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BUILDING, CODING AND CONNECTING

Applied AI and Data Analytics freshman already building businesses and meeting industry leaders

By West Virginia University

January 12^th, 2026

Meet Ethan Weaver, a first-year West Virginia University student juggling dual degrees in applied artificial intelligence and data analytics and in finance, plans for his second business and involvement in more student organizations than you can count on one hand.

At 19, the Grafton, West Virginia, native is venturing into something new, as part of the inaugural class of the Applied AI and Data Analytics Program at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics. He’s a member of a cohort of students learning to develop, deploy and manage the AI technologies companies rely on to stay competitive.

Growing up just 30 minutes from Morgantown, he always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur.

He proved that drive early on. Over the summer of 2023, he worked as a lifeguard at the nearby lake and a grocery order fulfiller at Walmart, then as a marina attendant while also serving coffee as a barista before climbing to assistant manager at the Whistle Stop Café.

Alongside these jobs, he had an urge to build something of his own. Starting small, he resold sneakers and clothing on the side. Then came his first licensed business, Weaver Auto and Marine Detailing, something that could help him save for college and tap into what he soon would be studying: a mobile car and boat detailing service that brought in more than $10,000 in four months, all while still working at the café.

“It was a strategic combination of three things,” Weaver said. “I needed to pay for my education, I identified a gap in the market for mobile marine and car detailing, and I leveraged my previous networks in my community to secure those initial clients.”

But it was his father, who works at the MITRE Corporation supporting U.S. government agencies, guided him to envision the automation side of business for his future.

“My dad is a lead systems engineer, so I grew up in a technical environment. I have always enjoyed building computers, but I started experimenting with AI models early on,” Weaver said. “Seeing the potential there, combined with my family background, made this path feel natural.”

When WVU rolled out the new Applied AI and Data Analytics Program, Weaver found his footing. He switched to the new major and added finance, a combination he sees as an ideal foundation of skills to succeed in a rapidly changing, tech-driven business environment.

“I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Weaver said. “My goal is to launch a scalable AI automation firm. Pairing finance with applied AI provides the ideal foundation. It allows me to understand both the technical architecture of the products and the economic strategy required to grow.”

Seen with a classic 1950s Chevrolet Bel Air, WVU freshman Ethan Weaver runs his own business, Weaver Auto and Marine Detailing.

The logo for WVU freshman Ethan Weaver's small business.

HANDS ON, EYES TO THE FUTURE

What sets the WVU Applied AI and Data Analytics Program apart is its emphasis on firsthand experience and real practice. Weaver hasn't waited for upper-level coursework to start using what he is learning.

Through Data Driven WV, organizations, businesses, nonprofits and government entities pair with WVU students and faculty to tackle real-world data challenges and create technical solutions.

His current project involves building data visualizations and an interactive county map for Partners in Community Outreach, a nonprofit that provides in-home family services across the state.

“They are an in-home family visiting program. We are building data visualizations to help them better track their impact,” Weaver said.

He is learning Power BI data visualization software through a project with Data Driven WV and just earned Excel certification in BCORE 121, building practical expertise and gaining familiarity with a wide variety of technical tools businesses may employ.

With each new program and technique, he’s expanding his tool belt to tackle challenges and design AI solutions that can make an impact. Weaver is already creating real remedies for West Virginia communities and is eager to take on more, applying these skills further and growing his resume of experience.

“We are going to be able to step into businesses and work alongside them to solve actual problems,” Weaver said. “It’s about getting hands-on, tangible experience, rather than just learning in a classroom.”

Teen smiles in front of stock ticker. He wears a navy sweater with gold stripes, and a collared shirt. A window overlooks a river. — Ethan Weaver is a WVU student juggling dual degrees in applied artificial intelligence and data analytics and in finance.

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

In Weaver's next venture, he hopes to tackle a problem he sees across the state: small businesses falling behind as artificial intelligence transforms industries.

“Small businesses are at risk of being left behind,” he said. “Whether it’s due to a lack of resources or simply not knowing where to start, there is a massive opportunity to help these owners leverage automation to compete with larger companies.”

While still in the research phase, his vision for AI automation will help small companies complete routine tasks like sorting emails, drafting responses and organizing client information. The goal is simple: save businesses time and money while freeing and empowering employees to focus on the most important work.

