Good morning, Morgantown.

On Dec. 5, the Monongalia County Community Educational Outreach Service donated 131 hand-packed Totes for Tots bags to the Sheriff’s Office to be stored in cruisers for children in moments of need.

UScellular donated $5,000 in supplies to SteppingStones in Morgantown on Wednesday, Dec.

10. The items, sports+art equipment, support recreation for those with disabilities, and UScellular retail locations will accept more donations through the holiday season.

United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties delivered more than 1,000 food and hygiene bags to low-income seniors Tuesday as part of its 44th annual toy and food distribution effort — reaching 280 households and 380 individuals during the holiday season.

West Virginia Public Theatre will present a new production of It’s a Wonderful Life for the holiday season, with cast rehearsals during Thanksgiving week and performances beginning Saturday, Dec.

13 at the Canady Creative Arts Center and additional shows on Dec. 14, 18 and 19.

Graduate students can now participate in a 3-Minute Thesis Competition where they present their research using one slide.

Submissions are open until Feb. 8 and selected finalists will win tiered cash prizes and compete in the grand finale in April (contact [email protected] for questions).

Three teaching faculty were honored for their innovative work at WVU’s inaugural Excellence in Education: Teaching Faculty Symposium hosted by the Statler College and ADVANCE Center.

President Michael T. Benson and college deans applauded the educators’ contributions (impacting student success through dynamic teaching).

The West Virginia Board of Education approved school closures and consolidations in several counties including Barbour, Randolph, and Upshur during Wednesday’s meeting — while the Department of Education announced a record 92.8% graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year.

Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia Guard member fatally shot near Farragut Square on Thanksgiving, was laid to rest Tuesday with full military honors at the state’s National Cemetery in Grafton.

Family, friends and dignitaries attended the service.

Senior Parker Hopkins of Trinity Christian signed Tuesday with WV Wesleyan College to continue his baseball career next fall—he earned all-state honors in past seasons despite a challenging hand injury.

Princeton's Brad Mossor was named MetroNews Football Player of the Year after leading his Tigers to an unbeaten season with 2,400+ all-purpose yards and 49 touchdowns; he edged Morgantown standout Maddox Twigg in the closest vote since 2019.

Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl

4:30-9 p.m. — Almost Heaven Bar & Grill — Tickets required — Celebrate the holidays in your ugliest sweater while enjoying festive activities and prizes.

Houston Cougars at West Virginia Mountaineers Women's Basketball

1-4 p.m. — Hope Coliseum — Ticket prices vary — Watch the exciting matchup between the Cougars and Mountaineers in women's basketball action.

Champions Of Magic

7:30-9 p.m. — Lyell B Clay Concert Theatre — Ticket prices may apply — Experience a captivating night of illusions and incredible acts straight from London's West End.