SME, AWWA and Chi Epsilon win Statler College Day of Giving student organization challenges

Students from the American Water Works Association were presented with a check for winning one of the Statler College’s Day of Giving student organization challenges. (Assistant Professor Emily Garner, students Madison Haddix and Kara Cunningham, Dean Pedro Mago.)

The West Virginia University chapters of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, American Water Works Association and Chi Epsilon were announced as winners of the Statler College Day of Giving Student Organization Challenges. 

Story by Brittany Furbee, Communications Specialist
Photos by Paige Nesbit, Director of Marketing

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

SME was awarded $1,500 for raising the highest amount of money from a student organization. AWWA WVU raised the second-highest amount and was also awarded $1,500. Chi Epsilon was also awarded $1,500 for the highest engagement with 195 interactions from their ambassador link.  

“The importance of philanthropic support for our students has led Dean Mago to the second year of providing prizes to student organizations, teams, and clubs that participated in this year’s Day of Giving as ambassadors,” said Stephanie Martin, assistant director of development at the Statler College. “We expanded the opportunity for our students by offering three prizes this year and we are thrilled by the enthusiasm they showed on WVU’s sixth annual Day of Giving. The money they raised and won will be used for things such as travel, supplies, tools, and much more.” 

Students from SME promoted the Day of Giving challenge through an email announcement to members, faculty and students, social media posts and word of mouth across campus.  

Officers in SME include mining engineering majors Gabriela Kosakowski, president, Dawson Apple, vice president, Brian Welsh, social media coordinator, Jacob Horner, secretary, and Jared Morse, program coordinator.  

“It is important to promote Day of Giving because it benefits the entire University, not just the SME student organization,” said Kosakowski. “The group was extremely grateful when they heard that SME won, as those funds will go directly to the student chapter to allow members to travel to various events throughout the school year.”  

The group plans to use the money to help members travel to the 2024 SME Conference that will be held February 24-27, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona.  

AWWA WVU promoted the Day of Giving through social media and by reaching out to industry and academic contacts. 

“The Day of Giving is important to our club because we want to show our support for WVU which in turn also provides support to our organization,” said Kara Cunningham, AWWA WVU President and civil and environmental engineering major. “We are the first club at WVU for students interested in the water industry and the first student chapter of AWWA in the state. Organizations such as ours help create communities for students with similar interests, helping them succeed at WVU.” 

Additional officers in AWWA WVU include civil and environmental engineering students Madison Haddix, vice president, Carley Shingleton, treasurer, and Grace Kerr, secretary.   

AWWA WVU plans to use the money to sponsor members for national AWWA memberships, support member’s conference and travel expenses and to host a networking event for members in the fall. 

Chi Epsilon found success on Day of Giving by connecting with industry contacts and spreading the word on social media. Their effort was led by Chris Anderson, a civil engineering student and Chi Epsilon president.  

“Chi Epsilon is an organization that has had a slow start in terms of returning to pre-pandemic levels of operation,” said Katelyn Pepe, a civil engineering major and member of Chi Epsilon. “Many qualified students and companies hesitate to join because they have never heard who we are. It was important for us to participate in the Day of Giving because it was the perfect opportunity to put Chi Epsilon in the public spotlight.”  

Chi Epsilon plans to use the prize money to host events geared toward boosting membership and to waive membership fees for future students who join the organization.  

---