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When Paige Zalman went to sleep on the night of Tuesday, April 2, she was still a PhD candidate. By the time she went to sleep on Wednesday, April 3, not only was she now Dr. Paige Zalman after successfully defending her thesis, but she was also the winner of WVU’s 3-Minute Thesis competition, capping a day she likely won’t forget anytime soon.

It’s not an ideal circumstance to undergo the stress of a dissertation defense and an intense competition like 3MT within hours of each other. Zalman certainly didn’t draw it up that way.

Zabrya Robson, a behavior health counselor at Community Care of West Virginia, came to West Virginia University knowing she wanted to help others. She earned her undergraduate degree at WVU, and then when looking for a master’s program to pursue counseling, she once again chose WVU largely because of the flexibility of the clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling program.

B.S., Sport and Exercise Psychology, WVU (2021)
M.S., Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, WVU (2023)

Sports were an integral part of Makayla Riley’s life growing up in Landover, Md. Her father coached the youth football and basketball teams, and for her part, Riley participated in gymnastics and dance growing up. She also was the team manager for both the football and boy’s lacrosse teams.

It was primarily through the success of West Virginia University’s football and basketball teams that she became aware of the school she would eventually attend.

After working summer camps with kids, Tyler Derkotch knew it was what he wanted to do for a living. At WVU, he found that the physical education and kinesiology program offered the kinds of hands-on learning he enjoyed in a field he was passionate about. Working at a daycare in Morgantown has only strengthened his conviction to work with children as a physical education teacher. 

Major: Physical Education and Kinesiology
Class: Sophomore

Nothing was ever going to come easy for Gage Smith.

The factors working against him based simply on life’s circumstances made the chances of him even getting to West Virginia University as a student equal parts remarkable and improbable.

Two students in the College of Applied Human Sciences have earned scholarships from the WVU Foundation to help them defray costs and support the completion of their theses or dissertations. 

Megan Hut, from Tiel, the Netherlands, is one of four WVU doctoral students to receive the WVU Foundation Distinguished Doctoral Scholarship. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational theory and practice 

The College of Applied Human Sciences celebrate Commencement on Saturday, December 16, at 2 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the College who will be earning their degree this weekend.  

Isaac Bond is a West Virginia native who maximized his time in the sport management program by utilizing in-person and online classes in order to work during his time at school. Katie Merrill, one of the first graduates of the mental health and addiction studies program on Saturday, credits the faculty for their personal investment into her success. 

Anthony Richards II, a junior at West Virginia University from Washington, D.C., shares his passion for promoting holistic health, the impactful experiences and professors in the program, and the valuable practical exposure he's gained through internships and teaching. From managing challenges in his academic journey to his career aspirations, Richards discusses the diverse opportunities and supportive community that define the WVU experience.

Major: Physical Education and Kinesiology

Karoline Colucci, a senior from Stafford, Va., comes from a family of educators. She originally resisted going into education, but was driven by various opportunities within her community and a desire to make a positive impact on future generations. She emphasizes the dedication of teachers and the importance of providing all students with a quality education. She believes in the potential of West Virginia students and explains the importance of the close-knit community at WVU and the elementary education program.

Major: Elementary Education

On a whim, Marissa Mangione gave West Virginia University a chance. She got a flyer in the mail at her home Richboro, Pa., (just outside of Philadelphia), and wanted to visit campus. Despite roots in Pennsylvania and ties to Penn State, she came to Morgantown and realized almost immediately that she wanted to be a Mountaineer.  

"I was either going to go to West Virginia or Penn State,” she admits. “WVU checked all the boxes for me: I wanted a big school, a big community, and a lot of opportunities. And I also loved the spirit for the football team."