Ella Holley
Ella Holley, a member of the Honors College from Pickerington, Ohio, is graduating with dual degrees in international studies and criminology, and minors in Russian studies and military science. A student in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and an Army ROTC cadet, she built her undergraduate experience on a foundation of leadership and a commitment to service.
Serving as the Mountaineer Battalion commander for the Spring 2026 semester, Holley oversaw training for the entire ROTC program while championing personal growth and equality among the cadets. Her campus involvement also included serving as a Presidential Student Ambassador and a member of the Friends of WVU Army ROTC.
Selected for the Project Global Officer (Project GO) program in 2023, she spent the summer learning Russian language and culture while training and traveling through Central Asia with cadets from across the United States. During her time abroad, she served as an ESL tutor in the Bishkek American Center in Kyrgyzstan, working with students ages 6-62.
For her Honors Foundations capstone, she co-produced a podcast that used storytelling to make complex human rights issues accessible. By blending literature and historical records, she turned abstract legal fictions into meaningful conversations on decolonization and failures in international policy.
She cites her role as the first female captain of the Ranger Challenge team — the Army ROTC’s premier intercollegiate competition — as her most rewarding milestone. Under her leadership, the team achieved its highest ranking since 2022. By guiding the cadets through complex skills like marksmanship and emergency medical proficiency, she fostered a culture of discipline and perseverance that she considers her true legacy.
Her exceptional performance has earned her recognition as a two-time Cadet of the Year, a nominee for the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross and a spot in the top 5% of the National Army ROTC Order of Merit List.
A Distinguished Military Graduate, Holley will commission into the Army as an active-duty second