Thirty of West Virginia Universitys top graduating seniors will be honored with the WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors Award during the Weekend of Honors Convocation April 12-13.

The students will be recognized for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service. This award was established in 1995 to commemorate the Foundations 40th anniversary.

The 2002 Outstanding Seniors are: Robert S. Acciavatti of Morgantown; Melany B. Atkins of Morgantown; Mary E. Bess of Fenwick; Jonathan B. Bompiani of Youngwood, Pa.; P. Alexander Brown of Lewisburg; Jamie L. Burchianti of Greensboro, Pa.; Rachel L. Burns of Bridgeport; William M. Butler of Normantown; Karen G. Cox of Westover; Brooks H. Crislip of Charleston; Jamal J. Derakhshan of Charleston; Bobbie L. Dumm of McMurray, Pa.; Matthew O. Gatewood of Charleston; Anna C. Gensler of Huntington; James E.G. Grantham of Kearneysville; Roger G. Hanshaw of Valley Fork; Justin D. Harris of Cross Lanes; Jeffrey S. Huff of Ridgeley; Brandon J. Lester of Fairmont; Jana L. Matish of Bridgeport; Mohsin R. Mir of Charleston; Michael Mishra of Morgantown; Andrea G. Peer of Fort Ashby; Anne S. Perella of Morgantown; Nasira Roidad of Fairmont; Douglas S. Sholtis of Smithfield, Pa.; Stacey N. Shreve of Fairmont; Krista M. Smith of Auburn, Mich.; Heather J. Starkey of Bridgeport; and Kelly N. Walker of Charleston.

“The West Virginia University Foundations Outstanding Seniors award honors the Universitys exceptional graduating seniors for their achievements both in and out of the classroom. These 30 seniors are at the core of our future, and we are proud to recognize them,”said Foundation President F. Duke Perry in announcing the award winners.

This year’s recipientswho represent approximately the top 1 percent of the graduating classwere selected based on a number of criteria, including academic achievement, honors and awards, public service, demonstrated leadership, collegiate work experience, references and a narrative on the value of the WVU undergraduate experience.

WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. will present the selected students with a special certificate at the Honors Convocation, and their names also will be included on a permanent register located in Colson Hall.

Eight of these seniors will be conferred the Order of Augusta, the Universitys most prestigious student honor, during the Weekend of Honors. The Order of Augusta was established by the WVU Foundation in 1995 to recognize a highly select group of students based upon their superior scholarship, demonstrated leadership, and record of community and public service.

The Order of Augusta was named for its historical significance in the state. Augusta was among the original names considered by the legislature when the state seceded from Virginia in 1863. Also, the District of Augusta was the original name for a large area in what is now the northern region of West Virginia, including Monongalia County.

* OUTSTANDING SENIORS

*Robert S. Acciavatti of Morgantown says his journey from freshman to senior has been quite unique.”Through this experience I have developed a commitment to lifelong learning and discovered the importance of a well-rounded education. At WVU I received the opportunity to share my talent with other athletes and learned the skills to change the lives of the patients I will treat as a physical therapist. However, as I consider the value of my undergraduate years, the greatest revelation came as I realized not only the extent to which WVU has allowed me to change other peopleslives, but also the extent to which WVU has changed my own.”

Acciavatti carries a 3.91 grade point average and will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies with a minor in Spanish and is working to earn his masters degree in physical therapy in 2003.

An assistant strength and training coach for the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Acciavatti also is a volunteer coach and”A”team member for the WVU Cycling Team. He is the recipient of the Monongalia General Hospital Foundation Scholarship, WVU Presidential Scholarship and six Presidential Awards for Excellence in Scholarship.

In addition to serving as a volunteer for Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, he has formed and maintained his own athletic coaching business,”The Mind and the Legs,”for two years. Acciavatti was the 2000 National Collegiate Cycling Association National Champion and was named to the 2000 NCCA All-American Collegiate Cycling Team.

Melany B. Atkins of Morgantown notes,”As members of the 21st century, the importance of international relations, commerce, health care and security become increasingly more important on a day-to-day basis. My undergraduate education at West Virginia University will allow me to interact with others different than I am, on both a scientific level and a cultural level.”

