ASPIRE

West Virginia University continued to demonstrate why it’s the Mountain State’s land-grant, flagship R1 institution over the course of 2024. Here are some of the top research stories from the year.

West Virginia University has named Haley Bockius, Laasya Chennuru, Mary G. Roush, Christopher J. Smith and Dakota Swiger the 2024 Mountaineers of Distinction, a Mountaineer Week tradition that recognizes exemplary academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.

Clara Haizlett of Bethany, a West Virginia University graduate with a passion for storytelling and exploring cultural similarities between Appalachia and the Arab world, is the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright scholarship, the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program.

Eight West Virginia University students earned Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to travel abroad without financial constraints. The competitive national award is funded by the U.S. State Department and allows scholars to participate in transformative study abroad experiences.

Three outstanding West Virginia University students — Christopher Smith, Easton Cahill and Rachel King — have been named winners of the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences.

Two West Virginia University undergraduate students — James Campbell and Felicia Carrara — are recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship and will study foreign languages abroad this summer.

West Virginia University alumna and global citizen Giana Loretta is a recipient of the prestigious Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship. The Shinnston native is the second WVU alumnus to secure the prestigious fellowship which provides up to $42,000 annually for two years to students who plan to earn master’s degrees and begin careers in the foreign service.

Eight members of the West Virginia University Class of 2024 who have made remarkable achievements across academic disciplines while using the power of purpose to serve others and foster innovation for a sustainable future are among the talented student leaders honored with the Order of Augusta, the most prestigious University student award.

Five West Virginia University students have joined an elite group of researchers who’ve been awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a program aimed at supporting graduate education in STEM-based fields. They are Austin Braniff, Kara Cunningham, Courtney Glenn, Ashley Martsen-Poulin and Megan Weaver.

Six West Virginia University students will expand their horizons through study abroad experiences this spring, summer and fall after being awarded scholarships through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.