A chance decision in high school and the inspiring poster of a previous dual scholarship recipient has led a West Virginia University senior to the laboratory of one of the University’s notable researchers and her own Goldwater and Udall scholarships.
Savannah Hays
MORGANTOWN A first-generation college student from Parkersburg has been named the West Virginia University 2021 Newman Civic Fellow.
Savannah Hays aspires to become a physician-researcher and will use her role to undertake a year-long project to increase access to engineering mentorships for young women in West Virginia. Hays is an Honors biomedical engineering major in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources will help form at least two SWENext chapters, the high school equivalent of the Society of Women Engineers, to serve young women ages 13-17.
“I am so passionate about this project because I am from West Virginia and I want to see our state succeed,” Hays said. “Our state and university have the resources for students to excel as engineering students, but I think many young women are steered away from this male-dominant field. With the development of SWENext clubs in West Virginia, I hope to provide participants with mentorship, college p