Cryogenics, human rights and cultural diversity will all be topics of discussion when 15 West Virginia University students travel to Charleston for the first West Virginia TRIO Student Leadership Conference March 22-24.

The workshops are designed to expand awareness of diverse issues facing todays youth, from financial aid and study skills to relationships, cryogenics and self-esteem. WVU students will not only participate in workshops, but will assist in presenting programs and moderating workshops.

“We feel that this is a unique opportunity for our students in that not only will they be learning new leadership skills, but they will also be given the opportunity to further develop the leadership skills they already possess,”said Barbara Copenhaver-Bailey, director of Student Support Services (SSS) at WVU .”Students get to become part of their own leadership development.”

Guest speakers at the conference leadership banquet include Gov. Bob Wise and J. Michael Mullen, chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission.

Several WVU faculty will also be on hand to present workshops, including Patty Mulkeen from WVU Extension presenting”True Colors”and SSS Education Outreach Counselor Frances Riley hosting the workshop”Putting the Peaces Together: Choosing the Right College for You.”

All events will take place in the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.

Copenhaver-Bailey hopes that students will gain valuable experience as role models and undergo personal growth in working with others. The selected SSS students were chosen based on an application letter, essays and an interview with WVU Student Support Services staff

The following SSS students have been selected to attend the conference:

• Courtney Dennis, senior Regent BA major from Fairmont;

• Max Fernandez, a senior social work major from Brooklyn, N.Y.;

• Tammy Garlow, a senior education major from Thornton;

• Rob Knarr, a senior engineering major from Spencer;

• Zack Phillips, a freshmen history major from Follansbee;

• Donnie Riddle, a freshmen engineering major from Jessup, Md. and wife, Linda Riddle, a sophomore computer science major from Elkridge, Md.;

• Christie Shaffer, a senior political science major from Morgantown;

• Cassandra Sperringer, senior biology major from Follansbee;

• LaRae Tully, a senior agriculture and environmental education major from Wheeling;

• Wilmore Lee Washington, a senior accounting major from Williamson;

• Chris Williamson, a freshmen mining engineering major from Dingess.

Also attending the conference are the following McNair Scholars: Eunice Rohrer, a senior news editorial major from Morgantown; Nicole Johnson, a junior computer science major from Clarksville, Pa.; and Brie Frey, a senior environmental geoscience major, also from Morgantown.

Student Support Services is a division of WVU Student Affairs and part of the TRIO Program, which includes Upward Bound, McNair Scholars and Educational Talent Search. TRIO refers to the group of grants funded by the U.S. Department of Education and serves students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, have financial need, disability and/or an academic need.