Nicole Vigneri serves in and embraces multiple roles within Adventure WV, including
First-Year Trip Leader, Guided Trip Leader, and staff member at the West Virginia
University Student Recreation Center Climbing Wall. Hailing from Forest Hill,
Maryland, she is currently a junior majoring in Computer Science at WVU. After
graduation, Nicole aspires to work in Information Technology to assist others
with technology and security issues.
Inspired by her own First-Year Trip as a freshman, Nicole has led First-Year Trips for the past two summers. Her love for rock climbing developed from climbing with her dad, along with personal trips. Additionally, she discovered Aerial Hammocking in her hometown and attended classes for two years before arriving at WVU. Over time, Nicole realized her passion for teaching, which greatly influences her roles at Adventure WV and the Climbing Wall at the Student Recreation Center.
During her first year at the Climbing Wall, Nicole took on various roles, including serving as the Kid’s Climbing Club Coordinator. Now, she works during open climbing hours, belays climbers, maintains safety, performs rescues if necessary, and teaches both introductory and intermediate Aerial Silks and Aerial Hammocks classes.
Nicole finds the most rewarding aspect of her work with Adventure WV is witnessing the growth of the participants she leads. “I like seeing my participants’ growth,” Nicole states, “Just growing, whether that’s like their personality, becoming a leader of some sort, or they’re doing activities they never thought they would have.” Throughout her time with Adventure WV and the Climbing Wall, Nicole has gained technical skills in Wilderness First Aid, various outdoor technical skills, rescue techniques, and overall safety and risk management. This experience also enhances her communication and teaching abilities, skills she finds valuable and beneficial in her academic life.
In addition to Aerial Silks, Aerial Hammocking, Belay Classes, and open climbing hours, the Climbing Wall hosts annual climbing competitions. The 2024 Fall WVU Boulder Bash Climbing Competition will take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024. For those unsure about participating, Nicole encourages them to “Just go.” She adds, “That’s a great opportunity to get to know people, and everyone is really nice!”
Boulder Bash Climbing Competition
Adventure WV has significantly shaped Nicole's college experience. She believes that getting involved can lead to discovering new interests, stating, “I think people should get involved because they may discover something that they never knew they liked.” Nicole explains, “I really like the community that we have with both the staff and the students I interact with. I feel like Adventure has now become like a family to me. I’ve developed my best friends here.”
To see all that the Climbing Wall has to offer and to learn more about employment opportunities, visit our website!