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West Virginia University's undergraduate elementary education program has received an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality for its preparation of future teachers in evidence-based reading instruction — the highest grade available in NCTQ's 2026 Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation, released June 9.

The report places WVU among a select group of programs recognized nationwide for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.

The National Writing Project at West Virginia University will host the Teachers’ Day of Poetry on Thursday, July 23, in the Cathedral Room inside the Mountainlair.

The event will be facilitated by Marc Harshman, West Virginia Poet Laureate, and includes an Ekphrastic Writing Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a Poetry for Your Students (and for You) session from 1-3 p.m. 

The Center for ActiveWV awarded $10,000 Be ActiveWV Grants to three Mercer County schools for their work on the Healthy Schools in Action Project. Oakvale Elementary, Mountain Valley Elementary, and Montcalm High School each received funding, which will go toward new "Mountaineer Mile" walking trails, giving students more opportunities to stay active throughout the school day. 

Like a lot of kids growing up, Gabriel Ray loved sports. He played basketball and track at Parkersburg High and loved competing in something that matters.

Also, like a lot of kids, he played video games growing up. It was more of a hobby and in between the spaces of the other activities, but it was still part of his life.

The College of Applied Human Sciences recognized eight faculty and staff members for their outstanding contributions during the 2025-26 academic year at the college-wide assembly held on Thursday, May 14.

Long before he became known to wrestling fans around the world as Demolition Ax, Bill Eadie was a student-athlete at West Virginia University — a standout track and field competitor who built his future on grit, curiosity and a willingness to chase the “what if.” The chase led Eadie, a 1968 WVU graduate in physical education, to legendary pro wrestling status April 17 when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

West Virginia University has launched an online Bachelor of Arts in Esports Business and Entertainment through the College of Applied Human Sciences, expanding access to a career-focused program in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global entertainment industry.

The fully online program is housed in the School of Sport Sciences and covers event management, governance, marketing, communications, and business development, with coursework that also reflects broader shifts in the digital sports landscape, including sports gambling and fantasy sports. Courses are designed to keep pace with an industry that evolves rapidly, incorporating current events and emerging trends alongside foundational skills.

The College of Applied Human Sciences will celebrate commencement on Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. at the WVU Hope Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the college who will earn their degrees this spring.

Madison Zink served in the U.S. Navy before trading her uniform for a student teacher's classroom, earning a degree in Elementary Education and plans to continue into a master's in Literacy Education. Jordyn Lovett completed her degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology in three years and heads to the University of Illinois-Chicago to pursue a master's and her certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

Paige Grove came to WVU partly because of how welcoming the campus felt on visits, and partly because her mother is an alumna. She found her direction in Youth and Family Sciences, with a focus on child life, a healthcare specialty centered on supporting children and families through serious medical experiences. Hands-on time at WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital put that training into practice and pointed her toward a master's degree in child life at the University of Georgia this fall.

Ethan Waugh grew up in Morgantown, which made choosing WVU easy. What took more thought, though, was figuring out how to turn his passion for esports into a career. The Sport Leadership program gave him that framework, and he further molded his path with minors in Esports Management and Strategic Social Media. While completing his degree fully online, Waugh worked full-time at a sports complex and competed on the WVU Esports team, making multiple NACE playoff runs along the way. He graduates this spring with his sights set on a full-time role in esports operations.

Noah Miller grew up surrounded by the gold and blue. His father has worked for WVU Medicine since before Miller was born, so choosing WVU felt less like a decision and more like a given. What wasn't predetermined was his path once he arrived. Miller started in exercise physiology before finding his footing in physical education, ultimately earning both a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology and a master's in Physical Education Teacher Education. Along the way, he logged more than 1,000 hours of hands-on teaching experience and was named the SHAPE America Major of the Year.

As part of West Virginia University’s May 2026 Commencement celebration, Emma Halstead, an elementary education major from the College of Applied Human Sciences, shares a thank you note to one of the faculty members who had a significant impact on her: Johnna Bolyard.

The College of Applied Human Sciences recognized outstanding students from across its two academic schools during its annual Student Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 24, at the Mountainlair on the WVU campus.

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West Virginia University's varsity esports program wrapped up its best NACE Grand Finals performance to date last weekend, with all three teams finishing in the top three nationally at the Spring 2026 championships held at Full Sail University in Orlando, FL.

The Valorant team, seeded fourth entering the postseason, reached the national championship match for the first time in program history, falling to Maryville in the final to finish runner-up. The Rocket League team, the top seed nationally, earned third place after falling to Ball State in the semifinals. The Call of Duty team turned in perhaps the most improbable run of the weekend, entering the postseason as the No. 11 seed and battling through the lower bracket before falling to Cumberland, 3-0, in the lower bracket final to finish third.

As part of West Virginia University’s May 2026 Commencement celebration, Joseph Magazzolo, a sport management major from the College of Applied Human Sciences, shares a thank you note to someone who had a significant impact on him: his best friend.