Economically distressed McDowell County is one target of a West Virginia University program to connect high school and community college students and others new to the workforce with well-paid jobs in the water sector, which is in urgent need of workers.
Tapping into the landscape of the Mountain State, the West Virginia University Outdoor Education Center — run by Adventure WV — provides members of the University and surrounding communities opportunities to learn more about themselves and others by taking on challenges in nature. April marks the start of the new season for the OEC, located near Coopers Rock, and for Morgantown Adventure Outfitters, located in downtown Morgantown.
Each year, the Bucklew Scholarship is given to 20 high-achieving West Virginia students accepted to West Virginia University and qualifies them to be considered for the Foundation Scholarship, the University’s highest academic scholarship.
High-achieving students at West Virginia University will benefit from a fund established by an alumni couple — Michelle L. Varga Esposito and Patrick R. Esposito II of Morgantown — to support the delivery of innovative courses in areas of neuroscience, psychology, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, other life sciences, economics, mathematics, physics or engineering.
As WVU celebrates its sixth annual Research Week from April 1-5, many students have found purpose on campus through discovery and innovation. “We would not be an R1 institution if not, in part, for the drive and determination of our student researchers,” Vice President for Research Fred King said.
Research from West Virginia University industrial engineer Makenzie Dolly suggests employee motivation and productivity may increase when game-like elements, such as progress bars and badges, are integrated into industrial workers’ performance of manufacturing tasks that are rote and repetitive, like Lego assembly.
West Virginia University engineers have received a wave of federal support for research projects that will help slash the cost of clean hydrogen. The three U.S. Department of Energy grants for WVU studies total $15.8 million and are part of funds authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for research that advances the “Hydrogen Shot” goal of cutting the cost of clean hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram.
Supporters of West Virginia University donated a record $30.4 million Wednesday (March 20) during the University’s seventh Day of Giving. More than 8,500 gifts were made during the 24-hour online fundraising event held across the University system, also a new record. The $30.4 million figure tops 2023’s WVU Day of Giving record of $18.1 million raised from more than 8,200 gifts.
Studying topics as varied as space science to sustainability, four West Virginia University researchers have been named Faculty Early Career Development Program award winners by the National Science Foundation. They are Margaret Bennewitz, Katy Goodrich, Oishi Sanyal and Kevin Orner.
West Virginia University alumni and friends taking part in Day of Giving Wednesday (March 20) will have many opportunities to boost the overall impact of their gifts through a variety of challenges.