Johnson Elementary’s fifth graders traveled to Morgantown Wednesday to show their Mountaineer pride and to learn more about what it means to be a student at WVU.  Counselor Julie Fulks organized the annual trip in an effort to give students a glimpse into college life. 

 

It’s never too early to introduce the idea of continuing education and with over 35,000 students on campuses across the state, WVU knows how to do it right.  “The university hosts guided tours to showcase the successes of its students and to celebrate its rich heritage in academics, culture and sports,” tour director Tiphani Guldner.

 

The first stop for the fifth graders was the Coliseum, home to the WVU Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Gymnastics, Wrestling, and Volleyball teams.  The group toured the Robinson/Petroplus Basketball Hall of Traditions and learned about the history of WVU sports and its superstars.  After that, students arrived at the Engineering Sciences Building.  With the academic focus on STEM careers right now, they enjoyed a presentation about careers in engineering.

 

The next stop included a tour of the state-of-the-art Student Recreation Center.  With a climbing wall, indoor pool, elevated track and weight training equipment, the students got a glimpse into the recreational side of college. Guides then took them to the residential side, where they got to see a model dorm room and imagine what life would be like in 2022 when they might be living there.

 

One of the highlights of the trip was riding the PRT, the transportation system that gets students all around town.  The fifth graders got to ride the full loop and view both the downtown and Evansdale campuses.  During lunch at the Mountainlair, students were treated to an appearance by WVU Mountaineer Mascot  Michael Garcia.  Wearing the traditional buckskins and carrying his famous musket, Garcia told the students all about his life as the Mountaineer.  His Mountaineer pride allows him to make over 300 appearances around the country this year and he hopes to inspire the students to strive for success in all they do.

 

 The final stop on the tour was the new Visitor’s Resource Center, which is designed to welcome future Mountaineers.  The guide introduced them to the people, programs, and places that make WVU so special and they viewed a video of the history of the university.  Although most have grown up with exposure to the Gold and Blue tradition, students loved the behind-the-scenes aspect of the trip.  In another eight years, there just might be some familiar faces on campus, all because of this trip.