capital High School and graduated from WV State University, while living at home. After college, I moved, like so many of us young people. Six years later, I yearned for the mountains and the familiarity that Charleston and my parents' home brought me, so I came back. It took me a while to find employment, but I'm working full time, getting involved in the community and and happier than ever.
~ Malyka Knapp-Smith, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: Self)

My son was born in WV and has lived here his entire life. He attended at WV college and currently works with the school systems in WV as a yearbook specialist with Herff Jones. Joshua loves the state of WV and has worked on several local and state-wide political campaigns. Joshua aspires to someday become the Governor of the great state.
~ Debby Campbell, Elkview, WV
(Nominates: Joshua Gross, son)

When you see the weather dancing on the ridge, you know you are home in West Virginia. West Virginia where making a living is living indeed. You'll be in the place where the kid next door knows your name, and racing off to work, he invites you to play catch. In West Virginia "Rush hour" passes in a flash, and you'll be home. Home where the twilight lingers long, and the kid next door -- who knows your name -- gives you a second chance. West Virginia, that place where you can retire and live life to the fullest. West Virginia, come home where you belong.
~ Mary Bower, Mt. Hope, WV
(Nominates: self)

In Feb. 2005, the WV Grantmakers Association proudly helped Shannon Cunningham "come home" from Nashville, TN, to be our first paid staff. Shannon is intelligent, vivacious and professional. Shannon would say, "I came home to West Virginia because West Virginia is where my heart is, where my family is, and where I know that my skills can make a real impact. There are good people in communities across West Virginia who work hard and care deeply about each other. I want to be a part of the great things happening there -- West Virginia needs me, and I need it."
~ Judy Sjostedt, Parkersburg, WV
(Nominates: Shannon Cunningham, colleague)

For me West Virginia is my home and will always be my home. I Love going to the beach but I always look forward to seeing those mountains and know that I am Home. My ancestors all lived here and my roots are deep into the soil of West Virgina -- from Clay County all the way to Logan County. I love my State and I could never imagine living anywhere else. These Country Roads take me to the place I wanna be --West Virginia, My Home.
~ Cheryl Hinchman, Winfield, WV
(Nominates: self)