BUCKHANNON — Ahead of graduation Friday night, Buckhannon-Upshur High School has released information on the top students as well as a full list of the 2024 graduates.
Mollie Lemasters has been named the top female student, while Josh Johnston is the top male student, the school announced. In total, 277 Buccaneers are set to graduate with the Class of 2024.
B-UHS graduation will be held Friday evening outside in the stadium. The ceremony starts at 6 p.m.; gates open at 4:45 p.m. Seniors are asked to be in the auditorium no later than 5 p.m.
Below, please find biographical essays submitted by the top students, as well as the full list of 2024 graduates:
Top female student – Mollie Lemasters
Mollie Elizabeth Lemasters plans to attend Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and major in Biomedical Engineering. Her interests include art, caring for her several exotic pets, fashion and sewing, reading and writing, and spending time with friends; she currently works for the study company Fiveable, hosting livestream cram-sessions for AP Precalculus students.
Mollie attended Buckhannon-Upshur High School during her junior and senior years, making a daily commute from Elkins, WV, and has maintained a schedule consisting only of AP classes during both years. She has received numerous honors, including representing the Southeast region in the sport of Highland Dance from 2018-2021, a top grade in Cell and Molecular Biology from Brown University, membership in the National Honor Society, and the West Virginia Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.
Top male student – Josh Johnston
Buckhannon-Upshur High School is my home. I’ve attended school there for four years now and it has been a truly fascinating experience. Between the different classes I’ve attended and the different people I have met I am truly grateful towards my mentors and fellow peers at B-UHS.
I have had good experiences, bad experiences, and many in-between. Even so, I will always remember this place as my home. I have to thank those few truly special teachers who helped launch my education into the stratosphere, and to my parents who always cheered me on for my hard work and dedication. I must thank the few friends I had as well who have always propped me up and reminded me of the simple things in life. Going back and forth between long hours of gaming to long hours of hard work and dedication. Putting forth my best effort is all anyone asked, and I might not be the smartest person in the room, but I pride myself on my dedication.
“Wanting Something does not give you the right to have it.” – Assassins Creed 2. “Your arm is off!” “No, it isn’t” – Monty Python and the Holy Grail. “Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” – Marilyn Monroe. These quotes come from friends that I’ve made many memories with during my time at B-UHS. I owe a lot to those who have supported me throughout my time here.
I asked around to see what my friends thought of me. Some said “Forgiving” or “Understanding.” Others said “Baffling” or “Unbecoming.” Well, I say I am who I am, and I can do great things when I put forth the effort. I believe anyone can do well in school as long as they dedicate themselves. Try your best, B-U.
2024 Graduates
- Madison Brooke Abel
- Mary Ellen M. Adams
- Matthew Stephen Adams
- Payton T. Adams
- Victoria A. Adams
- Bryton Owen Alderman
- Braden Parker Allen
- Jeremy William Allman
- Caleb J. Alloway
- Braylon Presley Anderson
- Skylar Chance Anderson
- Allison Faith Andrew
- Garrett J. Ball
- Kayson R. Ball
- Whitley Grace Batchelor
- Haleigh Nichole Beaty
- Emma L. Beckner
- Ava Lillian Ella Belt
- Aiden Bender
- Gavin Bender
- Jordan Allen Bender
- Lucas J. Bennett
- Kaylee Sage Black
- Oscar C. Blonn
- Easton Bobo
- Kendall Elizabeth Bohnsack
- Kevin M. Bohnsack
- Sarah Diane Bolton
- Broderick Elliott Bouscher
- Aubree Danielle Bozic
- Chloe Brown
- Jeremiah Burkhammer
- Erica Burnside
- Breonna Nichole Burr
- Tucker Lane Burr
- Alecsis Renay Butler
- Mya Luna Campbell
- Akeya N. Carr
- Christian M. Casto
- Zoey Lynn Casto
- Siara L. Chambers
- Lana Leann Cobb
- NinaMae G. Coberly
- William M. Coe
- Bryce Mason Cogar
- Jonathan Owen Colthart
- Kaleb Wyatt Conley
- Kara P. Conrad
- Eric Cook
- Austin Wyatt Coons
- Emma B. Corder
- Dakota M. Cowger
- Haylea Jean Crihfield
- Kaci Makala Crihfield
- Benjamin Currence
- Brinkley P. Currence
- Peyton Wade Cutlip
- Dylan Cutright
