Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on November 9, 2026, link to article HERE.
Marshall University visited Martinsburg and Musselman High Schools on Nov. 6 to meet with students and share potential opportunities in higher education. Marshall University President Brad Smith talked about how college can help students achieve their dreams while also talking about its programs, including its new pathway Marshall Direct.
With Marshall University’s recent partnership with Berkeley County Schools to create an aviation program here in the Eastern Panhandle, Marshall University has had a bigger presence in the area. So, when the opportunity opened up to have the university visit, they were eager to come and talk with students about what they have to offer. Smith shared a brief presentation, encouraging students to consider higher education.
“I believe everyone in the world matters,” Smith said. “That’s why I think they all should have the opportunity to visit and have a conversation with and hopefully the see that at Marshall we are like family and they could be a good fit for that family.”
Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Amanda Means explained that sometimes the further away students live, the less likely they would consider Marshall University as an option. By visiting high schools, they can show students that they are a viable option that’s affordable and offers what they might be looking for when it comes to their education.
“The most important thing is that we give them inspiration on what they want to do after high school,” Means said. “We also want to show them what Marshall has to offer them.”
One of their new programs includes Marshall Direct, an initiative designed to remove barriers and give more students the opportunity to learn. By partnering with local school districts, they offer direct admission to Marshall University with no application or fees if they have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Martinsburg Principal Maranda Lynch said that after hearing from Smith and the other Marshall University representatives, she hopes students consider continuing their education.
“I think students don’t always have the opportunity to visit universities like Marshall,” Lynch said. “Our students are busy people; they have jobs and other responsibilities. So whenever possible we want to provide them with the opportunity to bring schools here to them.”
After the presentation, students had the opportunity to take pictures with Marco the mascot, talk with admission staff and ask questions about the school. At Musselman High School, they also got to hear from alumni April Cecil and Morio Orsini.