HODGESVILLE – It is a fact that most of the stars you can see in the night sky are bigger than our sun, and members of the Upshur County Board of Education were recently introduced to some of the biggest and brightest Upshur Stars in the school system.
At a recent board meeting, Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus introduced the first set of Upshur Stars for recognition: the Buckhannon-Upshur High School golf team and coach Jason Westfall. Stankus said the team won the Big 10 Conference Championship which was held at the Bel Meadows Golf Course.
Upshur County Schools Director of Wellness and Child Nutrition Eddie Vincent said the B-U golf team has become one of the system’s most successful athletic programs.
“Coach Westfall was recently named the Big 10 Golf Coach of the Year,” Vincent shared.
Westfall said the honor has everything to do with the kids.
“They do all of the hard work and they hit all of the golf shots,” Westfall said. “We are so proud of them.”
Collectively this year, the varsity golf team collected 54 wins and suffered only a dozen losses.
“They finished the Big 10 Conference with 33 wins and one loss this year,” Westfall said.
Stankus presented Westfall with an Upshur Star as well for being named the Coach of the Year.
Next, Kayla Yocum, Upshur County Schools Technology Systems/Digital Communication Specialist, introduced a Hodgesville Elementary School fifth grade student who received an Upshur Star.
“Bethany Cantor is a fifth-grade student who goes above and beyond on a daily basis,” Yocum said. “She learns all she can and goes over and above to be an excellent citizen. Bethany worked virtually last year and rocked that as well. Every assignment is always completed with her best effort and she continues to be counted on to be an outstanding citizen and a PAX leader.”
Bethany said she believes Hodgesville Elementary School is wonderful and said she feels Upshur County can do some great things.
Yocum said behind all great students are some great staff members.
“Tonight, we would like to welcome Mr. Dion Wamsley,” Yocum said. “Wamsley came as a substitute custodian and he has been amazing from the start. He not only took care of the daily cleaning duties but did anything extra that was asked, including painting on the playground, putting together bicycles and any other tasks as necessary. Mr. Wamsley, thank you for being an integral part of Upshur County Schools and always going over and above for our students.”
Next to receive an Upshur Star was Hodgesville Elementary School Title I Specialist Skylar Clevenger.
“Skylar shows characteristics of an Upshur Star daily,” Yocum read. “She is the Hodgesville Elementary School Title I Specialist and the knowledgebase for all things reading. She guides us in maintaining reading data, implementing best practices in reading, and guides our students in making great strides with their reading skills. Thank you, Mrs. Clevenger, for being a part of Hodgesville Elementary School and a good part of Upshur County Schools.”
Finally, Bailey Moody talked about how it feels to be a student in Upshur County Schools and her hopes and dreams for her future education.
“Hello. My name is Bailey and I am a fifth-grade student at Hodgesville Elementary School,” Baily said. “My favorite thing about Hodgesville is that all of the teachers are well-educated. When I am in their classrooms, I feel like all of the teachers know what they are doing.”
Bailey said next year she will be moving on to Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School.
“When I think about the middle school, I imagine being more free because we can choose different classes and change classrooms,” Bailey said. “When I heard that the county was going to build a new school, I became very excited because I know one day, I will be able to walk those hallways and sit in those classrooms.”
