Some people just seem to have that pioneer spirit.

When they were in high school in Huntington, W.Va., half a century ago, John R. Berthold, William A. Neal and Susan W. Neal sensed that something special was happening about 150 miles to the north. So, following their instinct, unsure of the outcome yet excited about the possibilities, they took off for Wheeling, W.Va.

A new Jesuit institution of higher education was opening, true to the principles of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Students’ intellectual development would be strengthened in the spirit of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—“to the greater glory of God”.

John (Rick) Berthold was among those “pioneers” who enrolled in 1955, part of the first freshman class, and was a member of our first graduating class in 1959. William (Bill) Neal enrolled in 1957 and attended until 1959, when he transferred to Xavier University. Their sister, Susan Neal, attended in 1960.

The Berthold and Neal parents were civic-minded and heavily involved in their community. Their nine children shared these interests, and grew to develop the spiritual commitment and intellectual curiosity to become a part of the foundation of the youngest of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States.

In celebration of our first 50 years, and in anticipation of the success of our next 50, the Berthold/Neal family created an endowed scholarship fund to support outstanding students from West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania whose commitment to their education is as fervent as that of our pioneers.

In announcing the scholarship, John (Rick) Berthold, a member of our Board of Directors, said: “Our merged family was formed the same year that the College opened its doors. Our affection and support have continued since then, and this endowed scholarship is an expression of our commitment to the University’s mission. Bill, Susan and I have enjoyed lifetime benefits from Wheeling Jesuit, and we are pleased to help other students enjoy the same.”

Each year, up to four students will receive a scholarship that memorializes the dedication of the Berthold/Neal family and their place in our history.

Their gift will perpetually support the University so that economic accessibility and academic strength will be maintained for deserving students, in the spirit of our mission of educating for life, leadership and service.

We integrate the Jesuit traditions of intellectual excellence with the best of advanced technology to educate students for life, for leadership, and for service with and among others.
U.S.News & World Report ranks us 17th in the "Best Master’s Universities in the South," making us the highest ranked institution in West Virginia in that category for nine consecutive years, and the highest ranked school in the Ohio Valley. We are profiled in The Templeton Guide: Colleges that Encourage Character Development, which profiles exemplary college programs that inspire students to lead ethical and civic-minded lives.

We are the only Catholic institution of higher education in West Virginia and offer more than 30 undergraduate programs of study and six graduate degrees to about 1,500 students. We have a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, and 18 intercollegiate NCAA Division II athletic teams. Our 65-acre campus located in Wheeling, W.Va., features 15 modern buildings, a multi-million dollar Acker Science Center, and residence halls, and a modern recreation and athletic facility that includes a soccer/track and field complex. The campus is home to the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies, the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future, a Challenger Learning Center and the Clifford M. Lewis Appalachian Institute.