- Jenna LeAnn Cutright
- Owen D. Cutright
- Brianna Nicole Dalton
- Aldora Faye Daugherty
- Corey A. Davidson
- Drake Kellen Davis
- Kamry Davis
- Kyndal Jo Davis
- Kendall R. Defibaugh
- Jesse D. Demastes
- Riley Dennison
- Kaden R. Dietz
- Brookelyn E. Dilworth
- Jacob Hunter Dodd
- Ryan Werner Dowell
- Ethan Dowling
- Isaac Reed Elmore
- Dominik A. English
- Emily Brooke Evans
- Garett Lee Exline
- Levi Daniel Farnsworth
- Alexandria Jessica Fassett
- Lillian A. Fetty
- Gavin H. Fisher
- Jacob D. Fisher
- Amicia D. Friend
- Alexis Janean Fultz
- Liam Garcia
- Kari Hope Gay
- Curtis Jack Given
- Sarah Lillyan Gompers
- Brandon M. Gould
- Genevieve L. Gregory
- Hannah R. Gregory
- Nathanael L. Griffith
- Chloe Hamner
- Landen J Hamner
- Coley Rae Hamrick
- Cory Harris
- Heather Noelle Hayes
- Hunter Creed Haymond
- Jayden Paige Heater
- Alyssa M. Hefner
- Hodge’Nay Belannie O’Shea Henderson
- Samuel Vincent Hepburn
- Shawn M. Herron
- Noah K. Higham
- Greyson Hinchman
- Hayden K. Hollen
- Hannah Jade House
- Dani Brooke Hovis
- Bryan Howes
- Tyler Joseph Hubbard
- Hannah Marie Humphrey
- Abigail E. Hurst
- Jordan Tyler James
- Abigail Jarvis
- Lyryk Shalane Jefferson
- Ryleigh K. Jeffries
- Cassandra Johnson
- Bryson Gage Johnston
- Joshua John Allen Johnston
- Kyleigh Paige Keener
- Abby May Kelley
- Erika Grace Kelley
- Jaden Kelley
- Lyle Owen Kelley
- Ryan Seth Kelley
- Laiken Carley Kesling
- Isaac J. Kimble
- Jansen Ross Kimble
- Trevor Haygood Kiser
- Abigail Grace Klema
- Casadie M. Lahman
- Hannah Landis
- Anna Grace Lantz
- Johnathan Jay Lantz
- Savannah Denise Lashmit
- Jacklyn G. Leichliter
- Mollie Elizabeth Lemasters
- Chase William Lesondak
- Evan J. Linger
- Braden S. Lloyd
- Aalyiah N. Long
- Madolyn Hope Long
- Zackariah Luke Loudin
- Jacob I. Lowther
- Candace K. Lunsford
- Brett A. Mackey
- Charles A. Mackey
- Chloe Elizabeth Mackey
- Mackenzie Noel MacKnight
- Jackson Matthew Malone
- Braydon W. Marsh
- John Martin
- Ethan Wyatt Mayle
- Jeffrey Luke Mayle III
- Aries M. Mayo
- Brock A. McCartney
- Shania N. McCartney
- Katelynn Elizabeth McGinnis
- Haley E. Meeker
- Dylan Metz
- Jasmine Miller
- Tiffany G. Miller
- Devon Moffett
- Breanna Moore
- Ashton B. Moss
- Ella Paige Moss
- Michael Murphy
- Alexis B. Nine
- Rhianna M. Orsburn
- Benjamin Padgett
- Gabriella Jane Parke
- Payton Brian Paulhamus
- Dillon Gregory Peck
- Selena A. Perez
- Carrigan Raylynn Perry
- Robert A. Peterson
- Devin L. Phillips
- Payden Reese Pringle
- Crystal Dawn Pumphrey
- Faith Pumphrey
- Vanessa Quici
- Noah Blaine Radabaugh
- Grace N. Ramsey
- Savannah Morgan Reed
- Angel Reeves
- Miah Ra’Chelle Reger
- Drea Ellayne Rexroad
- Isabella M. Rexroad
- Holden D. Riffle
- Dirk Riley
- Ian Riley
- Keyara Lynn Riley
- Nathaniel M. Ringer
- Katherynne Grace Roberts
- Breez Robinson
- Emmy Lou Robinson
- Isaiah W. Robinson
- Liam B. Roby
- Tyler Rose
- Lainey Kathryn Rowan
- Ashton Blake Runyon
- Hannah Nicole Runyon
- Emily Grace Russell
- Franklin A. Ryan
- Abisola Florence Samuel
- Mia Sappey
- Clara Louise Scott
- Paige Scott
- Tristen Scott
- Cory T. Seech
- Rosaline E. Shackleford
- Amber Shoulders
- Katie Shoulders
- Destiny Lea Simmons
- Colton W. Smith
- Gavlin Thomas Smith
- Nathaniel W. Smith
- Ryan M. Smith
- Tyler D. Smith
- Grace Snider
- Ashton J. Snyder
- Jude W. Snyder
- Sarah Ivy Snyder
- Mya J. Sprouse
- Adam Dawson Stalnaker
- Emma Paige Starkey
- Jerron Cloud Steed
- Ian Strader
- Jeremy Alexander Streets
- Justin Streets
- Jaden G. Suder
- Keshia Marie Suttle
- Timothy J. Swift
- Joshua Daniel Tackett
- Jordan L. Taylor
- Addison LeAnn Tenney
- Jake C. Tenney
- Katlyn Dawn Marie Tenney
- Katrina I. Tenney
- Kaylea J. Tenney
- Nora E. Tenney
- Paige Tenney
- Trinity Faith Tenney
- Destinee R. Thomas
- Brayden Wyatt Thompson
- Ryan J. Thompson
- Ronald G. Truett
- Clay Villenave
- Harley D. Wagoner
- Marissa S. Walker
- Matthew Walls
- Christopher L. Wamsley
- Morgan Paige Wamsley
- Reese Wamsley
- Selena Ward
- Cadence H. Warner
- Kaylee Jean Weaver
- Jaden Micheal Westfall
- Charvelle White
- Emilee Hazel White
- Isaac James White
- Madison Jaide White
- Landon Wiant
- Maryam Judith Wiant
- Malaki C. Williams
- Lily Kathleen Willits
- Kenna Lea Wingfield
- Nicholas Luis Winter
- Chloe Ann Wolfe
- Loreli N. Wolfe
- Mia Isabel Wooden
- Luke Allen Yardley
- Aline P. Young
- Christopher Ray Zickefoose Jr.
- Tyler A. Zickefoose
- Damien Michael Zirkle