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Louis "Jay" Latta
I've felt tied to the university since I was a young child, having grown up about 45 minutes from downtown Morgantown and being a die-hard Mountaineer sports fan. Then, when it became time to decide where I would be continuing my education, WVU's successful engineering program and generous scholarship offer made it the natural choice.
- What is the BEST reason to attend WVU?
- The best reason to attend WVU is the sense of community embedded in its culture.
Having a diverse population of students coupled with a plethora of resources
and opportunities, including helpful professors, major choices, student organizations,
student services, and other ways to get involved on campus, I believe that
every student can find a home here.
- What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?
- Why did you want to become a PSA?
My favorite Mountaineer memory was watching the basketball team bounce back from
their struggles and defeat top-five Baylor in March after going through
an up-and-down season filled with adversity. I believe that their resilience
embodied the spirit of this state and how our hard-working people can come
together to overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable.
- My state has been tightly woven into the fabric of my DNA for as long as I can remember,
so I was honored and moved by the fact that someone at its flagship university
saw me as a leader. I felt called upon to take the opportunity to make an impact
on this school, community, and state while becoming a better speaker and leader.
- What did you learn from the PSA experience?
As a PSA, I have gained valuable public speaking experience that has allowed me to become a better communicator, taken many different leadership philosophies away from talks given by experienced leaders associated with the university, and met a number of great people inspired to make a difference.