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Meet The Guy Who Started Tent City, Tommy Skinner

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WVU chapter.

 

Everyone has heard of Tent City and this week our celebrity, Tommy Skinner, is one of the students who created the idea of this awesome new tradition here at West Virginia University. Tommy Skinner is originally from West Grove Pennsylvania and spent his four years of undergrad at WVU. He is now in his first year of the MBA/MSIR graduate program and continued these studies at WVU, he just couldn’t get enough of it.

Q: What exactly is Tent City for those students who are unsure?

A: Tent city is a week long tailgate in preparation for WVU’s homecoming game. This year we actually raised 15,000 dollars for Empty Bowls Monongalia by selling t-shirts throughout the week.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Tent City?

A: My friends Brittany, Andrew and I pitched a tent for when college game day came last year and it just kind of stuck. Hundreds of other students joined us so we decided to make it a tradition.

Q: What was your favorite memory thus far?

A: I think seeing it come alive for a second time was very rewarding. We worked very hard over the past 9 months to make it work and seeing that come to fruition was very satisfying.

Q: What are your hopes for Tent City in the future?

A: Bigger and better every single year. I think we are already in plans for next year and I’m just hoping we can raise double the amount of what we raised this year for a great local charity (Empty Bowls Monongalia).

Q: Do you think the university will benefit from Tent City and if so, how?

A: Absolutely, I think the fan base here in Morgantown has seen its ups and downs but Tent City two years in a row has been a place where fans have come to showcase their mountaineer spirit in a positive way. WVU has also gotten national media attention because of all the students who participate in Tent City. 

Q: Where do you see Tent City in 5 years?

A: Where do I see Tent City? I see WVU having to demolish Boreman so we can create a new area for more tents. I see it growing so be prepared for some construction.

Q: What does this whole experience mean to you?

A: It means a lot to me. I’ve dedicated a lot of time towards it and it’s been a damn good time. We’ve had a lot of fun through the process and I’m looking forward to helping out with the event next year.

Q: How will you feel once you graduate and have to leave tent city behind?

A: I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to leave Tent City behind. My brother may possibly be a freshman at WVU next year so I’m hoping he will be here to take over the tradition. This is something I will definitely look to be apart of in the future as an alumnus.

Be sure to follow them on Twitter: @WVUTentCity and like their Facebook page: WVU Tent City

I am originally from Westchester, New York. I came to WVU for my undergrad in Strategic Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations and a minor in Sports Communication. My involvment on campus includes blogging for Her Campus, a sister of Alpha Phi, the assistant director of the media team on the Mountaineer Maniacs executive board and lastly, an athletic communications intern with the WVU Athletic Communications office. I will be graduating in May of 2017 and I am looking forward to getting started with my future career in Journalism and Public Relations!
  I grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. Growing up here I knew there was a possibility of going to West Virginia University my entire life. Although I decided to start my college career at the University of Kentucky, those country roads led me back to WVU in the spring of my sophomore year. This was also the point when I decided to establish myself as a Broadcast Journalist student. Since this point I have strived to become the best possible journalist I can be. I am currently working as a weekend reporter for WDTV-Channel 5 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Prior to receiving this position, I worked as an intern with WCHS-tv/FOX11, in the summer of 2014, where I learned critical editing, interviewing, writing, and speaking skills. I worked closely with anchors, reporters, editors, directors, producers, and even the web team. Aside from the television industry, I am the Campus Correspondent for the West Virginia University Chapter of the online entertainment magazine, Her Campus. Another position I currently hold is the Social Media Chair of WVU’s Radio Television Digital News Association Chapter. In the Fall of 2012, I became a sister of the Alpha Phi Fraternity, in which I held the position of ‘Big Sister Chairman.’ My other passions include horse back riding, scuba diving, being outdoors, and running. I am very adventurous and I try to stay well rounded. My goal in life is to live life to the fullest and be the best possible version of myself. My ultimate goal would be to earn a spot as a reporter/anchor for Fox News, New York. I plan to graduate in December of 2016 and look forward to my future.