Discover the Top 9 Fun Facts About West Virginia University You Never Knew!

1. Mountaineer Mascot Mania

Talk about a blast from the past: West Virginia University's Mountaineer mascot is chosen each year by the students, dresses in buckskin attire, packs a percussion rifle, and shoots for the stars while cheering on the teams and spreading joy at every community event!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. WVU's Ancient Rome Connection

If ancient Rome and a classic American college campus had a baby, you might find a West Virginia University (WVU) diploma nailed to its bedroom wall: Reverend Alexander Martin, the university's first president, designed and adopted the WVU seal in 1869, which features Greek and Latin inscriptions, hills behind Woodburn Circle, and a rising sun, gracing every WVU diploma as a symbol of stability and prosperity.
Source => birthday.wvu.edu

Did you know that Rosalind Franklin's groundbreaking X-ray crystallography work unveiled the secret behind DNA's helical structure and iconic double helix shape? Unravel this fascinating story now!

=> Fun Facts about Rosalind-Franklin

3. WVU Grads at NASA

Houston, we have a Mountaineer... or five! West Virginia University must be packing some serious extraterrestrial punch, sending its grads off to worlds where no man has gone before: Several WVU alumni, including Scott Wenger, Judith Hayes, Tim Hall, Rob Hayhurst, and Adam Korona, have landed prestigious jobs at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. These space-faring Mountaineers are making groundbreaking discoveries at NASA and demonstrating that a WVU education can truly rocket you into an out-of-this-world career.
Source => alumni.wvu.edu

4. Fallout 76 Research Project

Next time you find yourself lost in a post-apocalyptic West Virginia wasteland, don't forget to take notes: Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the influence of Fallout 76's virtual depiction of their state on the perceptions of its people and their surroundings. By surveying player engagement, the researchers aim to uncover how combining elements of West Virginia's history, society, and geography with gameplay affects views of the real-life Mountain State.
Source => wvutoday.wvu.edu

5. Climbing the Wall at WVU

Scaling the walls of West Virginia might seem daunting, but at West Virginia University, you can climb your way to the top, one rock at a time with the confidence of Spiderman himself: WVU's Student Recreation Center boasts a magnificent climbing wall that mirrors the state's natural beauty, offering over 3,500 square feet of climbing surface, 2,000 interchangeable hand-holds, and features like crack climbs, overhangs, dihedrals, arêtes, and a bouldering cave to thrill climbers of all skill levels from amateurs to seasoned pros.
Source => campusrecreation.wvu.edu

6. Tornado Alert System

When the tornado sirens blare at West Virginia University, they aren't just practicing for a visit from the Wicked Witch of the West: It's their thorough tornado alert system testing that includes sirens, weather alert radios, and emergency broadcast interruptions for TV and radio programming, ensuring the utmost safety for the WVU campus community.
Source => enews.wvu.edu

7. Female Mountaineer Breakthrough

Keeping up with the Mountaineers: Little do West Virginia University students know, their annual vote for a mascot leads to one lucky enthusiast donning a buckskin costume, firing a rifle, and becoming the stuff of legends: The chosen Mountaineer is awarded a tuition waiver/scholarship and graces approximately 400 events per year, including home and away football games, men's and women's basketball games, and numerous alumni and community gatherings – all while staying true to their character, passion, community service, and academic prowess. The year 1990 marked a historic moment when Natalie Tennant shattered glass ceilings by becoming the first female Mountaineer!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Mascot "Game of Thrones"

While every school has drama, West Virginia University takes it to the next level with their own annual mascot "Game of Thrones." No blood is shed, but the battle for the prestigious role of Mountaineer mascot can be fierce: Each year, WVU holds a contest where students submit essays and undergo interviews in hopes of being chosen as the lovable, rifle-toting symbol of the Mountain State. The 69th Mountaineer mascot will be crowned on March 4th during the men's basketball game against Kansas State, earning the honor to represent their realm (university) at various events and activities.
Source => thedaonline.com

9. Woodburn Circle's Historic Trio

If you thought Woodburn Circle was just the latest boy band sensation, think again: It's actually a collection of three historic buildings - Martin Hall, Woodburn Hall, and Chitwood Hall - at West Virginia University, which were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 for their architectural and historical significance.
Source => archives.lib.wvu.edu