Interactive site to immortalize grad’s memories

For the West Virginia University class of 2012, late-night study sessions, grabbing lunch in the Mountainlair and cheering on the Mountaineers from the student section of Milan Puskar Stadium will soon come to an end.

On Tuesday, University Relations will launch an interactive website, Mountaineer Memories Immortalized, as an opportunity for graduates and alumni to remember, share and relive their moments as Mountaineers.

"We want to show the good, the bad and the ugly. That’s the whole idea behind the site – focusing on that nostalgia," said Morgan Copeland, University Relations media content strategist.

"Commencement is a personal thing. It’s your memory of a time you will remember for the rest of your life. That’s something we don’t take lightly; it’s not routine."

The microsite will feature a students "then-and-now" music video and a stop-motion video of the University to show its history and "Mountaineer code."

Through the use of Twitter, Copeland said graduates-to-be are encouraged to use "#wvugrad" to Tweet information they wish they had known prior to attending the University, or "Mountaineer Code."

"Mountaineer Codes are things such as not looking before you cross the street, or singing ‘Country Roads’ after every victory," Copeland said. "Everyone knows those things."

The site will also feature the use of other social media outlets, including Pintrest and Storify, to share gift ideas for grads and for the class of 2012 to share their memories as Mountaineers.

Mountaineer memories will also feature student documentaries from former Mountaineer Mascot Brock Burwell and international student Amadou Toure as they tell their stories and struggles as students at WVU.

"I really enjoyed hearing Brock’s story. It was a bittersweet side of the Mountaineer that I think not a lot of people know," Copeland said. "It’s going to be really interesting to hear these goodbyes."

Various campus building will also say their goodbyes to the class of 2012, Copeland said.

"This is not just a good-bye from people, but there are also goodbye notes from University buildings all around campus," he said. "They essentially are saying, ‘we’re going to miss you, but onto bigger and better things.’ "

The website www.memories.wvu.edu will launch Tuesday, and new content will be added each day until May 9.

Copeland said he hopes the site will remind students why they chose to be a Mountaineer and why they will always be one.

"Students will be going down memory lane while everybody is going through this important time in their lives," he said.