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West Virginia University crowned its 47th Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer during halftime of the WVU vs. Louisville football game Saturday.
Michael Squires, a senior speech pathology and audiology major from Clarksburg, W.Va., and Emily Calandrelli, a senior mechanical and aerospace engineering major from Morgantown, received the honors.
Candidates for the titles were chosen from a pool of applications and narrowed down to 10 after a round of interviews by a judging panel. Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer are chosen each year based on a record of academic achievement and extracurricular involvement, according to its Web site.
Squires, former WVU Mountaineer mascot and current member of the cheerleading team, said the honor was a perfect way to finish up his undergraduate career.
"Everything’s stacked up to be a really perfect college experience for me," he said. "The honor is overwhelming and sums up everything that I’ve done. I feel like I’ve accomplished everything."
Calandrelli agreed with Squires, adding she was honored because she has dreamed of winning since she was a child.
"I’ve been going to all the football games since I was little and seeing Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer," she said. "It’s been a dream come true. It meant that everything that I dreamed of accomplishing as a freshman, I’ve accomplished a senior."
Both Squires and Calandrelli said they won because of outstanding academics, extracurricular activities and WVU pride.
Calandrelli carries her love for the University everywhere she goes, something made her stand out, she said. Sharing the experience with her family made the title worth it.
"I’ve raised the WVU flag on Aztec pyramids in Mexico. I’ve taken WVU to so many different places," Calandrelli said.
Squires said he was chosen because of the way he lives his life. Showing others compassion and leading by example are key traits contributed to his win, he said.
"I want to live as an example of what parents would want their children to be like at my age," he said.
"I hope to better everyone, not just myself."
Meeting the other candidates was one of the best things about running for the title, Squires and Calandrelli said.
"The whole lineup was fantastic people. Everyone was genuine in their building up of a University and a building up of themselves," Squires said. "Each one of them takes pride in setting goals for themselves and accomplishing them."
As graduating seniors, Squires and Calandrelli have high hopes for their futures. Both plan to attend graduate school to continue their education.
Squires would like to head the speech pathology and audiology department at WVU one day after receiving a doctorate.
Calandrelli plans to take a year off to study in China before returning to graduate school. She eventually wants to own a commercial space business for everyday people.
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