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Blake Humphrey of Wheeling Is Making a Difference At WVU as Student Body President

Law Student Urged Professors To Use Free Online Textbooks

West Virginia University Student Body President Blake Humphrey addresses the 5th Annual West Virginia Education Summit last fall at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.

WHEELING — West Virginia University Student Body President Blake Humphrey of Wheeling recently learned he must be making a difference in the lives of others after another student approached him one night as he walked through the Mountainlair on the WVU campus.

“My teacher told me to come and thank you,” the student told him. “I’m in that class that switched to open source text books, and it’s saving me money.”

The student was talking about the wealth of college texts now available for free online, and how Humphrey has been a leader in encouraging WVU professors to take advantage of these books — some of which also can be printed out for a lesser fee than published texts.

Many textbooks these days can cost hundreds of dollars each, and Humphrey said he has been told the collective savings for just one class at WVU using the open source texts was nearly $85,000.

“It makes me feel good,” he said. “It’s exciting. I think it shows we have awareness. We have taken the issue, conceptualized it, and it’s becoming real.

“It’s also saving students money. That’s the encouraging part.”

Humphrey said his experience this year as student body president convinced him he wants to put public service above all else in life, and he has learned much from the role.

He said he is most proud of the “Service First” initiative set forth by the WVU Student Government Administration last year. An effort to celebrate WVU’s 150th birthday, the program placed 150 students in communities across the state to assist in public service projects.

Some helped locally last summer during post-flooding clean-up efforts in Marshall and Wetzel counties.

“That’s the role of students — to become a brigade that helps people,” he said. “We saw the lives we could impact. There’s more to West Virginia than the stereotypes people are led to believe.

“The people in our state saw hope. It’s about capitalizing on this, and unleashing it.”

Humphrey said he has learned much from serving with student government.

“Overall, it has been one of life’s best classes,” he said. “I have learned a tremendous amount from the people I’ve met, and the opportunities in front of me. It’s been a great life-learning lesson.

“I don’t know of any other experience where you get to understand the state of West Virginia so well. You are in a position to engage in all fronts, and I got a better understanding of the people I serve. It adds up to a life lesson.”

Humphrey isn’t certain he wants to enter politics, but he has influenced a piece of legislation pending in Charleston.

House Concurrent Resolution 41 would establish a Virtual Library Study Commission to conduct a study regarding development of a statewide virtual library, and members would have to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to state lawmakers no later than March 1, 2019.

The measure is before the House Education Committee.

Humphrey will start law school at WVU in the fall.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my studies at WVU,” he said. “What is drawing me to law is the ability to do good.”

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