Leadership graduates conclude term

Filled with the excitement of having completed their year-long program, members of the 2008-09 Class of Leadership Fayette County were awarded with certificates and a commitment of $500 toward college expenses during commencement ceremonies held May 17. West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Kelley Goes urged the graduates to “seize the brass ring and go for all of your dreams.”

Goes, a native of Braxton County, and a graduate of Braxton County High School, told the graduates that they were equipped with the tools to succeed but warned that “hard work is now the key to your future success.” 

The 12 graduating students and their families were honored with a catered banquet as program sponsors and curriculum providers were on hand to salute them for their achievements and effort.

“These students are indeed the future leaders of Fayette County and what they have learned and been exposed to through this wonderful program is a model of what we need to be doing throughout West Virginia,” Goes said. 

This year’s members marked the eighth graduating class of a program originally conceived during a Chamber of Commerce community forum. The graduation banquet is named in honor of C.R. “Bud” Hill Jr., a longtime leader in the community who was instrumental in getting the project off the ground along with the Chamber, the county commission and the Board of Education.

Scholarships are awarded in the names of current and past county leaders and are supported by business and community donations. To date, the program has awarded $48,000 in college stipends and delivered in excess of $120,000 in programming. 

Graduates this year included the following students who received these awards: 

* Jenna Ellison, of Oak Hill High School, received the Oak Hill Rotary Scholarship honoring Gene Larrick.

* Desiree Hughes, also of Oak Hill, received the Pamela Payne Wright Memorial Scholarship presented by Appalachian Power Company.

* Flynn Pollard of Oak Hill received the Kenneth Burgess Memorial Scholarship presented by Hamilton, Burgess, Young & Pollard.

* Noah Sparks, of Midland Trail High School, received the Ansted Lions Club Scholarship in memory of Raymond McVey Jr.

* Zach Morris, from Valley High School, received the Melba White Memorial Scholarship presented by the Fayette County Education Fund.

* Alison Kuhl, of Mount Hope High School, received the Larry Parsons Memorial Scholarship presented by Chamber President Laura Kiliany of behalf of the Fayette County Education Fund.

* Rebecca Casto, a home-schooled student from Fayetteville, received the Jon A. Dragan Memorial Scholarship.

* Mariah Tincher, of Meadow Bridge High School, received a Jon A. Dragan Memorial Scholarship as well.

* Marrah Porter, also of Meadow Bridge, received the United Bank Scholarship honoring Guy Dooley Jr.

* Kaitlyn Wilburn, of Fayetteville High School, received an Ansted Lions Club Scholarship in memory of John Osborne.

* Amy Holly, also of Fayetteville, received the 4-C Economic Development Authority Scholarship honoring John Witt.

* Lacey  Andrews, of Meadow Bridge, received the Carrie Beth Bowling Memorial Scholarship presented by the Fayette County Education Fund.

Pat Ford, a longtime planning consultant used by Fayette County and the current Director of Economic Development in Weirton, had high praise for both the students and the program.

“I have been honored to be a part of this program and to see first-hand the great work that is done on behalf of Fayette County’s youth. For them to hear from people such as Secretary Goes and all of the other highly qualified people in this county and region speaks volumes about how much this community cares. It was a long drive from Weirton to Oak Hill, but I would not have missed this graduation for the world,” Ford said. 

Justin Martin, a Leadership graduate who now attends Berea College, told graduates via e-mail message that “I realize now that the skills I learned during that year have greatly enhanced my ability to succeed in college and in life. It is my hope that all of you realize what you have been given by this program.” 

The 2009-10 Class of Leadership Fayette County has been selected and students will begin preparing for the year-long program this summer. Class members are as follows: 

* Hannah Mitchell of Faytetteville High School;

* Thomas “Nash” Gwinn of Fayetteville;

* Molly Bates of Fayetteville;

* Matthew Lokant of Oak Hill High School;

* Cassandra Mochanoff of Oak Hill;

* Laynie Chappell of Midland Trail High School;

* Zachary Skaggs of Midland Trail;

* Gabrielle Grub of Valley High School;

* Morgan Reedy of Meadow Bridge High School;

* Laira Forren of Meadow Bridge;

* Connie Callison of Meadow Bridge; and

* Kasandra Callison of Meadow Bridge.