West Virginia University has announced the finalists for the prestigious honor of Mr. and Ms. Mountaineers 2014. The award recognizes students’ exemplary academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.

Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer are part of Mountaineer Week, which takes place Oct. 24 – Nov. 2. After an interview in front of the Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer selection committee, one male and female finalist will be named Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer at the Saturday, Nov. 1 WVU football game vs. Texas Christian University at Milan Puskar Stadium.

All applicants must be eligible for graduation by May 2014 to be considered.

Mr. Mountaineer finalists are: Ethan Kline, Elkton, Md.; Christopher Morlock, Inwood; Caleb Rice, Middleway; Ellis Roper, Charles Town; and Brennan Wood, Alderson.

Ms. Mountaineer finalists are: Elizabeth “Liz” Gulick, Wheatan, Ill. and Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Jordan Lovejoy, Pineville; Tiffany “Madison” Shirkey, Barboursville; Christine Snyder, Charleston; and Sarah Taylor, Martinsburg.

Mr. Mountaineer
Ethan Kline is a senior secondary education and social studies double major. He is a member of the Educational Student Governance Association. In addition, he is a student teacher at both Grafton High School and Suncrest Middle School. He is a resident assistant and was named 2014 R.A. of the Year. Kline is sponsored by the Educational Student Governance Association. He will be escorted by Bruce and Beth Kline.

Christopher Morlock is a senior criminology major. He is a gold and blue ambassador, a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and a volunteer at the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center. In addition, he has interned with Congressman McKinley. Morlock is sponsored by Kappa Kappa Psi, Omicron Chapter. He will be escorted by Debra Haubenstein.

Caleb Rice is a master’s student in aerospace engineering. He is the team lead for the Interactive Robotics Lab experimental flight testing and serves as president of the First Baptist Church Campus Ministries. In his spare time he enjoys swing dancing, running and traveling. Rice is sponsored by First Baptist Church Campus Ministries. He will be escorted by George and Faith Rice.

Ellis Roper is a senior human resources management major. He is president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Pi Mu Chapter, co-director of the WVU Paul Robeson/Mahalia Jackson Gospel Choir and a student diversity ambassador for WVU’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has been a finalist for the WVU NAACP Image Awards “Rising Star” Student of the Year as well as the 2014 SHRM Regional Cast Study competition. Roper is sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Pi Mu chapter. He will be escorted by Bobby and Zoa Roper.

Brennan Wood is a senior exercise physiology and music double major. He is the assistant drum major of the WVU Marching Band, a member of Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society and Province 39 and WVU’s Chapter Music Director of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. He is also a WVU Neil S. Bucklew Scholar. Wood is sponsored by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. He will be escorted by Dell and Nancy Wood.

Ms. Mountaineer

Elizabeth “Liz” Gulick is an elementary education master’s student with a concentration in special education and mathematics for grades five through nine. She is a four year Division I volleyball player for WVU, a WVU Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader and was a finalist for the 2013-14 Big 12 Female Sportsperson of the Year. She was a member of the 2012 and 2013 Capital One Academic All-District 2 Women’s Volleyball Team. Liz was also part of the 2014 WVU Presidential search committee. She is sponsored by the WVU Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She will be escorted by Steve Gulick and Casey Henderson.

Jordan Lovejoy is a senior triple majoring in English, Spanish and women’s and gender studies. She is president of Triota, the women’s and gender studies honorary society and a lab manager and research assistant with the West Virginia Dialect project. She is also a member of the board of director’s for the Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center. Additionally, she is lead organizer of the first “I Love Mountains Day WV” march. Lovejoy is sponsored by McNair Scholars Program. She will be escorted by Michael Gallimore and Justin Greene.

Tiffany “Madison” Shirkey is a senior biology. She is a recipient of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Award and Scholarship, the director of community service and past vice president of Alpha Phi Sorority, Medlife Secretary and the Mortar Board Senior Honorary historian. She conducts stem cell cartilage regeneration research as an undergraduate researcher for the Orthopedic Department at WVU. Shirkey is sponsored by Alpha Phi Sorority and Medlife. She will be escorted by David Shirkey and Amy Shouldis.

Christine Snyder is a senior civil engineering major. She is a WVU Neil S. Bucklew Scholar and a WVU Statler College of Engineering Ambassador and a member of Alpha Omega Epsilon (STEM Sorority). She is a former explore leader and logistics specialist with Adventure WV. Snyder also presented research at the WV Academy of Science titled “Sizing ponds for a surface mine reclamation valley fill.” She is sponsored by Alpha Omega Epsilon. She will be escorted by John and Cheryl Snider.

Sarah Taylor is a senior industrial engineering major. She is the liaison for the Gold and Blue Student Ambassadors, executive vice president for Alpha Kappa Psi and vice president of Alpha Pi Mu and a member of the Student Government Association. She is a former member of the women’s varsity rowing team. Taylor is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Psi. She will be escorted by Robert and Linda Taylor.

-WVU-

ta/10/13/14

CONTACT: Sonja Wilson, Mountainlair
304.293.2702, Sonja.wilson@mail.wvu.edu

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