The West Virginia University Center for Community Engagement held its annual Excellence in Community Engagement Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 24 at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center, to honor the accomplishments in engaged learning and community impact on campus and in the surrounding communities.
“The Excellence in Community Engagement Awards highlight the work being done to build meaningful partnerships between the University and our communities, built on shared purpose, trust and action. The individuals and groups honored exemplify these values, working collaboratively toward a better future,” Whitney Glotfelty, Director of Community-Based Learning at the CCE, said. “We had a record number of applicants this year, which is a testament both to the breadth and depth of this work, living out the land-grant mission of WVU. We’re extremely proud of their dedication, innovation and the lasting impact they’ve made on West Virginia and beyond.”
The recognition criteria are founded upon demonstration of the WVU Values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation. Award recipients are chosen for their dedication and passion for serving their community.
Geah Pressgrove received the Excellence in Community Engagement Faculty Award. Since joining WVU in 2013, Pressgrove has led nearly three dozen service initiatives tackling critical societal challenges in West Virginia, including public health, social justice and economic development. Notable projects include her leadership in addressing women's incarceration, promoting agritourism and improving vaccine communication for underserved communities.
Frank Hatten, a cybersecurity analyst and now director of outreach and engagement for the Cybersecurity Resource Center, was honored with the Excellence in Community Engagement Staff Award. Hatten has been instrumental in providing cybersecurity support to local nonprofits and businesses in West Virginia. His work has not only enhanced student learning through real-world consulting projects but also has helped strengthen the cybersecurity readiness of regional organizations.
Danielle Stoneberg was awarded the Excellence in Community Engagement Graduate Award for her work as the prison outreach coordinator for the Appalachian Prison Book Project. Stoneberg plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to educational materials for incarcerated individuals across multiple states, while also advocating for policy changes to improve prison library access. Stoneberg also is deeply involved in Morgantown’s mutual aid efforts, providing resources and support to low-income and houseless communities.
Genavieve Vanaman received the Excellence in Community Engagement Undergraduate Award. Vanaman has worked tirelessly with the Pipeline Rural Education Program to address pressing social and economic issues in underserved communities, advocating for locally sourced food and conducting home visits for disabled and elderly patients. Vanaman's passion for helping those facing addiction is evident through her participation in AA and NA meetings and her contributions to health fairs in rural areas. Her ongoing work with Christian Help further demonstrates her dedication to supporting her community, providing essential resources to individuals and families in need.
Ethan Powderly won the Excellence in Community Engagement Cole Unger Social Action Award. Powderly founded Conscious Closet, a mutual-aid group in Morgantown dedicated to providing clothing and essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness, transient living situations and poverty. Powderly has built strong connections with local nonprofits, such as First Presbyterian Church and Morgantown Mutual Aid, as well as retailers like Buff City Soaps, securing donations for his cause. Through his innovative outreach efforts, Ethan helps increase student participation in volunteer service while promoting dignity, engagement and support for marginalized populations.
Lexus Middleton was presented with the Excellence in Community Engagement National Service Award. Middleton is an AmeriCorps VISTA with Energy Express and has played a pivotal role in building sustainable community engagement through her work with the program. She has helped connect WVU students, faculty and staff to rural communities, expanded volunteer opportunities and developed systems to support long-term program success. Middleton is dedicated to creative outreach, fostering inclusivity and advocating for educational and nutritional access for West Virginia children.
WVU Potomac State College Athletics received the award for Excellence in Community Engagement Athletics Award. WVU Potomac State College Athletics embodies the WVU core value of service through its unwavering commitment to community engagement in Keyser, West Virginia. Each year, the athletic department organizes a day of service where student-athletes come together to support various local nonprofits, contributing nearly 400 hours of service before the start of the academic year. Their efforts include supporting the Faith in Action Food Pantry, organizing free clinics for youth sports, delivering pies, moving office furniture, and assisting businesses, schools and neighbors.
Kelsey Frank was awarded the Excellence in Community Engagement Service-Learning Instruction Award. Frank’s “Rural Mental Health” course at the WVU Institute of Technology exemplifies the power of service-learning in fostering community engagement and real-world applications of academic content. Developed in 2023, the course addresses the unique mental health challenges of rural communities, particularly in Appalachia, by integrating advocacy and service into the curriculum. Students actively participate in policy advocacy, engage with local mental health professionals and reflect on systemic barriers to mental health access.
Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick was chosen for the Excellence in Community Engagement Engaged Scholar Award. Patrick, a psychology professor at West Virginia University, leads the Appalachian Gerontology Experiences-Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (AGE-ADAR) Scholars Program. As principal investigator, she has advanced efforts to reduce aging-related health disparities in rural Appalachia by training underrepresented STEM majors. Patrick integrates community engagement into her teaching by leading students to write cards for long-term care residents, participate in the Alzheimer’s Walk and present at the West Virginia legislature.
Energy Express received the Excellence in Community Engagement Campus-Based Partner Award. Energy Express, a WVU Extension program, is a free six-week summer reading and nutrition program for children in West Virginia’s rural and low-income communities. Since its inception in 1994, the program has served more than 84,000 children, provided more than 1.7 million meals, and engaged more than 13,600 AmeriCorps members in meaningful service. Energy Express addresses critical needs like summer learning loss and childhood hunger through community-based partnerships that involve local schools, families, and WVU faculty.
Milan Puskar Health Right earned the Excellence in Community Engagement Community Partner Award. Milan Puskar Health Right is a cornerstone of Morgantown’s healthcare landscape, providing essential services to the uninsured and underinsured while offering invaluable community-based learning experiences for WVU students. The clinic hosts students from various disciplines— including social work, counseling, pharmacy, public health, and the School of Medicine— allowing them to gain hands-on experience in their fields. Health Right’s services, such as the Harm Reduction Clinic, provide life-saving interventions like Narcan distribution and a needle exchange program.
Appalachian Advocacy Network was given the Excellence in Community Engagement Student Group Award. The Appalachian Advocacy Network has been a powerful force for social change within both the WVU and Morgantown communities, engaging in a wide range of advocacy efforts throughout the school year. Focused on issues such as reproductive rights, housing rights, LGBTQ+ rights and more, AAN has hosted educational events and training sessions on topics like peaceful protesting, civil rights, harm reduction and canvassing techniques. AAN’s impactful actions include lobbying at the state capitol, registering voters, organizing community events, and canvassing on critical issues like abortion and homelessness.
“We believe service is imperative and community engagement is not just a program but a promise. A promise that the knowledge we create will never sit on a shelf, but will be applied, shared, and used to make life better for others,” said Kristi Wood-Turner, assistant dean of community engagement and director of the WVU CCE. “When we partner with communities in meaningful, reciprocal ways, we don’t just teach students—we transform them. We don’t just produce research—we generate solutions. And we don’t just show up—we stand alongside. These award winners lead with courage, act with vision and are bold enough to go where they are needed most.”
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MEDIA CONTACT: Sydney Keener
Communications Specialist
WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
304-293-8986; Sydney.Keener@mail.wvu.edu