Parkersburg, W.Va. (Feb. 10, 2021) – The mission of 4-H is to provide meaningful opportunities for youth to create sustainable community change. Mariah Evans, a WVU Parkersburg Early College student, is using her involvement in 4-H to make a positive impact on senior residents in Pleasants County, W.Va.

Evans and the Pleasants County Leaders 4-H club recently created the Case for Friendship project, funded by the West Virginia 4-H All Stars mini-grant. As club president, she led her fellow members in making pillowcases for individuals in assisted living facilities.

“It is important to give back to the community because it does so much for our members and students,” Evans said. “The Case for Friendship helped us ‘learn by doing,’ gain a new life skill and help our community. Our goal is to ‘make the best, better!’”

Evans is also a part of the Middle Island Ramblers, who are currently working to ensure seniors have a happy Valentine’s Day. Members are collecting donations of pre-packaged candies and baked goods along with homemade cards for residents to enjoy.

Along with community service projects, Evans has raised livestock as a part of the 4-H Animal Program. In 2019, Evans showed and sold a feeder calf at the Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair. The heifer was the lightweight class champion and received third place overall.

In 2021, Evans’ calf was the Grand Champion Feeder Calf of the Pleasants County Agricultural Youth Fair, Grand Champion of the Ritchie County Fair’s Open Cattle Show and Grand Champion of the Pleasant’s County Open Cattle Show.

Evans plans to continue her education as a full-time student at WVU Parkersburg. She will study agriculture with the hopes of pursuing agricultural business.

To learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s Early College program, visit wvup.edu/earlycollege.