MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Mikel Hager, the 69th Mountaineer Mascot, has received the Greatest Community Impact Award from the Mascot Hall of Fame.
“The greatest community impact is what it sounds like,” Hager said. “So, a lot of people don’t realize that probably 75 percent of the public appearances I do have nothing to do with athletics; they’re all community-based events.”
During his time as the Mountaineer, Hager has traveled all over the state, presenting to the fans that make up the Mountaineer Nation. At this point, he said that whether he is in shorts and a T-shirt or the Buckskins, he’s recognizable wherever he goes.
“I’ve done over 340 public appearances at this point, and some of the people you get to meet and some of the connections are really cool,” Hager said. “I’ve been able to make lifelong friends as a result of being able to do this.”
In addition to the Greatest Community Impact Award, Hager also finished second to Notre Dame Leprechaun for the Best Live Human Mascot Award. The second-place finish was secured based on the clicks of the Mountaineer faithful on his behalf.
“A shout out to Mountaineer Nation; thank you, guys; it was a vote,” Hager said. “Getting on the ballot was merit-based, but winning it was based on fan participation, so I couldn’t have done it without everyone casting their votes every day.”
Another unique aspect of being the Mountaineer is that duties extend well beyond the football sideline or basketball floor. The format allows Hager to do more than cheer on the team; he can also perform other functions important to the image of West Virginia University.
“I get to give speeches at college fairs, I get to go read to kids, and I go to nursing homes and all kinds of stuff,” Hager said. “To me, that’s really cool because not everybody can come to Morgantown to see Mountaineer, but he can come to you.”
The term for the Mountaineer is just one year, and it goes fast, according to others who served. Hager said the selection process for the next Mountaineer is already underway.
“There were some really good candidates, and I’d say we’ll have 80 or 90 people apply,” Hager said. “I get to be on the Selection Committee, so it’s reading essays and trying to figure out who is the best person to carry out the legacy.”