WVU’s top seniors named, eight honored with 2022 Order of Augusta

Order of Augusta recipients from left to right: Ashley Eby, Colson Glover, Benjamin Harman, Savannah Hays (Statler College/Chemical and Biomedical Engineering), Myya Helm, Emma Locarnini, Lillian Rhinehart, and Allie Satterfield.

A Black Appalachian first-generation college student graduating with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average, a two-term Mountaineer Mascot passionate about finding novel therapies for mental health disorders and a young entrepreneur who has worked to empower small farmers in West Virginia are among the accomplished student leaders who have been honored with West Virginia University’s most prestigious student award, the Order of Augusta.

Story by Olivia Miller, Communications Specialist
Photos by Olivia Miller, Communications Specialist

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

These eight students have distinguished themselves not only by their outstanding academic performance, but also their steadfast dedication to research, efforts to narrow the achievement gap for underrepresented students in their home state and to advance social justice in their communities and beyond.

“WVU’s Order of August and Outstanding Senior awards honor the University’s most talented graduating seniors,” said  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed. “Each of these students is exemplary in their own right – through their academic excellence, leadership and service. They will undoubtedly be forces for positive change in their local communities and the world." 

All of the 2022 Order of Augusta scholars are members of the  WVU Honors College.

“The students chosen for the Order of Augusta and as WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors are truly exceptional and embody the Mountaineer spirit, bringing our Mountaineer values to life,”  Dean of Students Corey Farris said. 

“As the top 1% of their graduating class, their academic achievements, leadership and service to the WVU community and beyond is unparalleled. Having successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, they have perseverance and resiliency. We look forward to their future successes, knowing they will represent West Virginia University well no matter where their path leads them.” 

The honorees, who are among 52 students named  WVU Foundation’s Outstanding Seniors, will be recognized at a drop-in event Friday, May 13, from 12:30–4:30 p.m. in the Betty Boyd Lounge of Elizabeth Moore Hall.

Ashley Eby from Wellsburg will graduate with degrees in  chemistry and  psychology. She has served as a  Presidential Student Ambassador, the chief medical officer for the  Global Medical and Dental Brigades and president of Chi Omega.

Read more about Eby.

Colson Glover from Lewisburg will graduate with a degree in  neuroscience. He has served as an orientation leader for the  WVU Honors College, a tutor for student-athletes and the  Department of Biology and a member of the  Pre-Med Club.

Read more about Glover.

Benjamin Harman from Weston will graduate with a degree in  global supply chain management and a minor in  marketing. He has served as a mentor for the  WVU Honors College, student ambassador for the  Chambers College of Business and Economic and is a member of  Phi Beta Lambda.

Read more about Harman.

Savannah Hays from Mineral Wells will graduate with a degree in  biomedical engineering. She has served as a teaching assistant for the  Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, a STEM tutor for the  TestWELL Learning Center and the vice president of the  WVU Society of Women Engineers.

Read more about Hays.

Myya Helm from West Union will graduate with degrees in  political science and  international studies and a minor in  Arabic studies. She has served as the vice president of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People, a mentor for  M-Power program and has held several leadership positions in the  Student Government Association.

Read more about Helm.

Emma Locarnini from Charles Town will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in  music performance and  biomedical laboratory diagnostics. She has served as a clarinet player in  WVU Chamber Winds, the president of Mu Tau and a tutor for the  School of Music.

Read more about Locarnini.

Lillian Rhinehart from Elkins  will graduate with a degree in  environmental, soil and water sciences with an emphasis in assessment and reclamation and a minor in  geology. She has served as a  WVU Peer Advocate for the  Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a student ambassador for the  LGBTQ+ Center and a mentor for the  WVU Honors College.

Read more about Rhinehart.

Allie Satterfield from Morgantown will graduate with a degree  global supply chain management and minors in  Spanish and  political science. She has served as a  Presidential Student Ambassador, senior vice president of Delta Sigma Pi and a member of the Supply Chain Management Association and  Camp Kesem at WVU.

The remaining 44 WVU Outstanding Seniors are:

• Sydney Allman; Parkersburg
• Cassie Bambrick; Aston, Pennsylvania
• Lauren Barbee; Concord, North Carolina (Honors College)
• Adam Burns; North Canton, Ohio (Honors College, Statler College/IMSE/MAE)
• Victoria Dean; Morgantown (Honors College, Statler College/CBE)
• Ashley Dibling; Perrysburg, Ohio (Statler College, MAE)
• Nicole Dibling; Perrysburg, Ohio (Honors College, Statler College, MAE)
• Kevin Donnelly; Morgantown (Honors College, Statler College, CBE)
• Hailey Durner; Nazareth, Pennsylvania
• Grant DuVall ; Bridgeport (Honors College)
• Rebecca Erwin; Wheeling (Honors College, CBE)
• Morgan Glass; Wheeling (Honors College)
• Olga Hawranick; Fairmont (Honors College)
• Brianna Hege; Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
• Derek Hockenberry; Coplay, Pennsylvania (Honors College, LCSEE)
• Alexandra Holsclaw; Charleston (Honors College)
• Kareem Ibrahim-Bacha; Charleston (Honors College)
• Sarah Ihlenfeld; Wheeling (Honors College)
• Darian Jack; Butler, Pennsylvania (Honors College)
• Rachel Johnson; Princeton (Honors College)
• Dalton Kendig; Hedgesville
• Kenzie Kohrs; Clermont, Florida
• Laura May; Fairmont (Honors College)
• Jaxon Miller; Hurricane (Honors College)
• Virginia Milleson; Charles Town (Honors College)
• Lauren Moore; Clarksburg (Honors College)
• Hailey Mostacciuolo; Gainesville, Virginia
• Kylie Parker; Wheeling (Honors College)
• Ali Rai; Morgantown (Honors College, Statler College/CBE)
• Elizabeth Rockwell; Hopwood, Pennsylvania (Honors College)
• Kirsten Roys; Timonium, Maryland (Honors College, Statler College/WCEE)
• Joseph Schmidlen; Elkins
• Miranda Signorelli; Hurricane (Honors College)
• Abigail Smith; Parkersburg
• Dalton Tenney; Buckhannon
• Cara Thomas; Morgantown
• Zachary Velling; Basking Ridge, New Jersey
• Bethany Wager; Waverly (Honors College)
• Elise Weber; Charleston (Honors College)
• Katherine Whittington; Sissonville (Honors College)
• Rhyanna Wiethe; St. Clairsville, Ohio (Honors College)
• Brook Woldegabriel; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Honors College, Statler College/WCEE)
• Lillian Wright; Bluefield (Honors College)
• Lauren Young; Huntington (Honors College)

Established in 1995 to signify the 40th anniversary of the  WVU Foundation, the Outstanding Seniors award recognizes students for their contributions and achievements in scholarship, leadership and service.

The Order of Augusta further recognizes the students’ superior scholarship, demonstrated leadership and record of community and public service. The award is named for its historical significance in the state. Augusta was among the original names considered by Legislature when the state seceded from Virginia in 1863.

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