First Ascent program empowers graduates to build their futures in West Virginia
September 13, 2024
First Ascent, a program designed to cultivate and retain local talent within West Virginia by supporting new graduates from West Virginia University and Marshall University, is seeing success one year after its launch.
Program member Parker Surface, a 2024 WVU graduate, business analyst for WVU Hospitals and Buckhannon native, highlights how First Ascent is about being a part of something bigger.
For Surface, motivation to join the program stems from a deep desire to serve as an ambassador and create positive change within his home state. “I am West Virginia — like, why wouldn’t I be here? Why wouldn’t I advocate for the state, you know? The opportunity to be an ambassador for the place that we all love is huge for me on so many levels,” he said.