WHEELING — Andrew Komorowski takes the first steps on an important and arduous path this week — beginning law school at West Virginia University. Before he started that trek, though, the Wheeling native tackled one just as tough.

When he reached the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine this July, he completed a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, a nearly 2,200-mile journey that tested him both physically and mentally. Reaching the finish of that 4½-month trip is something Komorowski said has made him even more prepared for this academic road ahead.

The seeds for Komorowski’s quest began germinating last year while a senior at Robert Morris University. The RMU honors program sponsored a partnership with national parks, and among last year’s trips was a stint on the Appalachian Trail. He part

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