Ten exemplary students will spend the spring semester representing the University through service, leadership and public speaking as the new cohort of Presidential Student Ambassadors.
The following have been selected as members of the spring 2024 cohort:
- Mackenzie Brolly, John Chambers College of Business and Economics; Fairport, New York
- Taylor Flowers, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences; New Canaan, Connecticut
- Brandon Frazier, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Huntington
- Mia Hang, School of Medicine; Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
- Carter Leadmon, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Huntington
- Hunner Moore, Reed College of Media, Morgantown
- Amaira Palmer, School of Medicine, Clendenin
- Bailey Pittman, College of Creative Arts, Charleston
- Janie Prunty, College of Applied Human Sciences, Bridgeport
- Erin Skaff, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Charleston
Students are required to accumulate a minimum of 40 service hours and attend at least 20 leadership events to become Certified Student Leaders awarded by Student Engagement and Leadership.
PSAs from the Presidential Student Ambassadors include more than 600 speeches and podcasts offering advice to prospective and current students. Topics include academic success and resources, tutorials and apps, transportation, student engagement, health, substance use and recovery, Gen Z, and most recently, famous West Virginians.
“Presidential Student Ambassadors are student leaders who exemplify Mountaineer values,” said Carolyn P. Atkins, coordinator for the Presidential Ambassador Program. “They come from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines, yet they are united in their passion to make a positive impact on and for West Virginia University.”
Atkins created Presidential Augusta Ambassadors and Presidential Distinguished Ambassadors, subprograms that include either former Order of Augusta recipients or former graduates and/or friends of WVU who are “welcomed home” to speak about their leadership journeys.
Presidential Augusta Ambassadors have included Dr. Brian Caveney, chief medical and scientific officer for Labcorp; Ginny Thrasher, Olympic gold medalist; and Emily Calendrelli, executive producer and host of “Xploration Outer Space” and “Emily’s Wonder Lab.”
Presidential Distinguished Ambassadors include the following WVU alumni: John Havlik, retired Navy SEAL; Pam Rawlins, executive producer for Walt Disney Imagineering; and Mike Gansey, general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.