Driven by a love for his house state and gratitude for the alternatives West Virginia University has offered him, Reese Allen will don the buckskins and coonskin cap as the following Mountaineer mascot.
The senior twin mechanical engineering and data science main from Bridgeport was named the 2026-27 Mountaineer mascot Saturday (Feb. 28) in the course of the males’s basketball sport within the Hope Coliseum.
Allen, who has not shaved his beard since his freshman yr with the aim of turning into the Mountaineer mascot, views the function as a singular alternative to honor his heritage, give again to his University and join with the folks of West Virginia, together with these exterior Morgantown.
Looking out on the campus from the PRT at age 6, he stated he knew the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources was his future. “Growing up, the Statler College and WVU were ‘college’ to me and I chose to come here because this is home,” Allen stated.
“I have received every opportunity and resource the University has to offer. I’ve received scholarships, taken part in research across all three areas of campus and made my own club,” he mirrored. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude, and instead of saying a thousand thank yous, it’s better for me to be the Mountaineer.”
Allen is a 2022 Bucklew Scholar, Eberly Scholar and member of the Honors College. He has served as a Presidential Student Ambassador and is the founding president of the Microgravity Research Club within the Statler College, the place he leads STEM outreach actions for Okay-12 college students.
“WVU is the pearl at the heart of West Virginia, and the mascot is a symbol that ties us all together and connects us to the larger world,” he stated. “It is my honor to represent West Virginia University as the 72nd Mountaineer mascot.”
Allen will formally settle for the rifle and the duties of the Mountaineer mascot from Cade Kincaid, the 2025-26 mascot, throughout a proper “Passing of the Rifle” ceremony at 6 p.m. April 17 within the Mountainlair, Gluck Theatre. Prior to the ceremony, which is open to the general public, a 5 p.m. reception will probably be held within the Mountainlair, Vandalia Lounge.
The 2026-27 alternate Mountaineer mascot will probably be introduced at a later date.
Submit a Mountaineer mascot appearance request.
-WVU-
ta/2/28/26
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