Caroline Leadmon, Order of Augusta 2020, graduated from the West Virginia University with Bachelor of Science Degrees in Biochemistry and Animal & Nutritional Sciences. A West Virginia University Foundation Scholar, Eberly Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, and Goldwater Scholar Nominee, she was a member of Summit, Mountain Honorary, and co-chair of the Mountaineer Advisory Committee. She graduated from the WVU College of Law in 2023 as a member of the West Virginia Executive Lawyers and Leaders Class of 2023. In addition to being the President of the Student Bar Association, she received the WVU Law 2L Emerging Leader Award and was inducted into Order of the Coif.
A PSA Certified Figure Skating coach teaching private, group, and therapeutic figure skating, she is the co-founder and was a volunteer coach of the only active youth synchronized skating team in the state of WV, funded through a nationally competitive community development grant awarded by the United States Figure Skating Association.
Giana Loretta, Order of Augusta 2023, a proud native of Shinnston, West Virginia, graduated from West Virginia University with three majors in Political Science, Philosophy, and Communication Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a research assistant on multiple public policy studies and volunteered with nonprofit organizations that directly improved local student outcomes. As a result of her commitment to public service and academic excellence, Giana received numerous awards, including the Newman Civic Fellowship, Eberly College Scholarship, Mountaineer of Distinction, Outstanding Political Science Senior, and WVU Order of Augusta. She also studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, and she is currently serving as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Sofia, Bulgaria for the 2023-24 academic year.
In fall 2024, Giana will attend Georgetown University to pursue a master’s degree in Global Human Development. Recently, Giana was awarded the 2024 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship from the U.S. Department of State and will join the Foreign Service in 2026. She is passionate about expanding global academic equity, and she is eager to support initiatives that improve students’ access to educational opportunities and learning resources as a Foreign Service Officer.