WLU Awarded Momentum Initiative Grant

West Liberty University has been awarded a Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG) from the West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) to support Hilltopper Pathways: Out of School Reentry and Support Program. The grant, totaling $249,397, will support a university-anchored initiative designed to serve justice-involved and at-risk middle school students across the Northern Panhandle.
The Momentum Initiative Grant is part of nearly $18 million in statewide investments approved earlier this month by the WVFF Board of Directors to support high-impact efforts addressing substance use disorder, prevention, recovery, and workforce and system capacity across West Virginia. Funding was awarded to 76 projects statewide through a rigorous, data-driven and community-informed review process.
Developed by West Liberty University’s College of Education and Human Performance, Hilltopper Pathways is a collaborative, out-of-school reentry and prevention program serving students in grades six through eight in Brooke, Hancock, Ohio, Marshall, and Wetzel Counties. The program partners with regional school districts, day report centers, probation officers, and community organizations to provide structured, trauma-informed support during the high-risk hours immediately following the school day.
Each Hilltopper Pathways session blends academic tutoring, mentoring, social-emotional learning, physical wellness, and creative enrichment. Certified teachers, along with trained West Liberty University faculty and student mentors, guide small groups through evidence-based routines that strengthen confidence, connection, and self-regulation.
During its first year, Hilltopper Pathways will serve 25 students, with measurable goals that include increased school attendance and course pass rates, a reduction in disciplinary or juvenile justice referrals, and increased family participation in at least one support or engagement event.
What distinguishes Hilltopper Pathways is its intentional bridge between higher education and local systems of care. Faculty from education, community education, criminal justice, health and physical education, and exercise physiology provide ongoing consultation and evaluation, ensuring the program remains both research-based and responsive to community needs.
By transforming after-school hours into safe, purposeful learning time, Hilltopper Pathways strengthens families, supports successful reentry, and advances a sustainable, university-led model of prevention for West Virginia’s youth.
The Momentum Initiative Grant reflects WVFF’s nationally distinctive approach to opioid abatement—combining objective evaluation, local expertise, and accountability to ensure settlement dollars generate lasting impact.