Eberly News

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.

A West Virginia University psychology professor has been honored for her exceptional teaching of writing during the University’s annual awards season.

Julie Hicks Patrick is the 2024-2025 recipient of the Caperton Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Writing. Established in 2007, the award was made possible by the generosity of former West Virginia Governor and College Board president Gaston Caperton. Caperton’s intent was to “increase awareness of the need for improved writing skills,” identifying writing as a critical issue necessary to maintaining America’s competitive edge in the global market. 

Recognized as champions for justice, civil rights and world peace, four West Virginia University undergraduate students are the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship. Selected by the Center for Black Culture based on an essay and letters of recommendation, Tysa James, Janelle LaBarbera, Cheyenne Torres and Gabrielle Williams were honored at the annual MLK Unity Breakfast on Jan. 18 in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.

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.

Providing support to West Virginia University student parents working toward graduation is Student Family Resources, a unit within Student Life dedicated to helping students with families achieve their higher education goals.

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.

Taylor Brown is studying for a doctoral degree in lifespan developmental psychology. Riley Klug, majored in anthropology while also completing programs in art history, Native American Studies and political science. Hannah Lamb is a graduate student in the WVU Master of Social Work program. Clara Monson is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in English at WVU with the goal of becoming an English professor.

Applications are now being accepted for a new West Virginia University microcredential designed to boost support for Mountain State educators and their students via an innovative teaching method pioneered by late WVU alumna Vicci Tucci.

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.

Mariya Cherkasova, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, will spend the next two years reverse engineering certain structural characteristics of slot machines to find out what makes them an immersive product. Her research is supported by the International Center for Responsible Gaming.