For Immediate Release: December 16, 2009

Contact: Annette Barnette
Public Relations & Marketing Director
Glenville State College
Glenville, WV
(304) 462-4115

Glenville, WV – The American Cancer Society Relay for Life has recognized Glenville State College employee and alum Ed Toman. He is the GSC Director of JASON Project and Coordinator of the Hidden Promise Consortium.

Toman is also the former Gilmer County Superintendent of Schools. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and educated students about every step of the battle. For his courage, support of the school system, and dedication to Relay for Life, Toman received the Superintendent of the Year Award from the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

“At Relay for Life, I can be among cancer survivors who have walked in the same shoes I have. Relay gave me inspiration while waiting for treatment and undergoing chemo, and it gives me peace to walk the Survivor Lap, and a sense of healing after. Because of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, I know there is hope for a cure someday,” said Toman.

His fourteen year old daughter Tristin was awarded the Outstanding Student Leadership Award for the second year in a row. For the past two years, she has been Gilmer County’s highest fundraising individual contributing nearly $20,000 toward cancer research. Gilmer County also received an award for having one-hundred percent participation in all public schools as well.

“I am so proud of Tristin and my whole family for stepping up and supporting myself and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. It is such an honor and humbling experience to be recognized,” Ed Toman added. His wife, Michelle, is a full-time staff employee for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life after being a volunteer for fifteen years. She is a Community Manager for Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, and Randolph counties.

Toman is originally from Paden City, West Virginia in Wetzel County. He lives in Glenville with his wife Michelle and three children: Jordan (eighteen), Tristin (fourteen), and Campbell (four).

Toman received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1991 from Glenville State College where he majored in Education with an emphasis on multi-subjects K-8, behavior disorders K-12, learning disabled K-12, and mentally impaired K-12. He then obtained his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership Studies from West Virginia University. Toman also earned a Superintendent’s Certificate from the Marshall University Graduate College.

Toman served five years as the Gilmer County Schools Superintendent beginning in 2004. Prior to that, he worked seven years for Wirt County Schools in various positions including Schools Superintendent, Wirt County High School Principal, and Vocational Director as well as four years employed in the Monongalia County Schools system as a teacher and a coach. Toman’s extensive educational career also includes time at Presley Ridge School at Laurel Park in Clarksburg and at schools in Braxton, Lewis, Wetzel, and Tyler Counties.

Toman has received numerous honors and awards including the Glenville State College Distinguished Alumni/Outstanding Educator Award in 2003, the West Virginia Coaches Association Region II Principal of the Year for 1999-2000, Wirt County High School Future Farmers of America Honorary Member in 1999, a Discipline Task Force Nominee for the West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Special Education in 1998, the Glenville State College Outstanding Student Teacher Award by Kappa Delta Pi in 1991, and Glenville State College WVIAC All-Conference Football player in 1989.

Toman serves on the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Board of Directors. He has also served on the GSC Board of Governors and been a member of several professional committees and groups such as the West Virginia Association of School Administrators, the American Association of School Administrators, the RESA VII Board of Directors, the Glenville State College Educational Personnel Preparation Advisory Committee, the Calhoun/Gilmer Career Center Board, the Gilmer County Economic Development Authority, and the Federal Correctional Institution Gilmer Community Relations Board.

For more information about these awards or if you would like to make a donation to the GSC Relay for Life, contact Kipp Colvin at Kipp.Colvin@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6412. You may also visit www.events.cancer.org/glenvillestate online for the GSC Relay for Life website.