Atkins, who maintains a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, plans to attend medical school at WVU after graduation. She has studied abroad at the University of Hertfordshire, England, and is a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, the Mountaineer Maniacs and the American Chemical Society.

She has served as a research assistant in WVU s Chemistry Department and at Ruby Memorial Hospital. Atkins has taken part in medical and chemical research, including a study that involves first pass blood flow through the coronary arteries to detect coronary disease.

She has received the General Electric Faculty of the Future Award, Presidential Award for Academic Excellence and is an Eberly Scholar. She has been selected to Mortar Board, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Gamma Beta Chimes, Golden Key and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Atkins also was named the Outstanding WVU Junior Chemistry Major of the Year.

She is the daughter of Bill and Carolyn Atkins.

Mary Ellen Bess of Fenwick says,”My dual studies in political science and philosophy have been manifested in perhaps the most academically challenging activity on campus: the WVU Debate Team. Being a member of the debate team has immensely increased my awareness of the problems facing the world, and my passion for studying political and philosophical theories will be continued next year when I study at the University of Hertfordshire, England, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.”

Bess carries a 3.97 grade point average and will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in political science and philosophy. A Frasure-Singleton Scholar, she is also the recipient of a Mountaineer Scholarship, Loyalty Permanent Endowment Alumni Scholarship and Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.

In addition to the WVU Debate and Forensics Association, where she has served as president and coach, Bess is a member of the Pre-Law Society, Mortar Board, Pi Sigma Sigma, Pi Sigma Alpha, Golden Key, the Philosophy Club, WVU Civil Liberties Group and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

She is the daughter of William and Karen Bess.

Jonathan B. Bompiani of Youngwood, Pa. , notes that one virtuous statement that guides him through his academic endeavors is,”Motivate yourself to work to your maximum, and let the outcomes speak for themselves.”

Bompiani, who plans to attend law school, carries a 3.87 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

In addition to serving on the Political Science Undergraduate Committee and as a Political Science peer advisor, he is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, Pi Sigma Sigma, Gamma Beta Phi, College Republicans and the Pre-Law Society. He was awarded the James F. Dent Memorial Scholarship and three Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificates of Achievement. He also is a member of the National Honor Society for Collegiate Students.

A member of the WVU Debate Team, which he says has taught him the valuable lessons of hard work, patience and the efficiency of teamwork, Bompiani was ranked fourth in the nation by the American Debate Association in 2001.

Bompiani is the son of Louis and Karen Bompiani.

P. Alexander Brown of Lewisburg believes that without balance, a person cannot achieve his or her full potential, and he says the amount of balance that WVU brought to his life made sure that not one aspect was neglected.

An Honors Program student, he maintains a 3.94 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in political science.

Brown spent the past summer serving as an intern in U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefellers office in Washington, D.C. He also was a student intern in cardiology research at WVU s Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.

In addition to being a member of the Mountaineer Maniacs, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and the 2001 Student Government Association Committee, he was named to Alpha Epsilon Delta, the Golden Key National Honorary and National Society of Collegiate Scholars

He earned a Governors Honors Academy Scholarship, the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Achievement, Presidential Award for Academic Excellence and Chemistry Honors Day Award.

Brown is the son of Patrick and Peggy Brown.

Jamie L. Burchianti of Greensboro, Pa. , notes that her most significant experiences at WVU extend beyond the classroom to such things as her summer internship in Washington, D.C. with the Hispanic Council on International Relations, her study abroad trips to Salamanca and Santander, Spain, and her attendance at the Student Conference on United States Affairs at West Point.

Burchianti carries a 3.98 grade point average and will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in international studies, economics and Spanish as well as with minors in music and political science.

A member of the Golden Key National Honorary and National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Burchianti has earned the Buvinger Award, Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers Scholarship, Albert Lee Sturm Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship, WVU Presidential Scholarship, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificates of Achievement, and Presidential Awards for Excellence in Scholarship. She has also been involved in the Honors Program, Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honorary, Sigma Iota Rho International Studies Honorary, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Gamma Beta Phi Service Society and Mortar Board. In addition to her extra-curricular activities, Burchianti found time to volunteer her efforts with a World Trade Center disaster fundraiser and to teach piano lessons to two mentally challenged children.

Burchianti is the daughter of Ralph and Valerie Burchianti.

