By: Macy Menefee

Continuing your education can be a scary experience for many, but it can be rewarding. From athletics to studying to Greek Life to meeting your sweetheart.

Dave Clemens made the most of his time at West Virginia Wesleyan College by involving himself in all aspects of the campus has to offer. The men’s soccer team, coached by reputable Gavin Donaldson, is what originally piqued his interest in coming into the school; they had previously won a championship in ‘89, they won his freshman year ‘90, and advanced to the semi-finals in ‘92. This record is something that he is proud of and that led to him becoming a “better soccer player than I ever thought I would allowing me to go on to play professionally for three seasons,” said Clemens. 

In addition to his time on the field, off the field, he completed a dual degree in both Sports Medicine and Chemistry. As per usual, the struggle of not knowing what to study and finding a career that you enjoy is difficult, so it’s easier to “adapt and to trust myself,” said Clemens. Clemens has since graduating from WVWC, has continued his education, earning an MS in Computer Science and an MBA. From here, he has developed a career at Winnebago Industries, where he utilizes enterprise data and analytics. 

WVWC is home to five nationally recognized fraternities, of which Chi Phi is the one he pledged during his time here. Throughout his time in Chi Phi, he was exposed to the world of volunteerism and the differences that can be made to not only the philanthropy side of it but the brotherhood side as well. One of the brothers at the time was involved in an accident and sustained serious injuries. In the typical brotherhood fashion, they worked together to support him in all aspects of his life and raised additional funds to lessen the financial burden he was facing due to medical bills.

Volunteering isn’t something that ended when graduating, but something that has become a fundamental part of life. “I now serve on the Board of Directors for BestPrep, a MN-based non-profit that provides educational programs for children in grades 4 – 12,” said Clemens. He has fallen in love with helping others when he can, and not only did he fall in love with volunteering, but he met his wife during his time on campus.

Meeting the love of your life is something that people usually dream of, and making it a rom-com style of falling is something that seems unattainable to most. Wesleyan has a strong history of creating college sweethearts, and Clemens was no exception. He met his wife through mutual friends and used Greek Life mixers and formals to further get to know her. Since the meeting, “it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but that was 31 years ago. Two kids, multiple moves and a couple of dogs have made up our life together since. I couldn’t have been luckier” said Clemens.

The best advice that can be left to those looking to attend or currently attending Wesleyan would be to “…take advantage of everything. Put yourself out there” said Clemens. This advice is universal to all aspects of life.

Photo Credit: Dave Clemens