Months of hard work, planning, practice and dedication paid off with an incredible moment for members of the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band Thursday (Nov. 28) in the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In the final installment of the Dream Big video series, join band members as they represent the University and the state along the soggy parade route.
Videos
The next stop for “The Pride of West Virginia” is New York City! The Mountaineer Marching Band will perform in the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday (Nov. 28). Watch on NBC and Peacock.
Zach Ellis, a biochemistry major from Renick, has gone from growing up in a town of 170 to traveling the country with the groundbreaking Huntington’s disease research he’s conducting at WVU. “I don’t want anything more than to help people,” Ellis said.
Dr. Ali Rezai, executive chair of the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, is part of a team of faculty members, doctors and scientists focused on groundbreaking treatments. “We’re running as fast as we can to help change the world,” Dr. Rezai said.
From an early age, Jakob Fedele knew how important “The Pride of West Virginia” was to the Mountain State. Now in his senior year at West Virginia University and a member of the Mountaineer Marching Band, Jakob is performing in communities all over the state, preparing for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and inspiring future Mountaineers.
Mikayla McNair was initially unsure about a leadership role in “The Pride of West Virginia,” the Mountaineer Marching Band, but she took the leap and is thriving in the role of drum major as the band prepares for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.