Rachel L. Burns of Bridgeport feels that her most meaningful educational experience as a nursing major came when she worked as a research assistant to identify children in early adolescence who were at risk for cardiovascular disease because of body weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Not only did she test 10th graders for these risks, but she also had the opportunity to discuss with them lifestyle changes that included incorporating a healthy diet and exercise plan into their lives and to listen to their concerns.

Burns, who maintains a 3.95 grade point average, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

She is a member of the WVU track and cross country teams and a recipient of the WVU Mountaineer Scholarship. Among her many honors are Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honorary, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Athletic Directors Honor Roll and the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence. Her numerous volunteer activities include assisting patients at Meadowview Manor and Morgantown Health-Rite and tutoring students at Bridgeport Middle School.

She is the daughter of Dean and Linda Burns.

William M. Butler of Normantown says,”the single most significant academic experience I have undergone at WVU is my participation in the Universitys Honors Program,”which provided”challenging coursesfood for the growing mind of a student.”

Through the program he was introduced to his second academic love, economics, in which he will earn a bachelor’s degree, along with a bachelor’s degree in computer science in May. He carries a 3.82 grade point average.

Butler is the WVU chapter president of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, where he has logged more than 200 hours of community service. In addition to this accomplishment, Butler is a member of the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Student Advisory Board, Upsilon Pi Epsilon Computer Science Honorary and Golden Key Honor Society.

He is also a WVU Presidential Scholar and the recipient of the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Achievement.

Butler is the son of Richard and Katherine Butler.

As aforest resources management major, Karen G. Cox of Westover says her driving goal was to learn how to improve her and others’understanding of the environment. She built her goals upon the experiences she received from a self-funded cross-country trip. She adds that after seeing the splendors this country has to offer, she fell in love with West Virginia and moved to her parentshome in Florida just long enough to save money to move”home”and attend college at WVU .

Cox, who carries a 3.86 grade point average, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in forest resource management.

She is member of the Forestry Club, the WVU Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, the National Student Assembly for the Society of American Foresters, Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honorary and Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honorary. She is a volunteer for Allegheny Conservation Association and is a research fellow for the Regional Research Institute.

Cox is also the recipient of the W. Clement Percival Scholarship, the Wyant Scholarship and Vegetation Management Award.

She is the daughter of Fred and Gail Hixson.

Brooks H. Crislip of Charleston says,”The focus of my four years in college has been based on and driven by balancebalancing varsity athletics with the academic rigors of college. The most important aspect of my life is not dominance in one area, but excellence in many. I believe that my ability to achieve this balance is what defines me as a person and places me on an exceptional level that will grant me continued success with all my future endeavors.”

Crislip, who holds a 3.85 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in business administration, proves his belief in such a balance through his involvement in various activities.

A 2001 Big East All-Academic Team selection, he is a member of the WVU track and cross country teams and was a staff writer for The Daily Athenaeums Arts&Entertainment section. His many honors include Golden Key Honor Society, Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism/Mass Communication Honor Society, Mortar Board, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Presidential Award for Academic Excellence. In addition to volunteering for such causes as Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and his church, Crislip studied abroad at Richmond College in London during the summer of 2001.

He is the son of Steve and Melinda Crislip.

Jamal J. Derakhshan of Charleston says that he could not have learned more in his undergraduate years than he has at WVU . His coursework and preparation not only enabled him to conduct research in the WVU Center for Advanced Imaging in the Department of Radiology, but also allowed him to participate in a research experiment in Geneva, Switzerland, to work in one of the worlds premier scientific laboratories, CERN (the European Center for Particle Physics).

An Honors Program student, he maintains a 3.97 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physics and minors in computer science and mathematics.

Among his honors are the publication of two scientific articles and induction into Sigma Pi Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. Derakhshan is also the recipient of the Rotter Scholarship for Excellence in Physics and is an Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholar. He is a member of the Bahai Student Association, Society of Physics Students and the Iranian Student Association.

He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Iraj Derakhshan.

Bobbie L. Dumm of McMurray, Pa. , says that through her commitment to academics and extra-curricular activities, she has striven to uphold the important concepts of acquiring knowledge, helping others and fostering friendships.

Dumm will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in management information systems, and she carries a 4.0 grade point average.

