Brady Nolan and Joy Wang were recently crowned 2015’s Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer at the football game against Texas Christian University (TCU). Nolan is majoring in Athletic Coaching Education while also minoring in Sport and Exercise Psychology. He is currently applying to stay here at WVU for a few more years while he furthers his education with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and either watching or coaching basketball. He grew up in West Virginia and enjoys taking advantage of the outdoor experiences, exploring the state as much as possible. Not to mention, he was also a 3 year member of the Pride of West Virginia, the marching band for the Mountaineers.
Joy Wang, on the other hand, is double majoring in Biochemistry, where she plans to receive a B.S., and Chemistry, with a B.A. Along with that, she’s also double minoring in Spanish and Biology. Wang plays the trumpet in the Pride of West Virginia, and just recently backpacked through Europe during the summer. She went through Poland, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Spain. She loves learning new languages and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, conversational in Spanish, and in the process of learning German. Along with this, she enjoys hiking, skiing and swimming.
Q: How did you feel when you won the title of Mr. / Ms. Mountaineer?
Brady Nolan: It was a tremendous honor to earn the title of Mr. Mountaineer. I am very excited to represent the University in such a prestigious way. I have been a New Student Orientation Leader for 3 years, the Alternate Mountaineer Mascot for a year, and represented the University in other manners, but this title is very special among all awards I have received while at WVU.
Joy Wang: To be honest, it was a blur. It felt like a dream when I first heard my name announced and my friends even described me as standing shocked and dazed for several seconds before finally making a step forward to accept the honor. I remember looking side to side at my mom and then my dad, seeing them smile with tears in their eyes and I felt extreme happiness and humility for being able to make them proud and represent WVU. It was also great being surrounded on the football field by my band friends
Q: What does the holding the title mean to you?
Nolan: To me, Mr. Mountaineer is selected as the male student who exemplifies the values and expectations of WVU both in the classroom and in the community. This is why I highly respect the award, as well as past winners.
Wang: The title of Ms. Mountaineer is an incredible honor and an opportunity to represent WVU to its fullest potential. I believe that Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer should live as role models to other students by engaging not only themselves but also encouraging others to become more involved in service and other events across campus and the surrounding communities.
Q: How do you feel Mr. or Ms. Mountaineer should be represented on campus? What do you plan to do with the title?
Nolan: On campus, Mr. Mountaineer should be a respectful, hardworking scholar who shows great interest in furthering their education, as well as aspiring others to do the same. After becoming Mr. Mountaineer, I will host a blood drive with the Ms. Mountaineer winner (Joy Wang). This will be one way that we will give back to the community after earning our titles. I hope to inspire current and future WVU students to represent the University with the same respect, passion, and pride that I did during my time at WVU.
Wang: After having some time to absorb and process the magnitude of the title and honor of Ms. Mountaineer, I feel extremely humbled and proud. However, I also feel restless because I want to represent the title to the best of my ability. I want to get involved more around campus as soon as possible, especially in regards to outreach to my fellow students about service and involvement. Welcome Week for incoming students would be an excellent opportunity for the Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer to greet and welcome students into the WVVU family. In addition, Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer will have the opportunity to stay involved and live up to the title beyond just the spring semester. I also want to represent the university by reaching out to potential incoming students and share with them the wonderful opportunities available at WVU. It is my hope that both Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer will be able to travel around our mountain state, visiting each county, and encouraging students of all ages to pursue their goals with the chance to fulfill them at WVU.
Q: Anything else you would like to say?
Nolan: All of the Mr. Mountaineer finalists were very deserving of the award, as each individual had unique resumes which made them highly qualified candidates.
Wang: While I am incredibly honored to have been named WVU’s Ms. Mountaineer for 2015, please know that this honor is shared. I would not have been awarded this title nor be where I am or who I am today without the unwavering love, support, and guidance of my family, friends, and mentors. Truly, thank you for your countless hours of help and your priceless acts of kindness.