Eberly News

Students honored as 2025 Outstanding Seniors, Outstanding GTAs and Eberly Scholars
Every year, students from across Eberly College are selected as Outstanding Seniors and Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants. Eberly Scholars are also chosen annually for a monetary award to help offset the cost of their education as they work to achieve their academic goals. Read about all three groups below.

Seven Eberly faculty members recognized for excellence in teaching, research and service
Each year, Eberly College honors faculty members with its Outstanding Teacher Awards, Outstanding Researcher Awards and the Award for Outstanding Outreach or Public Service. Recipients in each category receive a stipend to help further their research, teaching and service efforts.
Top WVU seniors named, 8 honored with 2025 Order of Augusta
Eight remarkable members of the West Virginia University Class of 2025 who have distinguished themselves through academic excellence and by making significant contributions on campus, across the Mountain State and beyond have been honored with the Order of Augusta, the most prestigious University student award.
Pair of WVU researchers selected as NSF Graduate Research Fellows
Two West Virginia University researchers have joined an elite group after being awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a program that supports graduate education in STEM-based fields.

Giving back: WVU Eberly College students volunteer with help from private scholarship support
Audrianna Shifflett, from Craigsville, is a freshman majoring in neuroscience and psychology in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, and a recipient of the Andrew S. Good scholarship.

5 students named WVU Mountaineers of Distinction
West Virginia University has recognized five outstanding seniors as the 2024 Mountaineers of Distinction, celebrating their academic achievements and dedication to volunteerism. These students, selected from over 70 nominees, include Haley Bockius, Laasya Chennuru, Mary G. Roush, Christopher J. Smith, and Dakota Swiger. Their contributions to service, leadership, and research, alongside their exemplary academic performance, earned them recognition during the WVU vs. Baylor football game. The Mountaineers of Distinction honor highlights students making significant impacts both on campus and within the community.

WVU biologist to study genes laying framework for whole body regeneration
A West Virginia University biologist is studying why some animals can regenerate while others cannot and has identified the genes that play a role in the process.
Christopher Arnold, assistant professor of biology at the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, will explore how genes establishing animal body plans — the structure of organs and tissues — also set the stage for regenerative abilities.
His research could provide insight into human development and disease, leading to enhanced understanding of factors underlying tissue regeneration and inspiring novel approaches to improving human health.

Money trees: WVU researchers looking at local benefits from climate change fighting ability in Appalachian forests
Researchers at West Virginia University are working to ensure small landowners and local communities, instead of large corporations, profit from the ability of Central Appalachian forests to remove greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

New research unlocks the genomic mysteries of Parasitic Orchids using historical collections
Natural history collections provide irreplaceable resources in many arenas, both scientific and societal. These collections, including the WVU Herbarium, provide information on biodiversity, ecosystems, species distributions, climate change, and most recently, genomes.