Among her honors and activities are Mortar Board, Chimes, Helvetia honoraries; Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, and the Management Information Systems Association, of which she is president. Dumm served an internship with Mylan Pharmaceuticals and was a WVU resident assistant. An Honors Program student, she is the recipient of a WVU Presidential Scholarship, a Litton Industries Presidential Scholarship in 2000 and 2001, the Nailler Foundation Computer Scholarship, and Arthur and James Gabriel Award. She also was a Deloitte&Touche Summer Leadership Conference participant.

She is the daughter of Thomas and Judith Dumm.

An Honors Program student, Matthew O. Gatewood of Charleston feels that his academic experience was greatly enhanced, not only because he was able to take the courses he wanted, from ethical philosophy to a seminar in Appalachian culture, but also his honors classes were smaller in size, helping to facilitate more class discussion.

Gatewood holds a 3.95 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in business administration and history.

As associate sports editor for The Daily Athenaeum, Gatewood helps to manage a staff of writers in addition to writing several articles each week, including the weekly column,”Challenge the Guru,”which he created and runs during football season.

An Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholar and a WVU Presidential Scholar, he is the recipient of the Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maiolo Political Science Scholarship and C. Stephen Wolfe Award for the study of the American presidency. His honors included Phi Kappa Phi Honorary, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honorary, Mortar Board and Chimes.

In addition to serving on the Eberly College Student Advisory Board, Honors Program Student Activities Committee and WVU Residence Hall Judicial Board, Gatewood was a Frasure-Singleton Intern in the West Virginia Legislature and also interned with the state Treasurers Office and the law firm of Jackson&Kelly in Charleston.

He is the son of Don and Becky Gatewood.

Anna C. Gensler of Huntington says her most significant academic achievement at WVU wasnt earning As in courses such as Honors Calculus, the Philosophy of Fundamentalism or Organic Chemistry, but rather getting a B in Gross Anatomy. It isnt because she doesnt value earning an A, but because of the challenging experiences and fears she overcame by taking the Gross Anatomy course, which included a cadaver lab.

Genslers resiliency helped her to reach her goals. The Honors Program student, who maintains a 3.94 grade point average, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies, emphasizing human performance and health, and is working towards her masters degree in physical therapy, which she will receive in 2003.

In addition to serving as secretary and later president for the Lutheran Student Movement, Gensler is a national and international traveling member of the WVU African Drum and Dance Ensemble. She is a volunteer with WVU Hospitals and Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Huntington and is a tutor in the WVU Learning Centers.

Gensler also is a member of Golden Key Honor Society and Gamma Beta Phi. She has earned Certificates of Achievement for Academic Excellence from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Chemistry Department.

She is the daughter of Joel and Norma Gensler.

James E.G. Grantham of Kearneysville notes that his most significant learning experience came when he had the opportunity to study at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, England.”The opportunity to study another culture first-hand and to learn engineering techniques from a different perspective is unparalleled,”says the Honors Program student.

Grantham, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in computer and electrical engineering, carries a 3.91 grade point average.

He is the recipient of Edwin C. Jones Engineering Scholarship, Foulke Meadow River Land Engineering Scholarship and the Global Education Opportunities Grant. Among his honors are the WVU Presidential Scholar Award, Golden Key, Mortar Board, Chimes, Helvetia, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and selection to the WVU Senior Council.

While studying abroad, he was a member of the University of Hertfordshires International Students Society, Drama Society and Fencing Club. President of the WVU 4 -H Club, Grantham also assists the staff in the Office of International Programs promoting study abroad to other students by relating his personal experiences.

He is the son of James and Peggy Grantham.

WVU Presidential Scholar Roger G. Hanshaw of Valley Fork says,”The academic experiences I will take away from WVU have changed my life for the better and have given me a more focused direction for my professional career. Later this year I will leave WVU to pursue a graduate degree in organic chemistry, and I know the preparation I have received during my tenure at WVU will make me successful.”

Hanshaw, a 2001 Rhodes Scholar state finalist and Barry M. Goldwater Scholar finalist, carries a 3.9 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.

He is a member of Mountain Honorary, Phi Kappa Phi Honorary, Gamma Sigma Delta Honorary and president of the WVU Collegiate Future Farmers of America Chapter. Hanshaw is a four-time recipient of the WVU Veterinary Medicine Scholarship and received the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences Student Service and Leadership Award. He also earned an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education research grant.

