Cohort 16 - Fall 2026

Sophia Bell

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose WVU because of all the opportunities to pursue my goal to attend medical school and become a physician. As an R1 research institution, WVU has a strong emphasis on scientific discovery and innovation. I was able to begin research in my first semester of my freshman year as part of the RAP program. WVU also has many opportunities to study rural health and underserved communities to allow students to give back to West Virginia. Lastly, I have lived in Morgantown all my life, so attending WVU allows me to stay close to home and visit my family often.

Avery Brouillard

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose WVU because I knew it was the place I'd feel most at home. As a native West Virginian from Clay County, I know how well WVU's culture, pride, and impact spreads across the entire state. I grew up watching WVU sports and cheering on the Mountaineers. I didn't need to tour any other schools when it was time to apply to college - WVU's sense of community and opportunities were unmatched.

Ciera Jean Faulstick

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose WVU because it has always felt like home. Since my parents and siblings either attended or currently attend WVU, the university has always been a big part of my life. I grew up going to WVU sporting events, hearing stories about my parent's experiences, and dreaming of one day creating my own memories here. Because of that connection, choosing WVU was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made, and I never considered another college or university. I was also drawn to the many opportunities WVU offers for involvement and leadership. I knew I wanted to attend a school where I could be highly involved on campus while also receiving a great education. Lastly, being able to attend an affordable in-state university while staying close to home made WVU the perfect fit for me.

Emily Garrett

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

Since my dad is an alumnus and I am from West Virginia, I always liked Morgantown when visiting as a child and thought about becoming a Mountaineer one day. When I started finding out about the Biology Pre-medical program that WVU offers, I thought that's what I wanted to choose as my major. Being named as a Foundation Scholar of WVU was a full circle moment for me. I am beyond grateful. It made me feel like WVU chose me as much as I chose WVU.

David Hegele

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose West Virginia University because of the openness of the faculty and the financial support they were offering. I come from a one parent household that held four kids and because of our hard work as a family and WVU's generosity, I am able to go to college for free based on scholarship and I am very honored because of it. I has also been in touch with professors in my degrees and they were very open to how stressful it was going to be but amenable to the fact that I was willing to do both.

Riley Moore

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

Everyone who knows me well knows that my extensive roots to West Virginia University are what makes this school so special to me. My parents met and fell in love while they were on the varsity cheerleading team together, my uncles both served as the Mountaineer Mascot in back-to-back years, and my cousin is currently playing on the football team. This university had already given me and my family so much before I even set foot onto campus, and now I am forever indebted to its mission and love giving back. I chose WVU because I wanted to leave my mark on this school and strive for greatness like the generations before me have.

Avery Elizabeth Rogus

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

Initially, I became interested in WVU after hearing about its fantastic forensic program. However, I knew WVU was the university for me when I walked on campus. The welcoming and excited atmosphere made me feel at home. I knew this was a community I wanted to be apart of!

Haya Salman

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I have spent a majority of my life in West Virginia and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Over the years I have built genuine lasting ties within my community, meeting new friends through WVU and staying in touch with the people I grew up alongside. Family friends that have known me my entire life form a tight-knit community around me and have given me a sense of belonging that I know I couldn’t find anywhere else. It’s important to me to do my part and serve the community, which is what I aim to do by being by being a PSA.

Cooper Donald Schraml

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose WVU because I was already familiar with a lot of places in West Virginia from past experiences (like Boy Scouts and family vacations), and the campus felt comfortable and welcoming to me. I also liked that WVU allowed students to remain undecided for up to two years, which gave me the flexibility to explore different paths before committing to a major. That combination of familiarity and academic freedom made WVU the right fit for me.

Luke Tiu

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose WVU because the school offered me more opportunities for personal development and education than anywhere else. I'm also a lifelong West Virginia resident, so no place felt more like home than here.

Gabriel Watson

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

West Virginia University makes perfect sense for the kind of academic and personal growth I am looking for. I am a biology pre‑med student preparing for dentistry and sought out WVU's rigorous science courses and meaningful research opportunities through being an R1 land‑grant institution that offered WVU provided that foundation, along with an amazing community. I am also very thankful to be a member of the Pride of West Virginia, and am able to serve the community to the best of my ability through music.

Ethan Weaver

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

Growing up in West Virginia, I chose WVU because I wanted to build my future in a community that feels like family while staying close to home. My decision was made when I found out about the brand new Applied AI program and the way the university supports student entrepreneurs through the LaunchLab and WVU Ventures. After talking with the faculty, I knew the classes would give me the actual technical skills I needed to start my own AI business. Since getting here, the connections and opportunities I’ve found have been even better than I imagined. I’ve realized that WVU is the perfect place to build my future without having to leave the state I love.

Garen White

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I considered many different schools, but WVU was the only one where I truly felt at home. The atmosphere here is unlike any other university in the country, and the community is so supportive and committed to fostering the growth of its students.

Mary Jane Yanchak

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

As I was born in Morgantown, I have been raised around WVU culture. Throughout my life, I have attended football and baseball games, visited the WVU farms, and taken part in several university-run science programs. In high school, I was even given the opportunity to take Early Access classes on campus, allowing me to become integrated with the campus atmosphere early on. I know it was the right choice for me to attend WVU as I have been given so many opportunities already- such as becoming a PSA, that have allowed me to continuously grow as both a student and a person.