West Virginia University is closer to naming the 2013 Mr. and Ms. Mountaineers, as the finalists for the prestigious honor have been announced.
The award recognizes students’ exemplary academic achievement and extracurricular involvement. All applicants must be eligible for graduation by May 2013 to be considered.
Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer are part of Mountaineer Week, which takes place from Nov. 1-10.
After an interview in front of the Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer voting committee, one male and female finalist will be named Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer at the Nov. 9 WVU football game vs. Texas at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Mr. Mountaineer finalists are: Paul Garton, Jane Lew; Josh Harrison, Morgantown; John Higgins, Philippi; Alec James, New Manchester; Steve Staffileno, Commerce Township, Mich.; and Joey West, Wheeling.
Ms. Mountaineer finalists are: Sharrell Barnes, Williamson; Brittany Fink, Charleston; Jenna Hardy, Uniontown, Pa.; Lakyn Hose from Martinsburg; Rachel James, Crawford; and Daryn Vucelik, Glen Dale.
Mr. Mountaineer
Paul Garton is a senior philosophy and international studies double major. He is a member of the Collegiate 4-H Club. In addition, he is a part of the Pride of West Virginia, the Mountaineer Marching Band, and the WVU Pep Band. As a Foundation Scholar, Garton has also been named to the Smith-Lever Centennial Committee. Garton is sponsored by the Collegiate 4-H Club. He will be escorted by Rock and Dorothy Garton.
Josh Harrison is a senior forensic and investigative science major. He is the president of WVU Young Democrats and the elections chair of Student Government Association. In addition, he organized the WVU Homecoming Parade for the last two years. He’s an Eberly College of Arts and Sciences STEM Scholar and a John A. Malcolm Scholarship recipient. Harrison is sponsored by WVU Young Democrats. He will be escorted by Joel and Kim Harrison.
John Higgins is a master’s student in sport management. He serves as the graduate advising assistant for the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. In addition, he is a former rank leader and assistant section leader of the Pride of West Virginia, the WVU Marching Band, a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha political science honorary and a Frasure-Singleton Intern at the West Virginia State Legislature. Higgins is sponsored by Kappa Kappa Psi. He will be escorted by Bob and Susie Higgins.
Alec James is a senior exercise physiology major. He is the president of WVU’s Collegiate 4-H Club and the Evansdale chairman in the Resident Assistant Council. Also, he’s a camping instructor of WVU Extension, a member of the Exercise Physiology Club and a Coca-Cola Scholar. James is sponsored by the Collegiate 4-H Club. He will be escorted by Ron and Susan James.
Steve Staffileno is a dual master’s student in business administration and sport management. He has been a chair of the Mountaineer Mascot Selection Committee for the last two years. He was the executive director of the Mountaineer Maniacs in 2011-12 and helped develop a T-shirt amnesty program to eliminate profane clothing from campus. In addition, he is an adviser to Student Government Association and a professor of the First-Year Experience class. Staffileno is sponsored by Mountain Honorary. He will be escorted by Joe and Karen Staffileno.
Joey West is a senior aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering major. He performed an engineering experiment in reduced gravity environments as part of the NASA Microgravity Research Team and served as aerodynamics team lead for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Student Design/Build/Fly Team. He’s a volunteer at the Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources and member of Intramural Soccer Team. West is sponsored by Mountain Honorary. He will be escorted by Joe and Kim West.
Ms. Mountaineer
Sharrell Barnes is a senior speech pathology and audiology major. She is a McNair Scholar and the president of the Paul Robeson-Mahalia Jackson Gospel Choir. In addition, she’s a campus tour guide, and a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and Sigma Iota Rho, the international studies honor society. Barnes is sponsored by the Paul Robeson-Mahalia Jackson Gospel Choir. She will be escorted by her mother Nancy Barnes and brother Michael Barnes.
Brittany Fink is a doctoral law student. She is the associate editor and alumni and executive assistant to the West Virginia Law Review. In addition, she’s a member of the Varsity Track Team, a Foundation Scholar and a student member of the Student Conduct Board. Fink is sponsored by the Office of Student Life. She will be escorted by Ralph and Theresa Fink.
Jenna Hardy is a graduate student in public health, health policy, management and leadership. She was the recipient of the Ken Gray Leadership award in 2011 and has been the vice president of social events for the Student Association of Public Health for the last two years. Since 2012, she has been an ambassador at the School of Public Health. She has co-chaired Mountaineer Week since 2010 and has been involved with Adventure WV since 2009. She is sponsored by Adventure WV and the Student Association of Public Health. She will be escorted by George and Rosemary Hardy.
Lakyn Hose is a senior international studies and Chinese double major. She received the Golden Key International Honors Society Undergraduate Achievement Award for the last two years. In addition, she’s been in a leadership position for two years in the WVU Model United Nations Club. She’s the president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and co-fundraising chair of Mortar Board Senior Honorary. Hose is sponsored by the Model UN Club. She will be escorted by Steve and Shannon Hose.
Rachel James is a senior civil engineering major. She is WVU’s 36th Goldwater Scholar, a recipient of the Samuel Fletcher Tapman American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter National Scholarship and the MASWE National Society of Woman Engineers Scholarship. She’s the professional development chair of WVU’s Society of Women Engineers. James is sponsored by the WVU Student Chapter of ASCE. She will be escorted by family friends Richard and Carol Jones.
Daryn Vucelik is a senior public relations major. She is the committee chair of Mountaineer Week and the lead intern at WVUp All Night. In addition, she is the communications manager of the Student Health Advisory Board and a member of Mortar Board Senior Honorary. Vucelik is sponsored by WVUp All Night. She will be escorted by her mother Rhonda Wade and sister Morgan Vucelik.
-WVU-
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