He is the son of David and Marie Hanshaw.

Justin D. Harris of Cross Lanes , a WVU Presidential Scholar, says that his experiences at WVU have helped him to become a more thoughtful, considerate and respectful individual. Harris carries a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

As a resident assistant at Braxton Tower, he says he has learned to improve his leadership and communication skills while helping students deal with various problems, including roommate conflicts, classroom-related trouble and family problems.

Harris, an Honors Program student and Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholar, is the recipient of the Mary R. Laidley Memorial Scholarship, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Ebelry College Certificates of Achievement for Academic Excellence. His honors include Golden Key, Chimes, Helvetia, Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Beta Beta honoraries and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Harris also is a volunteer with Circle K Service Organization and Ruby Memorial Hospital.

He is the son of Lewis and Judy Harris.

Jeffrey S. Huff of Ridgeley , when deciding to enroll in WVU , heard his grandmothers voice echoing in his mind.”She once said to me,’Jeff, do you know how much a West Virginia University education means to the citizens of West Virginia? It is the pride and extension of West Virginias heritage,’”says Huff,”but I never really understood it until I decided to attend WVU .”

Huff carries a 3.91 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in forest resource management.

President of Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honorary, he also is a member of Golden Key Honorary, National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Mortar Board Senior Honorary, Gamma Beta Phi Society, Gamma Sigma Delta Honorary, the Society of American Foresters, WVU s Forestry Club and the Davis College Student Council.

Huff is a recipient of the Asher W. Kelly Jr. Forestry Scholarship, the Forestry Alumni Association Scholarship and Air Force Aid Society Scholarship.

He is the son of Robert Huff.

“My West Virginia University education has been a study in diversity, a complex academic program highlighted by time-consuming extra-curricular activities, all of which contributed to my scholastic development and personal maturation,”says Brandon J. Lester of Fairmont .

An Honors Program student, Lester carries a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communication and English with a political science minor.

In addition to serving as an editor and writer for The Daily Athenaeum, he reported on the 2000 election results for The Associated Press. Lester, a WVU Presidential Scholar and an Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholar, received the Lucy Hancock Communications Scholarship and was selected to the WV Undergraduate Literature Symposium.

Among his honors are the Golden Key Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary. He also is a member of the Mountaineer Marching Band, WVU Pep Band, Sigma Tau Delta, and the English Club.

He is the son of James and Rosetta Lester.

Jana L. Matish of Bridgeport feels that there are three aspects that have made her undergraduate experience valuableexceptional faculty, amazing friends and supportive WVU staff. A marketing major, Matish carries a 3.86 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in communication studies.

She studied abroad in Paderno, Italy, during the summer of 2001 and interned at Walt Disney World during the summer of 1999. Matish received a Valedictorian Scholarship, John Andrew Kasuba Marketing Award and Mousters Degree from Disney University. She is a member of Golden Key Honorary, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Chimes, Beta Gamma Sigma and the Marketing Club.

In addition to visiting patients at the Madison House and building homes for Habitat for Humanity, Matish has helped to coordinate and raise money for a scholarship fund in memory of Greg Mills, a friend who passed away last year. She is president of Chi Omega sorority, was named Outstanding Greek Woman of the Year 2000 and works as a group exercise instructor at the Student Recreation Center.

She is the daughter of Jim and Peggy Matish.

Mohsin R. Mir of Charleston says he has developed a love for science and that the challenges it brings have helped him to become an analytical thinker and problem solver, which will undoubtedly benefit him when he pursues his lifelong goalbeginning medical school at WVU in the fall.

A Governors Honors Academy Scholarship recipient and Honors Program student, Mir maintains a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

He has received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Achievement for Academic Excellence. Mirs honors include Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key National Honor Societies, Alpha Epsilon Delta National Pre-medical Honor Society, Helvetia and Chimes honoraries. He also took part during the summer of 2000 in the WVU /Charleston Area Medical Center Summer Externship Research Program.

A member of the Honors Program Student Advisory Committee, Mir has also been a volunteer for Ronald McDonald House and the WVU Childrens Hospital as well as a member of an intramural basketball team.

He is the son of Dr. Saghir and Mrs. Samina Mir.

