Each week Buckhannon-Upshur High School features two Fine Arts Students of the Week to highlight the work students are doing in the art world.

Visual Arts Student of the Week: Joan Wilkerson

Grade: 11th

Student Organizations/Ensembles/Clubs/Arts Activities (in-school): National Art Honor Society, Youth Leadership Association/Youth in Government

Student Accolades (Academic & Fine Arts): National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program, Honor Roll

Favorite Roles/Pieces/Shows Performed/Etc: Currently taking the AP Art and Design course, where I have created several pieces I am proud of, such as an Eye collage and painting of Mushrooms.

Why are the arts important to you? They are an opportunity to be creative and express yourself.

Future Plans: Attend college for STEM

Arts Teacher(s) Name (in school and out): Ms. Heidi Thompsom

Performing Arts Student of the Week: Jordan James

Grade: Senior

Student Organizations/Ensembles/Clubs/Arts Activities (in-school): Concert and Marching Band, Jaz Band, Choir, B-U SoundWaves, Thespians

Student Extracurriculars Arts (Community): B-U Community Band

Student Accolades (Academic & Fine Arts): Member of both the 2024 WVACDA All-State Chamber Choir and the WVVMA All-State Chorus. School representative for WV Poetry Out Loud. 

Favorite Roles/Pieces/Shows Performed/Etc: Lord Capulet and Mayor Shinn are my favorite theatre roles. My favorite band song is “The Witch and the Saint” by Steven Reineke.

Why are the arts important to you? The arts provide an escape from the stresses of my life and give me a chance to use my creativity productively. 

Future Plans: Go to college as an undecided major, but I plan to keep the arts in my academic life and beyond. 

Additional Info: I also love to write and hope to one day publish something, be it a novel or even a collection of poetry. 

Arts Teacher(s) Name (in school and out): Jeremiah Smallridge, Taylor High, Kris High, Tyler Perske, BJ Hoffman