Keilei Christian, a sophomore majoring in Agriculture from Lewisburg, WV, was recognized with the Catamounts Climb Higher Award for December 2025 by President Jerry Wallace at WVU Potomac State College.
WVU Potomac State College is proud to announce Keilei Christian of Lewisburg, West Virginia, has been named the December recipient of the Catamounts Climb Higher Award.
The Climb Higher Award is presented monthly to a student who exemplifies resiliency, outstanding work ethic, and kindness and positivity—qualities that Keilei displays both inside and outside the classroom.
Keilei is a sophomore in the Agriculture program at PSC. She was nominated by administrator Trina Runner, who observed that Keilei is “very engaged with programming on campus and in volunteering. She is very enthusiastic about taking leadership roles.”
Runner notes that Keilei “has challenged herself with getting on campus and the community in order to be the best version of herself,” adding that as a first-generation student living far away from the support of family and friends, Keilei has overcome feelings of isolation and anxiety by getting involved on campus. She started the College’s Homesteading Club, is involved with the campus Bible Study group, volunteers for the Office of Violence Against Women, and serves as a Resident Assistant. Additionally, she works a job off campus and founded her own micro bakery.
“Her organizational skills are amazing, and her maturity is evident in her follow-through as she spearheads projects of all kinds. She is truly committed to being helpful, being successful academically, and in impacting those around her in a positive way,” said Runner.
Keilei’s own journey has been challenging, especially in moving so far from home and her support system. “Everyone I knew, loved, and spent my entire life growing up with was saying goodbye to me for the first time. For the first time, I was leaving home for more than just a few days. It was hard in the beginning, and I'll admit it, it's still hard some days even into my second year living here on campus. My family was back home, my friends were back home, my boyfriend was back home, and I would even grow to miss my church and the community it's given me year after year. On top of feeling alone, I was also navigating campus as a first-generation student. I overcame all of this by working to change my mindset,” she said.
She further reflected that, “Yes, I made many memories in Greenbrier County that I will cherish forever, but for a few years, Potomac State College will be home. PSC will be where I lay down to sleep at night, where I eat most of my meals; it would be my fellow peers, the faculty, and the staff who would be there for me when a problem may have occurred. As my on-campus journey is soon ending here at PSC, I'm proud to say this school really has become a second home to me, I'll forever be grateful to miss Keyser and Mineral County one day too.”
She shared that she derives much of her support on campus from the women's Bible study group Grace & Gratitude. “It has inspired me to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough,” she said. “We understand each other's values and goals, can share our passions and desires with each other, and each one of them is always willing to lend a helping hand or an ear to listen.”
Keilei said that she is motivated by her personal goals for herself and “love for what I'm pursuing is what drives me to consistently give my best, both in and out of the classroom. The student-professor bonds here on campus are another thing that pushes me to do my very best in class.”
Her commitment to positivity is evident: “I try to spread kindness or positivity throughout my daily life on campus by speaking to everyone and working to form close connections with everyone around me. Showing kindness eventually brings kindness in return, whether it's to you or to others.”
Keilei was selected by a committee of faculty and staff and presented with a commemorative flag and gift card in honor of her achievement.
“To me personally, receiving the Catamounts Climb Higher Award has been an honor. To me, it shows that my dedication to and love for this campus is being recognized and seen beyond my immediate circle,” she said. “I'm proud to make a difference and to be a leader. Let's go Catamounts!”
Please join us in congratulating Keilei Christian for her determination, resilience, and unwavering positivity. She is an inspiration to the Catamount community and a shining example of what it truly means to Climb Higher.