BUCKHANNON, West Virginia —  A musical. Taylor Swift. Sports. Beauty. These are just some of the topics,  students in West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Department of Communication chose to present their capstone projects on.

The students recently gave their presentation before professors and their peers to fulfill the capstone requirement.

Nora Carroll ‘27, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,  presented, “Building the Den: A PR Campaign for the Bridgeport Black Bears.” “The Evolution & Cultural Impact of Beauty Marketing” was presented by Haley Lane ‘26, of Buckhannon, West Virginia.

Kristina Lesho ‘26, of Weirton, West Virginia,  gave a presentation titled “The Tortured Poets Department.” Ashton Nardella ‘26, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, gave a capstone presentation on “Jewish and Queer Representation in Jesus Christ Superstar (1973).

 Elisah Taylor ‘27, of Grantsville, Maryland,  presented research on “Intimacy Across Distance: Examining Sexting in Long-Distance and Geographically Close Relationships.” Rhea Yokum ‘28, of Ellamore, West Virginia,  presented “Telling Stories Through Song: A Rhetorical Narrative Analysis of Taylor Swift’s Folklore.”

Dalton Auvil ‘26, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, showcased “Behind the Mind of a Champion” and Mason
Halfin ‘27, of Moatsville,  presented on  “How Can Sports Media Innovate to Keep the Needs of Modern Audiences While Maintaining Diversity and Equity.” 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for 135 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2026 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2026  Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan second in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.