Soon, he expects the coursework to align with his business plans once he digs deeper into core classes. He also hopes to join a cohort for Vantage Ventures, a startup accelerator at WVU that provides technical assistance and funding to entrepreneurs.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTIONS

Beyond Data Driven WV, Weaver’s in the Management Information Systems Association, the Finance and Investments Club (where he competes on an analyst team managing a mock million-dollar portfolio) and the Entrepreneurship Club. He’s an apprentice in the Alumni Mentorship Program, paired with a seasoned West Virginia entrepreneur to gain guidance and professional insight to help him navigate and grow his career.

The WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab, a one-stop innovation and commercialization network, is a place he feels particularly at home. He’s utilizing the LaunchLab for hands-on idea development support, mentorship, prototyping resources and a collaborative space as a sort of “training wheels,” helping him test and build his business concepts this semester.

“It is amazing to me to be around people who think like I do,” Weaver said. “Here, I’m able to talk to and communicate with people who see and think similarly. It's been a big help; they can help you develop your idea and move step-by-step. They assist you through every part of developing your business.”

Both Data Driven WV and WVU LaunchLab host a variety of speakers from diverse companies and industries. Weaver engages with them all, making a point to approach speakers, exchange contact information and schedule follow-up meetings.

“I’ve had meetings with CEOs just by approaching them after a presentation,” Weaver said. “The environment here bridges the gap between students and industry leaders.”

After taking on 16 credits his first semester (plus 15 dual enrollment credits from high school that will make him a sophomore by spring), Weaver has hit his stride.

“I realized whenever I got here, college really is for me. There are so many different opportunities, so many different people to network with and my main goal coming to college was to get that real-life experience in the major I wanted.”

WVU student Ethan Weaver networks with John Robinson of Kentro, a digital services firm modernizing IT for federal agencies, focusing on data, AI, cloud and Salesforce solutions.

Ethan Weaver is part of a group photo with the Management Information Systems Association.

WVU student Ethan Weaver at Reynolds Hall.

WHY AI?

Before committing to a brand-new program, Weaver and his father had one crucial question: How would the curriculum keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI?

“The field is evolving rapidly, so my biggest question was adaptability,” Weaver said. “We learned that the faculty are deeply embedded in the industry. They aren’t just teaching a textbook; they are flexing the curriculum in real-time as the technology changes. That flexibility sold me.”

Faculty members teaching the advanced AI courses stay current with industry developments and modify their courses as needed.

For other students considering the Applied AI and Data Analytics Program, Weaver offers advice from the student perspective: dig deeper than surface-level interest and explore the technical side further.

“You can be interested in AI, but you need to understand the architecture behind it,” he said. “It goes so much deeper than just using ChatGPT. My advice is to go deeper and explore how these models are built and deployed.”

MAKING EVERY MOMENT COUNT

Beyond academics and entrepreneurship, Weaver has found a sense of belonging at WVU that makes the drive from Grafton feel much farther.

“I mean, it’s a big university, but at the same time, it’s so closely intertwined. Everybody is really nice and willing to help you with anything. You can just go up to someone and literally start a conversation.”

The professors have exceeded his expectations, too. “These have been some of the best teachers I’ve had,” said Weaver, giving special recognition to Li Wang and Brad Price for mentorship and guidance.

Whether he is brewing drinks, detailing boats, building AI solutions or networking with CEOs, Weaver approaches everything with the same philosophy.

“You really get out as much as you put in,” he said.

For now, that means early mornings on campus, watching the sunsets from study rooms and a calendar so full it looks like a Tetris board, and while that could overwhelm some college freshmen, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I am incredibly grateful for the position I’m in,” he said. “The schedule is demanding, but I wouldn’t trade this momentum for anything.”

Teenage person smiles, looking over their shoulder in a modern office. A large screen displays a colorful graph. — Ethan Weaver is part of the first class of students in the WVU Applied AI and Data Analytics Program.

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Footnotes

Story by Katie Short. Photos by Jennifer Shephard, and provided by Ciera Briscoe and Kentro.

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FootNotes

Story by Katie Short. Photos by Jennifer Shephard, and provided by Ciera Briscoe and Kentro.

THE PLACE IT BELONGS

BUILDING, CODING AND CONNECTING

Applied AI and Data Analytics freshman already building businesses and meeting industry leaders

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