When Todd Snyder, Ph.D. graduated from Webster County High School in West Virginia in 2000, he thought being from the mountainous rural state known for its coal mining and logging industries would be something he would have to overcome to be a success.
Turns out, a lot of what the professor of English and best-selling author has achieved in life was down to the lessons he learned being raised in this struggling part of the country. To share his experience and inspire the students who were sitting precisely where he sat 25 years ago, Snyder was invited to deliver the graduation speech at his high school alma mater on May 30. He was in West Virginia as part of the annual trip by first-year Bonner Service Leaders, arranged through Siena’s Center for Academic Community Engagement (ACE).
“I learned about a good work ethic, about toughness, and about having a strong connection to the people in my community and wanting to give back to them,” he said to the 71 graduates and their families gathered in the high school gym. Some grads from the only high school in the entire county will be going right into the workforce, some to the military, and some will be heading off to college like Snyder did.
“Graduation isn’t the end of anything; it’s just the beginning.”
Snyder said in high school he was “happy to be average.” He got his work done but he was content to sit in the back of his classroom and didn’t take part in sports or clubs. After graduating from Webster, Snyder headed to Marshall University in his home state to earn a B.A. and M.A., then eventually to Ohio University for his doctorate, powered by the grit he picked up back in Webster County.
“It made me tough; it made me who I am,” he said. “It’s never too late to reinvent yourself.”
Snyder was part of a group of 16 students, faculty and admins on the ACE trip who visited with elementary and high school students, served at The Mountaineer Mission Marketplace in Bolair, helped build a three-mile-long mountain bike path for the town of Cowen, visited the local hospital and the Woodchopping Festival Museum in Webster Springs, and checked out the overlook at Point Mountain. The group also met with Snyder’s father, Mike “Lo” Snyder, who talked with them about his 41 years working in the coal mines.
This year’s West Virginia trip was co-organized by Elizabeth Holden ’26 and Marina Barsoum ’25. They’ve been taking part in the West Virginia experience since they were freshmen.
“The trip is a wonderful experience for Bonner service leaders to bond, as well as fully engage in a community and learn about the culture, the history and even the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains,” said Barsoum. “It’s a time where we can serve a community while building connections. Going on these annual service trips to West Virginia really helped me grow as a person and build a better connection with my fellow classmates.”Holden’s favorite part of the trip? Definitely the people.
“Both getting closer to my fellow Bonners and meeting and interacting with the people in West Virginia was super fun,” she said. “Every year we meet a lot of great people and make a lot of great memories.”
