Each summer, Energy Express brings free books, meals and other needed items to children living in rural and low-income communities across West Virginia.
This year, it also brought a visit from Mountaineer mascot Cade Kincaid and alternate mascot Rachel Morgan, who visited all 29 sites during the six-week program.
What began as an effort to inspire young learners quickly reminded Kincaid and Morgan that service matters for both those who receive it and those who provide it. The experience also revealed to them the depth of the University’s reach and their own role in carrying its mission forward.
“Growing up around peers who faced similar challenges as many of the kids in the Energy Express program, this experience really opened my eyes to just how essential these six weeks are,” Kincaid said. “It’s not just about learning, it’s also about the support from the amazing mentors that shared stories about how much their students had grown since last year, and how meaningful that growth was.”
Powered by AmeriCorps members, Energy Express is delivered through WVU Extension. Most volunteers are college students who serve full-time in communities across the state; however, participation by the Mountaineer mascots added a new layer of excitement, pride and connection to each visit.
Some visits stood out more than others. In Wyoming County, Kincaid witnessed Mountaineer pride in action as coordinators at sites went above and beyond to make the visit special.
At the first school, the kids made paper coonskin caps and wore them during Kincaid’s visit, and at the second school, one of the mentors, who serves as a member of the Mountaineer Marching Band, lit up the kids’ faces with joy when he played “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
“The kids were true Mountaineer fans through and through, but very few had ever been to Morgantown. Bringing a bit of the game day experience and Mountaineer pride to these kids, especially those who may never get to see it otherwise is incredibly rewarding,” Kincaid said.
Morgan also reflected on her experiences as a former 4-H participant. She joined the program knowing the value of WVU Extension programs; however, Energy Express offered her a deeper perspective. She was especially moved by the curiosity and imagination she saw in the children.
“I grew up going to 4-H camps so I was already pretty familiar with the lasting impact of Extension programming,” she said. “Visiting Energy Express sites and interacting with the children and site teams really proved how important it is to have opportunities that cultivate growth outside of regular classroom expectations.”
The impact of her presence was clear at Frankfort Elementary School in Mineral County.
“At this site in particular, I was invited to stay while they had lunch and I think it was something the kids really appreciated,” Morgan said. “You could tell the site teams really cared about the overall experience that the kids were having.
“I always appreciate the curiosity that children have when meeting the Mountaineer mascot, but in this environment, kids are encouraged to use their imagination so they seem to ask me more questions,” she added.
Kincaid and Morgan came away from their summer experiences with a greater appreciation for the people and places they represent.
“Traveling to the Energy Express sites really opened my eyes to different aspects of West Virginia, including how different the people are, but how they can all come together and have a good time learning,” Morgan said.
“I’ve said this in interviews and to so many people that my favorite thing to do in the buckskins is visit schools — it gives me the chance to advocate for the beautiful state we live in and to showcase the impact WVU has through WVU Extension,” Kincaid said.