Mountaineer Mascot Visits Morgantown Middle School
WVU mascot Reese Allen spoke with sixth through eighth graders at South Middle School about college life and careers.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Secondary Education
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WVU Mountaineer mascot Reese Allen visited South Middle School on November 2, 2026, meeting sixth through eighth graders in sessions of about 30 minutes each. Students asked about his majors, student life and what it is like to be the Mountaineer.
Why it matters
School counselor Lauren Underdonk said students at this age are beginning to think about their futures and career tracks, making exposure to working professionals useful. The visit was arranged through the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative's K-12 Speakers Bureau.
Reese Allen is the 72nd West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot and an honors senior studying mechanical engineering and data science. Sessions were scheduled in three time blocks, one for each grade level, with South Middle School serving as the pilot school for the speakers program.
The players
Reese Allen
The 72nd WVU Mountaineer mascot and an honors senior studying mechanical engineering and data science who created the Microgravity Research Club.
Lauren Underdonk
A school counselor at South Middle School who commented on students' readiness to consider future careers.
The details
Allen answered questions from students about his majors, student life and the experience of being the Mountaineer, and he wears a coonskin hat named Tom. The Speakers Bureau gives teachers a free platform to select and schedule speakers from various professions across West Virginia.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Allen visits South Middle School.
10:44 to 11:15 a.m.: Eighth grade session.
11:17 to 11:53 a.m.: Seventh grade session.
12:05 to 12:35 p.m.: Sixth grade session.
First Monday of every month: A new speaker visits the school.
Season Trajectory
The visit extends the third year of the statewide K-12 Speakers Bureau, which South Middle School piloted to connect students with professionals across West Virginia. Each month a new speaker is scheduled to visit, extending the program's reach into Morgantown classrooms.
For families in Morgantown, the speakers program offers middle schoolers regular exposure to professionals and college students before they choose high school tracks. The monthly schedule means new speakers will continue to visit classrooms throughout the school year.
The takeaway
Early conversations with working professionals can help students begin thinking about career paths before high school. Families interested in similar exposure can ask their school whether it participates in regional speaker programs.
What happens next
A new speaker visits South Middle School on the first Monday of every month.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education in Morgantown and across West Virginia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wdtv.
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