Not one, but four West Virginia University students will don the buckskins and play the part of the Mountaineer Saturday (Feb. 17) during the 4 p.m. WVU -Seton Hall mens basketball game. They are vying to be the next mascot, one of the most beloved of all West Virginia athletic traditions

A cheer-off competition will take place during the first half, with the announcement of the 2007-08 mascot late in the second half.

The Mountaineer hopefuls are current mascot Brady Campbell , a senior wood science and technology major from Charleston; Kyle Chapman , a sophomore chemical engineering major from Lost Creek; current mascot alternate Andrew Donato , a junior secondary education/social studies major from Fairmont; and Paul Gunnoe , a sophomore journalism major from South Charleston.

In addition to being the WVU mascot, Campbell is involved with the Mountaineer Maniacs, WVU Cycling Club, Colleges Against Cancer, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and St. John University Parish.

His community service activities have included the Snowshoe Mountain Volunteer Courtesy Patrol, Camp Hope and Special Olympics.

If selected for a second term, he plans to continue cheering on WVU athletic teams as much as possible and sharing the Universitys achievements and goals with fans, alumni and students.

As the Mountaineer mascot, I would not only be representing WVU , but the entire state of West Virginia,he said.I would be the icon of the school, the man in charge of the cheers and the individual who carries the pride of the school and its supporters on his shoulders.

Chapman has been active in Young Life, WVU Collegiate 4-H Club, Baptist Campus Ministries, Mountaineer Maniacs, WVU Honors College, National Society for Collegiate Scholars, Habitat for Humanity and American Institute for Chemical Engineers.

During the fall semester, he served as a volunteer assistant coach for the East Fairmont High School varsity football team. He also volunteers at Quiz Bowl meets at Bridgeport High School.

He traveled to Haiti three times on mission trips, organized a beautification project in his hometown and helped his church renovate a home for a needy family in Stonewood.

While education is his top priority, Chapman describes himself as a well-rounded student who enjoys participating in campus groups, having fun and supporting Mountaineer athletics.

I am convinced the Mountaineer is more than a mascot, but rather a real leader and representative of WVU off as well as on the field,he said.In a game situation, I would expel every ounce of my energy necessary to get the crowd pumped up and involved.

Besides being the mascot alternate, Donatos activities include the Mountaineer Maniacs, Italian American Organization, intramural basketball, Student Education Association and Educational Student Government Association.

Since he was 9, he has been involved in the Marion County 4-H program. He has held every office at the club level, from song leader to president, and taken part in numerous community service activities, including Rails to Trails, the Buckwheat Festival and Run-to-Read.

If given the opportunity to be the next mascot, he says he would embrace what it means to be a West Virginian and a student at the states largest university.

I have been a fan of WVU athletics my entire life and have very fond memories of cheering on the gold and blue,Donato said.To become the Mountaineer would be a dream come true.

Gunnoe currently volunteers as The Moose, the mascot for WVU s campus radio station, U92 . He has been a member of the stations sports staff since fall 2005 and has been training on board operations and color announcing for WVU womens basketball, hockey and baseball.

In addition, he is involved in Mountaineer Maniacs, and he participated in intramural flag football and dodgeball during the 2005-06 school year.

Gunnoes community service ranges from summer mission tripsto South Carolina, Michigan and New Mexicoto volunteer work at the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association during the summer.

He believes he should be the next Mountaineer mascot because he is outgoing and passionate about all things West Virginia.

I feel that I would bring a great energy to the position and showcase the state and the University in a way that no one else could,Gunnoe said.The Mountaineer is my calling and a position I hold in the highest regard. Its a full-time job with benefits that will last a lifetime.

To be considered for the mascot, candidates had to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 and be enrolled as full-time undergraduate or graduate students on the WVU Morgantown campus.

The Mountaineer mascot is someone who has a lot of school spirit and is active in campus and community events, said Jenny Margolin, Mountaineer Selection Committee chair. Finalists will be judged on their performance and interaction with the crowd during Saturdays game.

The selection committee is made up of two co-chairs and nine membersfive current Mountain Honorary students, two athletic officials and two faculty/staff members. The co-chairs come from the ranks of Mountain, WVU s prestigious service organization for student leaders.

The duties of the new Mountaineer officially begin at the spring Gold-Blue Game at Milan Puskar Stadium.