Honors College students come from 39 states and all 55 counties in West Virginia. They can be found in academic colleges across campus.
Olivia Barbee
Major/Minor: Forensic Chemistry major, Biology minor
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Student Organization Involvement: Research Apprenticeship Program, Honors College testWELL tutor, Biology 115 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Rural Undergraduate Shadowing in Healthcare program, and Remote Area Medical Clinic club
Interests and Hobbies: Gardening, watching TV and spending time with friends.
Fun Fact: I am a certified beekeeper, and I have three hives back home.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite thing
is the tight-knit community and the friends I have made through the Honors College.
Raeanne Beckner
Major/Minor: Journalism major, Leadership Studies and Political Science minors
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Bridgeport, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Culture Editor at The Daily Athenaeum, Honors 298o Peer Mentor, Reed College of Media Ambassador, New Student Orientation Leader, WVU Student Ambassador with the SCC (Student Call Center), a Mountaineer Maniac, and Omega Phi Alpha sorority
Interests and Hobbies: I love spending time with friends and family, volunteering, taking road trips and cooking!
Fun Fact: I am a huge ice hockey fan! Go Caps!
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite thing about the Honors College (and WVU as a whole) is the people. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful. You will do things you never thought you could!Emma Blair
Major/Minor: Exercise Physiology major, Psychology minor
Graduation Year: 2021
Hometown: Wheeling, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Presidential Student Ambassador, School of Medicine Pre-Professional Programs Student Ambassador, Honors College Student Ambassador, Honors EXCEL program, Chemistry 115 Tutor, Biology 115 and 219 Teaching Assistant, Intern at the WVU Human Performance Lab, Exercise Physiology Club Officer
Interests and Hobbies: I love to bake, read and travel. I especially love watching Disney movies and going thrift shopping!
Fun Fact: I’ve been to 43 out of the 50 states.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite thing
about the WVU Honors College is the atmosphere they provide. I love the programs
and events that help me make new college friends while still encouraging a
studious and academic environment.
Jillian Blair
Major/Minor: Environmental & Energy Resource Management major
Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Wheeling, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Honors Student Association, Peace Corps Prep Program, Women In Natural Resources, Mountaineer Maniacs
Interests and Hobbies: I love to travel, explore, paint, watch movies, read and collect things from places I've been.
Fun Fact: The top item on my bucket list is to visit all the National Parks in the United States!
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: I love that WVU can make me feel as if there's a something from everything to experience or try on campus. I equally love how the Honors College makes my home within WVU feel small, familiar and close-knit.Olivia Crum
Major/Minor: Neuroscience major
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: Madison, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Mountaineer Maniacs, National Residence Hall Honorary member, Student Service Advisory Committee secretary, WVU Paws, WVU Neuroscience Club, Honors 298o mentor.
Interests and Hobbies: Majorettes, band, traveling, yoga, running and hiking.
Fun Fact: I went abroad in search of vampires.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite thing about WVU and the Honors College is that I am comfortable with talking to and meeting anyone. It provides me with a sense of home and belonging.
Grant DuVall
Major/Minor: Biology major, Addiction Studies minor
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: Bridgeport, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Camp Kesem Co-Coordinator, Presidential Student Ambassador, Chimes Junior Honorary, National Residence Hall Honorary, leadWELL Mentor, Intensive English Program Conversation Partner, testWELL Tutor, Club Tennis Team, Ruby Memorial Hospital Volunteer, Undergraduate Research, Honors EXCEL program
Interests and Hobbies: Hiking, planning/taking road trips, photography, gardening, and tennis.
Fun Fact: I’m certified to drive a tractor in the state of New York.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College:
I love how small the Honors College makes WVU feel. I truly feel as if I have a
close network of peers and friends everywhere I go on campus.
Alaina Eavenson
Major/Minor: Animal and Nutritional Sciences major, Women & Gender Studies minor
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Pre-Veterinary Club, Davis-Michael Scholar, OSTEM
Interests and Hobbies: I love crafting (mostly cross stitch and sewing) and am teaching myself to crochet. I am a long time 4-H member and have raised livestock for a decade.
Fun Fact: I’m fostering cats with my roommate!
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: I love getting close to my peers due to the smaller class sizes and love for learning.
Raimah Hossain
Major/Minor: Biomedical Engineering major, History and Math minors
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: I was born in Starkville, Mississippi, but went to high school in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Student Organization Involvement: Engineers Without Borders, TEDx WVU Sponsorship Committee member
Interests and Hobbies: Music, makeup and cooking.
Fun Fact: I once saw Venus Williams at an airport in Dubai, UAE.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: Even though I went to high school in Morgantown, being a member of the Honors College has made this town and my college experience completely unique and different from what I knew of Morgantown before.
Kirsten Johnson
Major/Minor: Biology major, Spanish minor
Graduation Year: 2021
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Student Organization Involvement: Alpha Lambda Delta, Neuroscience Club, National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), Pre-Medical club, Global Medical Brigades, MedLife.
Interests and Hobbies: Reading, watching crime shows (NCIS, Brooklyn 99, CSI), watching football, p laying softball and running.
Fun Fact: My best friend is my yellow lab, Toby.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College:
The connections made between students and professors. It truly feels like one big
family!
Wren King
Major/Minor: Anthropology, Women's and Gender Studies, and Geography triple major with a minor in Native American Studies
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Junior managerial editor of Mountaineer Undergraduate Research Review, treasurer of the WVU Anthropology Club, treasurer of the Organization for Native American Interests, Recruitment and Fundraising Committee member of the Global Medical and Dental Brigades Club, member of the Feminist and Queer Theories Book Club, member of oSTEM at WVU, member of the Undergraduate Research Association
Interests and Hobbies: I am passionate about intersectional and transdisciplinary research and dialogue, along with promoting undergraduate research within all students, but especially humanities and social sciences students. I work as an undergraduate researcher under Dr. Lindsay Kahle on sexual assault and intimate partner violence within the college environment and participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program during the summer of 2020.
