Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The academic achievements of the class of 2015 was celebrated Thursday evening at the Senior Awards Night at Pocahontas County High School.
Prior to announcing the award and scholarship recipients, National Honor Society president Vincent Harper recognized the senior and junior members of the academic organization.
Senior members are: Harper, vice president Danielle Cain, secretary Miles Goodall, treasurer Phillip Green, Corinne Airgood, Chad Burns, Kindra Carr, Jensen Dean, Alyssa Dunbrack, Jessica Ervine, Casondra Griffith, Natalie Hartzell, Adam Irvine, Kayla Lester, Stephen Mick, Alexandra Plate, Heather Pritt, Cary Robertson and David Rose.
Junior members are: Caitlin Barnes, Lara Baudler, Emily Boothe, Samantha Collins, Marilyn Creager, Olivia Dean, Tessa Himelrick, Audrey Lore, Makayla Marks, Melissa Murphy, Michelle Murphy and Matthew Rao.
Valedictorian David Rose was presented the PCHS faculty and staff valedictorian award. Rose plans to attend the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
Salutatorian Miles Goodall received the W.E. “Tweard” Blackhurst Award. The award is given in memory of Blackhurst, a noted conservationist, author and teacher.
Honor Graduates recognized and presented medals to wear at commencement were: Allysa Dunbrack, Miles Goodall, Casondra Griffith, Vincent Harper, Isaac Hise, Kayla Lester and David Rose.
Seniors with a cumulative 4.0 GPA or higher were Miles Goodall, Vincent Harper, Kayla Lester and David Rose.
Finishing their high school career with faithful attendance were Chad Burns, Danielle Cain, Casondra Griffith, Daniel Gum, Natalie Hartzell, Adam Irvine, Kimberly Lester, Cary Robertson, David Rose and Tresten Taylor.
The Greenbrier Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution recognizes high school students who demonstrate good citizenship by volunteering and working to improve their communities. Aaron Hickman was recognized for his efforts in the community.
Vincent Harper was recognized as a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
Kindra Carr received the Orr Lee McMann Award which is given in memory of McMann, who was an agriculture education teacher at PCHS.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory selected Casondra Griffith as the 2015 Outstanding Science Student.
The Sombrero Award for excellence in the promotion of Spanish at PCHS was presented to Miles Goodall.
Former Spanish teacher Mali Minter recognized members of the Spanish Club and Spanish Honor Society: Danielle Cain, SHS and Spanish Club secretary; Alyssa Dunbrack, SHS and Spanish Club treasurer; Miles Goodall, SHS president; Casondra Griffith, SHS; Natalie Hartzell, SHS and Spanish Club vice president; Kayla Lester, SHS secretary; Heather Pritt, Spanish Club president; and David Rose, SHS vice president.
Welding teacher Dervin Lambert recognized Birch Loudermilk and Cody McCarty for their completion of all the requirements in welding necessary to receive welding certification from the state of West Virginia.
SkillsUSA students were honored for their success at the state competition. Travis Taylor placed first in the carpentry competition and will compete at the national event in Louisville, Kentucky, in June.
The Team Works team – Wesley Brown, Chad Burns, Patrick Collins and Chris Varner – placed second at the state competition.
Students receiving a certificate for completion of agricultural education cour-ses in forestry who are now prepared for career opportunities in the agricultural industry are: Dakota Beverage, Joshua Carr, Brandon Cassell, Austin DeHaven, James Feury, Zachary Galford, Isaac Hise, Adam Irvine, Jason McPeak, Robert Nelson, Nash Rose, Stephen Simmons and Zachary Young.
Students who are Career Technical Education [CTE] completers work with the WIN Career Readiness program. Students must complete four courses in a particular technical program. The following students received either bronze, silver or gold certificates after completing the WIN assessment.
Gold certificates: Brittany Hannah, Isaac Hise, Adam Irvine, Alexandra Plate and Stephen Simmons.
Silver certificates: Shane Alderman, Dakota Beverage, James Campbell, Joshua Carr, Kindra Carr, Brandon Cassell, Jensen Dean, Austin DeHaven, Dyllen Doss, James Feury, Isaac Hise, Birch Loudermilk, Richard Mann, Cody McCarty, Cheyenne McClung, Robert Nelson, Nash Rose, Katlin Sharp and Devin Sheets.
Bronze certificates: Jason McPeak, Tresten Taylor, Vanessa Varner and Zackary Young.
Receiving certificates as juniors were: Chad Burns, Patrick Collins, Travis Taylor and Christopher Varner.
The PCHS Warrior Horizon Award, sponsored by the guidance office, is given to students who have demonstrated hard work, determination and perseverance to succeed throughout high school. This year, the award was presented to Birch Loudermilk and Izaac Ramsey.
Scottish Rite Awards were presented to Katlin Sharp, Stephen Simmons, Phillip Green, Heather Pritt, Kindra Carr and Olivia Knisely.
Superintendent Dr. Donald Bechtel recognized board of education student representatives Alexandra Plate and Heather Pritt.
Receiving the Promise Scholarship are: Corinne Airgood, Chad Burns, Danielle Cain, Jessice Ervine, Phillip Green, Casondra Griffith, Vincent Harper, Isaac Hise, Kayla Lester and David Rose.
