Upshur County Schools recognizes three Golden Horseshoe winners

News Release
May 8, 2022

BUCKHANNON—Three students at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School were recognized as 2022 Golden Horseshoe Winners. Top-scoring students in each county receive the esteemed award and are inducted as “knights” of the Golden Horseshoe Society.

Eighth-graders Declan Gowers, Cody Hanline and Lila Wright received this prestigious honor for demonstrating exceptional knowledge of West Virginia history on the state-administered exam. Winners will be recognized at the Golden Horseshoe ceremony on June 14 at the WV Culture Center in Charleston.

Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, Superintendent of Upshur County Schools, shared, “We are proud of our students and the efforts they put forth to achieve such academic excellence. This exam requires extensive knowledge about the state of West Virginia, and it is an honor to see our students receive this prestigious award.”

Samantha Leput, Principal of Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School, said, “It is an honor to receive a Golden Horseshoe. Our students are dedicated to their studies and work hard to prepare for this test. They should be proud of themselves for this achievement. Having a Golden Horseshoe gives bragging rights for the rest of your life.”

The Golden Horseshoe Test has been administered to students in West Virginia since 1931. As a symbol of scholastic achievement, the Golden Horseshoe honors students who excel in the study of West Virginia including history, geography, economics, and civics.

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