Fun Fact: I foster cats with fellow Ambassador Alaina!
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: WVU has so many resources that can allow many to blossom in so many different ways. I don't think I could garner a more transdisciplinary education anywhere else. I have had the pleasure to make many wonderful connections with professors across the university, and I believe I couldn't have made a better choice. The Honors College has enabled me to push myself farther and put myself out there.
Marleah Knights
Major/Minor: Biology & English majors
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Presidential Student ambassador, Honors Students of Color Affinity Group, Honors Hall Council, Residence Hall Association, WVU Student Government Association intern, College Democrats.
Interests and Hobbies:
- Traveling and cultural immersion
- Reading and creative writing
- Playing steel drums
- Learning languages
- Swimming
Fun Fact: During my elementary school years, I spent 4 years living in Trinidad and Tobago.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite things about the Honors College are the opportunities students have to be mentored and the fellowship created between students.
Hunter Moore
Major/Minor: Aerospace Engineering major, Physics minor
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: West Milford, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Engineers Without Borders (Local Project team), WVU American Institute of Aero/Astronautics, WVU Student Government Association, Mountaineer Mentors, Honors Student Association.
Interests and Hobbies: Movies, soccer, space, traveling and science.
Fun Fact: I spent the summer working for NASA with the CubeSat Program!
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite thing about WVU and the Honors College is definitely the people — no matter what or where, I can always find a great group of friends.
Natalie Rogers
Major/Minor: Economics & Mathematics majors
Graduation Year: 2021
Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Honors College testWELL tutor, Actuarial Science Club, Helvetia Sophomore Honorary
Interests and Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends and reading.
Fun Fact: I was born in Japan.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: The interesting like-minded people that I have met, and the opportunities to further my learning outside of a classroom environment.
Pareera Uqaily
Major/Minor: Accounting and Management Information Systems major, Data Analytics minor
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Student Organization Involvement: Delta Sigma Pi, Women in Business, Beta Alpha Psi, Management Information Systems Association, First Year Leadership Academy, Honors Students of Color Affinity Group, Pakistani Students' Association, Muslim Students Association.
Interests and Hobbies: Rowing, hiking, baking, and spending time with my family and friends.
Fun Fact: I have rowed at the 2008 Summer Olympics venue in Shunyi, China.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: The welcoming
atmosphere regardless of where they live and the also really cool events they
host which is a great way to network!
Raafay Uqaily
Major/Minor: Biomedical Engineering major
Graduation Year: 2023
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Student Organization Involvement: Biomedical Engineering Society secretary, American Chemical Society treasurer, TEDxWVU Event Planning chair, First Year Leadership Academy (FYLA) mentor, Mathematics department learning assistant, Camp Kesem at WVU, Pakistani Student Association, WVU Information Technology Services advanced student tech, Ruby Memorial and Mon General Hospital volunteer, undergraduate researcher.
Interests and Hobbies: Binge-watching shows on Netflix, kayaking, baking, trading crypto and stocks, learning the violin
Fun Fact: I have a twin sister (who is also an Honors College Ambassador!)
Ateria Walker
Major/Minor: Nursing major, Addition Studies minor
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: Wheeling, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; WVU Presidential Student Ambassador; WV AHEC Rural Community Health Scholars Program; Honors EXCEL program; president of MAPS (Minorities Association of Pre- Healthcare Students); Community Outreach chairperson of Student Nursing Association (SNA); Student Support Services TRIO peer mentor; member of WVU NAACP; member of WVU 100 Black Women; Health Science Technology Academy Alumni Association; Honors Students of Color Affinity Group; National Society of Collegiate Scholars; National Society of Leadership and Success; WVU Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society; WVU Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society
Interests and Hobbies: I love to hang out with friends, go to the gym, watch movies and TV shows on Netflix, sing and travel.
Fun Fact: I have never broken a bone in my body.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: My favorite thing about WVU and the Honors College are the research opportunities and the various events and activities hosted by the Honors College. I also love how the Honors College is like one big family who is there to support you and help you succeed in your endeavors.Donovan Weekley
Major/Minor: Biology major, Statistics minor
Graduation Year: 2024
Hometown: Lexington Park, Maryland
Student Organization Involvement: Social Media chair of Minorities Association of Pre-healthcare Students (MAPS); member of Undergraduate Research Association, Pre-Medical Club Chapter of the AMSA, Honors LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, Honors Students of Color Affinity Group; mentee in WVUSOM's MedCoach Program; and Honors testWELL tutor-in-training
Interests and Hobbies: Reading (especially anything related to medicine and socialist theory), political advocacy, listening to music (reggaeton is my favorite genre of music), learning languages, and hanging out with friends.
Fun Fact: I am fluent in Spanish!
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: I love that the Honors College in particular encourages students to partake in interdisciplinary study to better understand the impacts that their chosen fields of study can have on the community in which they live and the globe that they share with billions of other people.Katherine Whittington
Major/Minor: Political Science and Business Administration majors
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Residence Hall Association (Honors Hall representative), Mountaineer Maniacs
Interests and Hobbies: Shopping and s pending time with family and friends.
Fun Fact: I once met Creed from "The Office" in an airport.
Favorite Thing about WVU and the Honors College: The atmosphere at WVU and the family the Honors College brings!