ELKINS — Davis & Elkins College proudly announces The First-Year Research Award (FYRA) Program, designed to provide preparation for life after college alongside financial compensation for awardees.

FYRA is an exciting opportunity that pairs outstanding students with D&E’s excellent, award-winning faculty, allowing in-depth cooperation with a faculty mentor from a first day on campus.

Recipients will devote four to six hours per week across their first year to the FYRA research-related project of their choice. Students will create a FYRA learning contract, participate in regular meetings, present their results, and submit their findings to the appropriate university office.

“The FYRA program is a unique opportunity for incoming students to be involved with research from day one; they work with dedicated faculty mentors and have hands-on experience that is simply not possible at most schools,” says Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mike Mattison. “Such experiential learning also better prepares students for future opportunities: internships, graduate school, jobs. This type of independent work is what employers look for, and what helps hone students’ abilities in communicating, collaborating, and thinking critically. We are excited to roll these out at D&E, and I’m grateful we have dedicated faculty members looking to mentor our incoming Senators.”

Projects available for research in the upcoming academic year include Public Digital Humanities, Baker Street in Elkins, FYR Scholar in Chemistry 1, and FYR Scholar in Chemistry 2. Public Humanities researchers will join a team of elite first-year students to bridge scholarship and community via hilltop history at Halliehurst and Graceland as it applies to the greater Elkins area. Baker Street recipients dive into the work of Sherlock Holmes, event planning, guest speaker correspondence, and other components of public relations campaigns.

Chemistry 1 students will deepen their understanding of scientific principles, enhancing competitiveness for medical school admissions and setting realistic expectations for graduate level work. Chemistry 2 researchers assist in the collection and analysis of data, and find additional support from scientific literature, across two comprehensive projects.

When asked about the importance of the public digital humanities project, program leader and Assistant Professor of English Colten Biro said, “This public digital humanities project will connect Davis & Elkins College to its alumni, unique regional location, and to the local community — but, I am really excited about the way the project provides students the opportunity to connect their research and their humanities education to real-world stakeholders, projects, and community organizing. It’s a wonderful experience specifically tailored to start the student thinking about “life after college,” and providing the opportunity in their first year at Davis & Elkins College sets them up for success during their time with us and in their future.”

Programs and their respective contact points: Public Digital Humanities Project, Colten Biro, 304.637.1431, biroc@dewv.edu; Baker Street in Elkins, Andrew Jones, 304.637.1691, jonesa7@dewv.edu; FYR Scholar in Chemistry 1, Emma Johnson, 304.637.1427, johnsone4@dewv.edu; FYR Scholar in Chemistry 2, Roshani Asuramana Pedi Durayalage, 304.637.1426, asuranamar@dewv.edu.

The FYRA Scholarship is not part of a student’s work study award.

Applications should be submitted by April 15 for full consideration.