Michael Mishra of Morgantown says that much of his self-discipline in academics has developed as a result of his study of the martial arts, including Kung Fu, Karate and Jujitsu. He also notes that he considers his most significant academic accomplishment to be his research in the molecular biology lab in the Toxicology/Molecular Biology Branch at the CDC /NIOSH of Morgantown, where he has gained a better understanding of research procedure and laboratory techniques that he will later utilize when he enrolls in medical school.

Mishra carries a 3.97 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

An Honors Program student, he is a WVU Presidential Scholar and Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholar. He received the 1999 Whitehill Award for Excellence in Inorganic Chemistry. Mishra is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key National Honor Societies and the American Chemical Society. He has been a math and science tutor and has worked as a volunteer with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center.

He is the son of Rabindra and Henrietta Mishra.

Andrea G. Peer of Fort Ashby feels that educating children is the most important of all professions because it provides them with the skills and positive influences they need to be our leaders of tomorrow. The Benedum Collaborative Model of Teacher Education, she says, has afforded her the chance to work as a tutor, be a participant and an intern giving her the hands-on experience she needs to develop confidence in her ability to serve as a role model for students.

Peer maintains a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies and a master’s degree in elementary education. She also is a Potomac State College of WVU honors graduate.

She is the recipient of the Underwood-Smith Teacher Education Scholarship, the Joseph M. Stanislawczyk Memorial Scholarship and the G. Belmont Berry Leadership Scholarship. While at Potomac State, she received the Lulu May Heskitt Scholarship.

Peer has been inducted into Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, Mortar Board and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She also is a member of the WVU Student Education Association and the WVU College of Human Resources and Education Committee for Mountaineer Week.

A member of 4-H, she is the daughter of Karen Peer.

Anne S. Perella of Morgantown began her studies at WVU as a 21-year-old, married, Army veteran with a dream of becoming a teacher. Today, she hopes to educate children about the importance of incorporating diverse views and cultures in the classroom so that they may strengthen their citizenship skills and increase their future chances of competing in a global market.

Perella, who carries a 4.0 grade point average, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies and a master’s degree in elementary education. She has had the opportunity to work with children from Mountainview Elementary, Pleasant Day Schools, West Milford Elementary and Bruceton School while pursuing her degree.”I have observed, assisted and taught in numerous classrooms throughout the area,”says Perella.”These practical applications of classroom lessons have been the most rewarding academic experiences for me.”

A member of the National Guard, she has been involved with an IBM Reinventing Education Grant and tutored language arts and math. Among Perellas honors are the Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship, which she earned each semester.

She is the wife of Lawrence J. Perella.

“Priceless is one word that accurately describes the value of my undergraduate education at West Virginia University,”says Nasira Roidad of Fairmont .”Not only have I received an outstanding education, but also I have matured as an individual because of my experiences at WVU .”

Roidad, who plans to enter the WVU School of Medicine in the fall, carries a 3.81 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

She is a member of the Honors Program, where she served as an Honors Orientation co-mentor and has been chair of the WVU Student Government Elections Committee for two years. Roidad is president of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-medical/dental/optometry honorary, and is vice-president of the South Asian Students Association.

A Presidential Scholar, Roidad also is a member of the Golden Key Honorary, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Mountain Honorary and Beta Beta Beta and was named 2001 Ms. Mountaineer.

She is the daughter of Mohammad and Jehan Roidad.

After he earns his law degree, Douglas S. Sholtis of Smithfield, Pa., hopes to open a firm with two friends he met during his undergraduate years, something he says he could not do if it werent for the connections he has made at WVU .

Sholtis, an Honors Program student, maintains a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science with a minor in geology. He is a member of the Judicial Board of the Student Board of Governors, the WVU Young Democrats and the Eberly College of Arts&Sciences Undergraduate Board of Advisors.

A Truman Scholar nominee and Eberly Scholar, Sholtis has received the Mountaineer Scholarship; Eberly Family Arts and Sciences Scholarship; Conn Scholarship for Fayette County (Pa.) Scholars; McKay-Coast History Scholarship; University Chapter, Alumni Association Scholarship; Eberly College Certificate of Achievement for Academic Excellence; and Army ROTC American Legion Academic Achievement Award.

