Distinguished Service Award

John B. VanDyke, Jr. ’47
The Distinguished Service Award was presented to John B. “Jack” VanDyke, Jr. ’47 for his lifelong commitment to higher education and his dedicated service to Mountain State University.

After serving in World War II, Van Dyke was looking for a chance to continue his education without leaving his family. He found what he was looking for at Beckley College. The small class sizes and attentive atmosphere were the foundation to many future successes. “The classes were so small, and the warm relationships and personal contact between instructor and student made almost everyone feel special,” he said. “The instruction was intensive, and the atmosphere was one of affectionate concern and caring. Most of the student body perceived this prevailing attitude and the affinity became reciprocal.”

While at Beckley College, he participated on the softball team, student council, veterans club, and as the editor for the college newspaper. After graduating in 1947 with his Associate of Arts degree, he continued his education at West Virginia University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in education and Master of Arts in secondary education and administration.

VanDyke taught at Big Creek High School and University High School in Morgantown before coming back to Beckley College to serve with honor for 19 years as a professor, departmental chair, and finally academic dean. During his career he also served as president of Greenbrier College, vice president of development at Salem College, director of admissions at Potomac State College, and vice president for student services and admissions at Culver Stockton College in Missouri. In 1977 he served as project director for the West Virginia Post-Secondary Education Commission and West Virginia Board of Regents.

He credits Beckley College with fueling a lifelong commitment to education. This commitment has helped to build an inspiring legacy of more than 50 years of service to the higher education community. “The emergence of Mountain State University from Beckley College demonstrates an evolving transition from backwater to mainstream,” VanDyke said. “If the current thrust of MSU continues unabated, I can only envision it as having a pronounced academic and economic effect on this community, this state, and beyond”