WVU Student Life announces 2025 Hall of Fame, Outstanding Achievement Award honorees

A two-time West Virginia University graduate and devoted public servant whose life was a testament to the Mountaineer spirit, and two retirees who collectively dedicated more than 70 years of service to the Mountainlair, a campus hub for students, will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the University.

The Division of Student Life will posthumously recognize Doug Skaff Jr. as the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award and induct Michael Ellington and Sonja Wilson into the 2025 Hall of Fame during a ceremony beginning at 4 p.m. Monday (Oct. 6) in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

Skaff’s three young sons will accept the award on behalf of their father, who died on June 10 following a vehicle accident on Interstate 79 in Lewis County.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony as well as a reception that precedes the event starting at 3:30 p.m.

Doug Skaff Jr.
A native of South Charleston and lifelong Mountaineer, Skaff built the foundation for his career in leadership and service while attending WVU in the late 1990s.

As a visionary student leader, he developed initiatives that transformed campus culture and are now hallmarks of the student experience. Notable achievements include the creation of the Mountaineer Maniacs, which has grown into the largest student organization on campus with over 5,500 members, and co-founding of WVUp All Night, a program still enjoyed by thousands of students today.

He also served as the Student Government Association president from 1999 to 2000, and was named Mr. Mountaineer that same year, in recognition of his leadership and academic achievements.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2000 and a master’s degree in industrial labor relations in 2002, he worked as a human resources professional and sales manager at Owens Corning in Toledo, Ohio. Driven by his deep commitment to the Mountain State, he returned home to pursue public office, focusing on economic development, education and innovation.

Skaff represented Kanawha County in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2023, serving as House minority leader from 2020 until he resigned in 2023 to run for secretary of state.

Beyond politics, he also served his communities as a respected business leader. As the president of HD Media, he worked with Student Media shortly before his death to have The Daily Athenaeum printed and distributed by his company. Through this endeavor, Skaff created a unique opportunity for students to share their work with thousands of people in the Greater Kanawha Valley by inserting the paper weekly into the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Earlier this year, he partnered with others to purchase Fazio’s, the iconic Italian restaurant in Charleston, in hopes of preserving its 75-year tradition.

Defined by a deep and unwavering love for his alma mater and state, his legacy is being carried on through the Douglas J. Skaff Jr. Mountaineer Spirit Scholarship, created by his family to benefit students at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics.

Skaff is survived by his wife, Marisa, and their sons, Andrew, Elias and Alexander.

Michael Ellington
Guided by the principle of leaving the Mountainlair and University a better place, Ellington retired in 2022 after a 37-year career at WVU, including 27 years as the director of the Mountainlair.

Instrumental in implementing key campus culture-changing initiatives like WVUp All Night and FallFest, his leadership demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the student experience outside the classroom.

Ellington came to WVU in 1993 as the assistant director of Mountainlair operations, and he went on to serve the Division of Student Life in a variety of capacities throughout his time at the University.

In 1995, he was appointed director of the Mountainlair by then-Dean of Students Herman Moses, and from 2004 to 2011, he served as the assistant vice president of Student Affairs overseeing the Mountainlair, Dining Services, Arts and Entertainment and the Center for Black Culture. 

He was appointed associate vice president for Student Affairs in 2011, a position that included a short tenure as the interim vice president for Student Life following Ken Gray’s retirement in 2014. Ellington served in this role until a leadership reorganization in 2018 led him back to his passion as director of the Mountainlair.

Ellington earned his Regents Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 and his master’s degree in higher education administration in 1991 from WVU. As a student, he was a member of the Mountaineer Marching Band, and worked as a pin chaser in the Mountainlair Games Area from 1981-83.

Currently, Ellington serves as a member of the WVU Retirees Association and his local Rotary club, and he looks forward to cheering on the Mountaineers each football season.

Sonja Wilson
After 35 years of service, Wilson retired in 2019 from her role as senior program administrator for the Mountainlair. Shortly after, she returned to the University part time to manage the Mountaineer Mascot Program, a role she held until her second retirement in 2024.

A driving force behind many of the renowned Student Life programs and events that serve students, employees and the state, Wilson oversaw WVUp All Night, Mountaineer Idol, Dancing with our Mountaineer Stars and Mountaineer Week. She also served as the advisor to the Mountaineer mascot and alternate mascot and the Mountainlair Student Activities Board. With her friendly demeanor, Wilson became a beloved presence to many on campus.

Throughout her career, she received several honors in recognition of her dedication to the University, including WVU Employee of the Year in 1989, Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer in 2007, Paul “Buck” Martin Award in 2009 and The Daily Athenaeum’s Most Influential in 2018.

Wilson began her career at WVU in 1984 as a training and development assistant with the Department of Human Resources, and from 1985 to 1988, she served as a senior program administrator with Employee Relations.

She earned her associate arts degree in business from Fairmont State College in 1973 and later earned her Regents Bachelor of Arts degree from WVU in 2009.

Even in her retirement, Wilson continues to serve the University as the president of the WVU Retirees Association. She also dedicates her time to Sonja’s Sweet Stop, an entrepreneurial venture where she sells homemade sweet treats and unique items at craft shows and farmers markets.

Find more information about the WVU Student Life Hall of Fame.

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