GWV Fellowship

We bring together young West Virginians who are ready to learn and grow as professionals.

Become a Fellow.

The GWV Fellowship is a recognition of your accomplishments and support for your potential. It is an investment in you, so that you can continue to learn, grow, and thrive in West Virginia. Subscribe to our emails to receive an alert when the Class of 2024 opens for applications.

The GWV Fellowship is a nine-month program designed to help early-career professionals find their footing in the Mountain State.

This program brings young West Virginians together to learn from leaders throughout the state as they participate in virtual and in-person sessions designed around professional development and adventure in Almost Heaven.

The GWV Fellowship uses a four-pronged approach to address professional development, community engagement and networking. Fellows will:

Complete an advanced professional development curriculum focused on in-demand skills

Ranging from networking to project management and more, skills honed during the program can be applied to any position and benefit both the individual Fellow and the organizations they serve.

Form lasting bonds with Fellows in other companies

Fellows learn from each other and create lasting bonds that extend beyond their fellowship year. Fellows also gain access to an alumni network that spans a wide range of sectors and regions around West Virginia.

Learn from industry leaders throughout the state

With guest speakers spanning a variety of industries, Fellows learn about different avenues of success that enable them to better forge their paths.

Develop an appreciation for the rich history and beauty of West Virginia

In-person sessions give Fellows the opportunity to experience the many adventures that West Virginia provides, from the Northern Panhandle down to the Southern Coalfields.

Meet a Few of Our Grads

The GWV Fellowship provided me with a new lens of seeing myself and the world around me. The Fellowship gave me the opportunity to grow my skills and work experiences, broaden my social network and connections in the community, and explore my passions. It’s indescribable how the one-year fellowship propelled the direction of my career.

The Fellowship helped me stay in West Virginia and further establish my career while honing my leadership skills (and building new relationships). It’s easy to move to a bigger city or a bigger state, but life becomes more meaningful when you stay and choose to create a positive impact that will mean something to you, your kids, and, one day, your grandkids.

Like most native West Virginians, I have a lot of pride about where I come from. I love the natural beauty, and the resilience of the people that live here. I'm grateful to be back living, working and playing in my home state. I hope to be here to stay and am very pleased to be involved in a program like the GWV Fellowship, where I truly feel like I can come together with folks to make a difference and strive towards a common goal of improving West Virginia.

I took a lot from the GWV Fellowship, but mostly hope that there are many, many young people who care about WV just as much as I do. I’m committed to WV because WV is committed to me. Ever since I relocated my young family to the state of WV, we’ve established community, skills, and experiences that I never imagined. Our lives changed forever and, because of WV, I feel like we will succeed.

I’m a GWV Fellow and NewForce graduate, and both programs have helped me establish my career and make new connections. The GWV Fellowship broke me out of my routine and led me to experience parts of West Virginia I didn’t know existed. I’m committed to West Virginia because Appalachia is more than just my home...it’s who I am.

I’m originally from Tehran, Iran but immigrated to West Virginia with my family in 2010. After living in Lewisburg for 10 years, and having the privilege of becoming a US citizen, I simply fell in love with WV. GWV’s Fellowship program offered me a wonderful opportunity to use my creative skills to give back to the place I love and help rural regions grow, while making incredible connections and friendships.

I’m originally from the Narathiwat Province of Thailand, and I graduated from Me Fah Luang University with a Bachelors of Engineering focused in Computer Engineering in 2012. I started my technology career here in West Virginia with Alpha Technologies. The Fellowship helped me build my new community in West Virginia, and helped me contribute to keeping this place Almost Heaven.