Clarksburg Native Sydney Vilain Among Outstanding Students in West Virginia Wesleyan Graduating Class
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 16, 2026
BUCKHANNON — Clarksburg native and Liberty alum Sydney Vilain was recently selected as one of six Outstanding Seniors at West Virginia Wesleyan's annual Academic and Leadership Awards ceremony.
Nominated by faculty and staff, the Outstanding Seniors were chosen based on academic performance with a 3.8 grade point average or above and significant leadership in a variety of academic and co-curricular activities.
These seniors best exemplify the high ideals of student involvement and contribution to campus life and have shown an uncommon commitment to academic excellence, participation in campus life and service to the College.
Vilain is a biology/pre-med major and participant in the Honors Program.
During her time at WVWC, Villain has been a Service Scholar, a member and later co-captain of the women’s soccer team.
Throughout her time at Wesleyan, Vilain has demonstrated strong leadership and involvement across campus.
She has served as the Female Student-Athlete Representative for the WVWC Gender Equity Committee and as the Women’s Soccer Representative for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
In addition, she has worked as a Resident Assistant for Campus Life, contributed to the Food Committee and held leadership roles as Secretary of the TriBeta Biological Honors Society and Treasurer of the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.
She plans to enroll in a Physician Assistant program.
Other honorees:
Wyatt Burns ‘26, of Horner, West Virginia, is a chemistry and biology major who entered WVWC through the Go D.O. Program and has completed coursework in just three years.
During his time at WVWC, Burns has been a Service Scholar, member of the Benzene Ring and Theta Chi Fraternity.
He served as a FYEX leader for two years and held the role of Student Senate Alumni and Community Relations Chair for two terms.
Burns led Theta Chi as both president and scholarship chair and was selected as this year’s Greek Man of the Year.
While maintaining an outstanding GPA, Burns has contributed to the betterment of the Wesleyan community in numerous ways.
He will attend the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in the fall.
Haden Fincham ‘26 is a biology major from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, who will attend Cornell University to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology.
Fincham has been an active member of Bobcat Entertainment for four years where many may recognize him as the unforgettable emcee of The Price is Right, contributed to the WE Lead High Tunnel team helping grow food for the Parish House and the College cafeteria.
Other involvement included serving on the landscape committee, leading PRISM as president, holding the role of TriBeta secretary, participating on the gender issues committee and being a Service Scholar.
Fincham spent two summers working with the College’s tick team and also studied abroad for a semester in Valencia, Spain.
During Kristen Hicks' time at West Virginia Wesleyan College, she began as a member of the softball team and a Wesleyan Service Scholar volunteering at Union Elementary School and in the Buckhannon Community and as a member of Alpha Lamda Delta Honor Society.
An education major from Parsons, West Virginia, Hicks expanded her involved and leadership across campus where she served as a site leader at Union Elementary before transitioning to Appalachian Impact, a WeLEAD team supporting an after-school program, while completing her student teaching at Tennerton Elementary School.
As a member of Alpha Delta Pi, she has served as Chaplain and later as Vice President of Operations, representing her chapter and institution at ADPi Academy, and was ultimately honored as Greek Woman of the Year.
Her campus leadership also includes working as a Resident Assistant in Holloway Hall.
Additionally, she served as a math tutor and a tutor for the Education Department, as well as completing an internship in a fourth-grade classroom.
This senior plans to gain her first teaching position in West Virginia, where she hopes to foster a learning community where all students feel safe enough to be curious and passionate learners.
Kiran Nandigama ‘26, of Salt Point, New York, is a Chemistry and Biology major who has been highly involved across campus, demonstrating leadership, service, and academic excellence.
Nandigama is a member of the Benzene Ring, having served as treasurer, and is the outgoing president of the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.
Other campus leadership includes serving as Treasurer of Student Senate, Secretary of the International Student Organization, and a member of the Food Committee.
As a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, Nandigama served as Treasurer and Philanthropy Chair, and has also been an active participant in the WE LEAD Invisible Illness team, a walk-in chemistry tutor, and a lab assistant in the Chemistry Department, assisting with teaching and lab preparation.
Additionally, Nandigama is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and an associate member of the TriBeta Biological Honors Society.
Julia McCoy ‘26, from Ravenswood, West Virginia, isa nursing major who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to leadership, service, and professional development throughout her time at Wesleyan.
McCoy began serving in Student Senate as a Member at Large, later advancing to Secretary and Vice President, where she earned the Daniel Crockett Award and led initiatives such as the Pediatric Care Package project.
She also served as junior class vice president and as the Nursing Class of 2026 Student Representative.
Within Alpha Delta Pi, McCoy held several leadership roles, including Director of Philanthropy, Director of Finance, Director of Facility Management and Director of Panhellenic Relations.
Through these positions, she led impactful service initiatives such as organizing meals at Ronald McDonald Houses, coordinating “Roses for Ronald,” hosting “Cookie Grams,” and planning an ADPi 5K.
McCoy has worked in the alumni/advancement office and in the biology department as a lab assistant, been a member of the We Lead Youth Security Team, tutored in the nursing program and earned recognition as the Nursing Student of the Year.
She was also inducted into both Omicron Delta Kappa and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Editor's Note: Photo of honorees: Left to right, Wyatt Burns, Haden Fincham, Sydney Vilain, Kristen Hicks, Kiran Nandigama, Julia McCoy and President James Moore.