His honors include Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Pi Sigma Sigma, Gamma Beta Phi, Mortar Board, Chimes and Helvetia. He is a founding member and treasurer of the German Club and a founding member and secretary of Alpha Theta Pi Biochemistry Honorary. Sholtis also interned at the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2000.

He is the son of Mike and Elaine Sholtis.

Stacey N. Shreve of Fairmont says,”I remember myself as an eight-year-old girl, adorned in blue and gold, watching the WVU football team play for the national title. I recall shouting �€~Lets Go Mountaineers!with the rest of my family. Even at that age, I was sure that I would attend West Virginia University and someday chant those same words from the student section overlooking Mountaineer field.”

An Honors Program student, Shreve carries a 3.95 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

A Presidential Scholar and Eberly College of Arts&Sciences Scholar, Shreve has received the Presidents Student Service Gold Award and the Eberly College Certificate of Achievement for Academic Excellence.

Her honors include Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Beta Beta Beta, Gamma Beta Phi, Mortar Board, Chimes and Helvetia. In addition to volunteering for the WVU Childrens Hospital, Morgantown Unity Manor and Morgantown Health-Rite, Shreve serves on the Student Health Advisory Board.

She is the daughter of David Shreve and Susan Savage.

The 2001 WVU volleyball team captain, Krista M. Smith of Auburn, Mich., says that in her four years as a student-athlete, she has learned to balance school with her numerous other extra-curricular activities, honorary societies and service organizations.

Smith, who carries a 4.0 grade point average, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in English.

An Honors Program student, she has earned numerous academic and athletic accolades. They include Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Beta Beta Beta, Gamma Beta Phi, Mortar Board, Chimes, Helvetia, Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship, and Eberly College of Arts&Sciences Certificate of Achievement for Academic Excellence.

As a scholar-athlete, she earned honors as Verison CoSIDA 2001 Academic All-American Volleyball Third Team and 2001, 2000 District II Academic All-American Volleyball First Team; 2001, 2000 1999 Big East All-Academic Volleyball Team; 2000-01 Big East Aeropostale WVU Female Scholar-Athlete Scholarship; 2001 WVU Volleyball Invitational-All Tournament Team; Athletic Directors 4.0 Honor Roll 1998-2001; and WVU Volleyball Scholarship. Smith also has volunteered with WVU Childrens Hospital, the Morgantown Unity Manor and Morgantown Health-Rite.

She is the daughter of Thomas and Ann Smith.

Heather J. Starkey of Bridgeport says she always wanted to follow in her mothers footsteps and become a physical therapist. And since her mother attended WVU , so would she.”I feel as though this university has allowed me to reach my potential while fueling within me a desire to strive for more. WVU has played a vital role in my success by fostering an environment in and out of the classroom that has both challenged me and made me feel comfortable with the notion of becoming involved around campus.”

Starkey, who will earn a master’s degree in physical therapy in August 2003, maintains a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies.

She has received a WVU Mountaineer Scholarship, Evelyn Cole Memorial Scholarship, Warren Betty Scholarship, United Hospital Center Volunteer Scholarship, and seven Presidential Awards for Excellence in Scholarship. Starkey is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society and Chimes.

A four-year member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, she has been a tutor in physics, chemistry and statistics, and physical therapy volunteer at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Mountainview Rehab, United Hospital Center, and Affiliated Physical Therapy.

She is the daughter of Al and Judy Starkey.

Presidential Scholar Kelly N. Walker of Charleston says,”I feel confident to take my degree from WVU to any other institution in the world and present my diploma with pride.”She notes that her shift from classroom to”real-world”settings while a student has further fueled her excitement for working with children and has intensified her desire to help them cope.

Walker, who plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, has devoted much of her undergraduate career to psychological research involving patient provider communication to newly diagnosed patients in a pediatric asthma setting. The Honors Program student carries a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

A Presidential Scholar, she has been named the Golden Key Ford Motor Company Outstanding Senior and an Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Scholar. Other honors include Golden Key National Honorary, Phi Kappa Phi, National Residence Hall, Chimes and Helvetia honoraries, and the Eberly College Certificate of Achievement for Academic Excellence.

A member of The Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band, Walker has also found time to become involved in the Society of Pediatric Psychology, the Residence Hall Association and Kaleidescope, an after-school program for children in the community.

She is the daughter of Arnold and Cheryl Walker.