Braxton Citizens' News, Schools

BCHS Student Council takes honors at Fall Convention

By Shirley Shuman

BCHS student council advisor Lisa Vaughan praised her student council members for the honors and awards they received at the 89th Annual WV Student Council Fall Convention. “It truly was a great day to be from Braxton County,” she declared.

The Braxton County Student Council as a group earned three awards. They received the President’s Theme Award for the class competition food and clothing drive which they had held during the year. In that drive, 2,891 items were collected to benefit the Communities in School clothing closet and food pantry. The BCHS group’s scrapbook won gold level award—the highest possible award. The council also received a platinum level Honor Council Award, again the highest ranking possible.

Several individuals, both students and adults, were also honored. The Dale Hawley Award went to Kaylee Criner as one of the premier student leaders in West Virginia. Criner and Addison Grindo, who have served as state officers for the last year, received recognition for their service as well as for their ability to guide and advise the 2023 officers.

Receiving certificates for the workshop—Zentangale Goal Setting—which they presented to both middle and high school students were Madison Duffield and Kendall Bender. Emma Hardway and Jackson Davis also received certificates for what Advisor Vaughan called “being awesome leaders.”

Susan Kearns, co-advisor to the BCHS group, was elected to the Executive Board. She will serve as the board recorder. Vaughan will serve as chairman of the Executive Board this year.

Two special awards went to Vaughan and Lori Stover-Williams. Vaughan, who has served as student council advisor for 15 years, was named West Virginia Student Council Advisor of the Year. Stover-Williams received the Principal of the Year award.

Stover-Williams, assistant principal and CTE director at BCHS, was pleased with the award. “I am honored that my students and staff nominated me,” she said. “I have the best team at Braxton County High School. My staff is always willing to go the extra mile, and my students are the absolute best. They bring an upbeat positive attitude each day. They are proud Eagles,” she noted, adding “I am blessed to lead such a great group and to be part of an outstanding community that supports us.”

Braxton students attending this year’s fall convention included Kaylee Criner, the high school student council president and state vice-president; Addison Grindo, the high school student council secretary and state secretary; Emma Hardway, high school vice president; Jackson Davis; Madison Duffield, historian; Kendall Bender; Braelyn Criner; Cooper Baldwin; and Bianca Grindo.