MORE THAN GOLD AND BLUE. Morgantown native, rising junior and legacy student Marleah Knights chose WVU because it felt like home — and discovered so much more. SPONSORED CONTENT
Marleah Knights is a typical Morgantown native. She’s lived in the shadow of WVU’s iconic bell tower all her life. She’s heard “Hail West Virginia” played by the marching band more times than she can count. And every time “Take Me Home, Country Roads” comes on the radio, she can’t help but hum along. The connection goes even deeper than geographic location. Both Marleah’s parents are alums who earned their doctoral degrees at WVU and both now work as professors in the Davis College teaching the next generation of Mountaineers. “You can say I was practically born bleeding gold and blue,” she admits. But if you ask her why she chose the University in her own backyard to pursue a dual major in biology and English (with a minor in medical humanities and health studies), when her hard work and determination could have taken her anywhere in the country, she’ll tell you it was that unique blend of academics, family feel and affordability she just couldn’t find anywhere else. “First, WVU is ranked as an R1 research institution, placing it among the top research institutions in the United States, and as someone who is pre-med who wants to go into a health-related field, that’s something that really appealed to me.” In fact, the research opportunities she found here have helped shape her entire experience. “As an undergrad, I didn’t realize that research is something that is so accessible. WVU really puts a huge emphasis on getting students involved. We are making huge strides in just about every field. It’s really amazing to get to be a part of that.” Like so many Mountaineers, Marleah also wants to make a difference in the lives of real people. She has a dream of going into family medicine, and the opportunities for volunteering, networking and career development she found on the Morgantown
Campus have already given her a foot in the door. “There are also so many organizations aimed at helping students make a difference here on campus. Our student government is open and accessible for students to become involved and to really make positive change on campus and in our wider communities. The Honors College has provided me with that community of like-minded individuals, people who are really ambitious and have similar goals to mine as well as so many mentoring and networking resources.” But one of the biggest ways WVU has helped Marleah move one step closer to her dreams: scholarships. From 2019 to 2020, WVU disbursed more than $133 million to students like her. She was the lucky recipient of the WVU Foundation Scholarship, one of the University’s most prestigious. “I’ve been able to attend WVU at no cost, and it provided me with enough financial support to pursue many other opportunities to supplement my education without having to worry.” Her biggest advice for area students still on the fence about attending college so close to home? “To any prospective students who even have an inkling of going to WVU, I recommend taking a tour. See what WVU is about.” She says even students like her, who grew up a stone’s throw from the stadium, will be surprised. “No matter what your goal is for the future, WVU really is here to support you. This has been a crazy time. Students might be afraid to take that plunge into higher education, but here at WVU, we really are a community of Mountaineers. Mountaineers go first, but we always go first together.” Discover more in your own backyard at go.wvu.edu/21Morgantown .
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