Olivia Moncada is in her third year at West Virginia University College of Law and is a recipient of the inaugural Wade Massie Scholarship and an EMLF Scholarship.

As a daughter of Appalachia who grew up near the New River Gorge and the John Amos Power Plant in West Virginia, she experienced firsthand how deeply energy production, economic development, and environmental protection can collide. Focusing her legal studies on Energy and Sustainable Development, she aims to use her career to advocate for sustainable, resilient practices that can revitalize her home region and help bridge the gap surrounding energy generation.

“My greatest aspiration is to help find a path that balances equitable development with meaningful environmental stewardship,” Moncada said in her personal statement in her scholarship application. “One day, I hope to bring that perspective back to my home in Appalachia and help bridge the often divisive gap surrounding energy generation.”

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