The Virgil and Macel Harris Scholarship, sponsored by the Durbin Lions Club, was presented to Danielle Cain. The scholarship is in memory of Virgil who served as principal at Green Bank High School for 25 years and his wife, Macel, who taught in Pocahontas County.
The Associated Universities Incorporated Scholarship was presented to Adam Irvine and David Rose.
Receiving the Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound Bridge Program scholarship were Allysa Dunbrack, Brittany Hannah, Morgan Leyzorek and Kaitlin Sharp.
The WV TRiO scholarship was presented to Allysa Dunbrack.
Chad Burns was awarded the West Virginia Wesleyan Merit Scholarship and the Mason Crickard Scholarship.
The Davis & Elkins College Highlands Scholarship was received by Kyleen Alkire, Jessica Ervine, Sarah Lambert and Kaitlin Sharp.
Danielle Cain and Allysa Dunbrack received the West Virginia University Vandalia Scholarship.
The Marshall University Presidential Scholarship was presented to Kimberly Lester.
Heather Pritt received the Alderson-Broaddus University President Scholarship and the Alderson Broaddus Scholarship.
Kayla Lester received the Alderson Broaddus University Trustee Scholarship and the Alderson Broaddus Scholarship.
Bridgewater College presented the McKinney ACE Scholarship to Casondra Griffith.
Morgan Leyzorek received a scholarship to attend Berea College in Berea, Kentucky.
WyoTech, a school providing an education in technical based careers such as automotive, diesel, motorcycle and watercraft repair have accepted Phillip Green and Austin DeHaven as students.
United States Army Staff Sergeant Jeremy Thompson recognized Patrick Collins and Brice Galloway for the dedication and service to the United States.
Math teacher Leah Shinaberry presented Casondra Griffith with the Pocahontas County STEM Scholarship.
The Bland Memorial Scholarship, given in memory of Sr. Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland, was awarded to Kaitlin Sharp.
Sarah Lambert received the Dr. Layton H. “Tony” Beverage Memorial Scholarship. The award is given in memory of Beverage, a 1980 graduate of PCHS, who, in his career, was a teacher, football coach, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.
Shinaberry Public Trust Scholarships were presented to Corinne Airgood, Chad Burns, Kindra Carr, Allysa Dunbrack, Brittany Hannah, Vincent Harper, Natalie Hartzell, Adam Irvine, Kayla Lester, Heather Pritt and Cary Robertson.
Receiving the H.A. Yeager Memorial Scholarship was Sarah Lambert. The award is given in memory of Yeager, a longtime principal at Marlinton High School.
The Seneca Woodlands Woman’s Club and the Marlinton Woman’s Club jointly give a scholarship to a young woman pursuing a four year degree. The award was presented to Natalie Hartzell. Finalists Danielle Cain and Heather Pritt were also recognized.
The Raymond and Eva Shrader Scholarship was presented to Jessica Ervine.
The Snowshoe Foundation presented scholarships to Vincent Harper and Danielle Cain.
Adam Irvine received the Dr. Joseph Steffl Memorial Scholarship given by the Tucker Community Endowment Scholarship Fund.
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation presented the WP Black Scholarship to Kayla Lester.
Miss Pocahontas Pioneer Days Scholarships were presented by Jennifer Barlow to Alyssa Dunbrack, Alexandra Plate and Katlin Sharp.
Receiving the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau Scholarship was Brittney Hannah.
Tresten Taylor was awarded the Pendleton Community Bank Business, Accounting and Finance Scholarship.
The Norval Waugh Scholarship was presented to Allysa Dunbrack.
The National Wildlife Turkey Federation Pocahontas Strutters Conservation Scholarship, given in memory of William Dilley, was presented to Kindra Carr.
Casondra Griffith and Kindra Carr were awarded the Alice Rowan Waugh Memorial Scholarship.
Receiving the Emma S. Beard Memorial Scholarship were Kyleen Alkire, Amber Beverage, Faith Coleman, Tristin Day, Jensen Dean, Austin DeHaven, Jessica Ervine, Brice Galloway, Phillip Green, Olivia Knisely, Sarah Lambert, Kimberly Lester, Bobbie McNabb, Stephen Mick, Heather Pritt, Katlin Sharp, Stephen Simmons, Tresten Taylor, Vanessa Varner and Kaitlyn Wilfong.
The Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation Scholarship was presented to Jensen Dean and Stephen Simmons.
Brittney Hannah and Sarah Lambert received the Virgil W. Hanshaw Orphans Scholarship.
The Dr. Roland P. Sharp Scholarship was awarded to Corinne Airgood, Adam Irvine, Heather Pritt and Stephen Simmons.
Receiving the Hazel Dumire Barlow Scholarship was Miles Goodall.
The Helen and Clark Brumagin Memorial Scholarship recipients were Alyssa Dunbrack and Adam Irvine.
Brittney Hannah and Danielle Cain were awarded the Beulah Moore Scholarship.
Receiving the Ora Belle Thompson Sharp Scholarship was Danielle Cain.
The Gay and Becky Shinaberry and Beth Buck Scholarship was presented to Alexandra Plate.
The National Honor Society installed new officers for the 2015-2016 school year: President – Lara Baudler; vice president – Emily Boothe; secretary – Marilyn Creager; and treasurer – Samantha Collins.
The NHS shared its appreciation to Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation, City National Bank, First Citizens Bank and Pendleton Community Bank for sponsoring the awards night.