Gold and blue have been in Brady Campbell’s blood since he was a kid.

Both of his parents are West Virginia University graduates, which makes it even sweeter that he’ll be donning the coonskin cap and buckskins as WVU ’s new Mountaineer mascot for 2006.

The junior from Charleston was named during Monday’s (Feb. 27) WVU -Pitt men’s basketball game at the WVU Coliseum.

A wood science and technology major in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, Campbell is a member of the WVU Cycling Club, Mountaineer Maniacs, WVU Colleges Against Cancer, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and St. John University Parish.

Also active in community service, he has worked on the Snowshoe Mountain Volunteer Courtesy Patrol, served as a counselor at Camp Hope in Logan County and volunteered with Special Olympics. Last year, he was named to the WVU Dean’s List.

Born and raised in the Mountain State , Campbell has attended Mountaineer football games since he was 5.

WVU pride runs deep in his family. Many of his relatives are big Mountaineer fans.

As the new Mountaineer, Campbell will not only lead fans in cheers but serve as an ambassador to the University and the state of West Virginia .

In addition to representing the state and school, I would also be representing my hometown of Charleston and my major, wood science,he wrote in his application.My involvement with this program and my continual advocacy of the excellent classes and capable professors would raise awareness at the school, in the state and around the country.

He added,Timbering represents one of the major industries in this state and highlights a resource that has, throughout the country’s history, made this region and state great.

A graduate of George Washington High School , Campbell takes the reins from Derek Fincham, who served as Mountaineer for the last two years.

Nineteen students originally applied for the position. A selection committeeconsisting of students, faculty and staffnarrowed the list to four finalists based on applications, essays and interviews.

The finalists then competed in acheer-offat the Feb. 25 men’s basketball game against Louisville , firing up the crowd with traditional cheers and chants.

Andrew Donato, a sophomore secondary education/social studies major from Fairmont , was chosen as the mascot alternate.

The duties of the new Mountaineer officially begin at the annual Gold-Blue Game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Milan Puskar Stadium, home of Mountaineer Field.