LEWISBURG (WVDN) – The Greenbrier County Board of Education celebrated a wide variety of student achievement during the Tuesday, April 12, meeting.
Among discussion of other county business, such as a resolution declaring vaping a public nuisance (see “BoE declares nicotine e-cigarettes a ‘public nuisance’” at wvdn.com), the board took time out to applaud the efforts of students at all levels of the local education system.
“I think this is really exciting for us because, over the last two years, we weren’t really allowed to do time out of applause [at board meetings],” said board president Jeanie Wyatt. “Even if we had them in the last year, they were masked, and we weren’t able to see their faces. It’s exciting to see everyone here tonight.”
First was the GEHS engineering department. Since the GEHS InvenTeam’s mid-grant demonstration on March 3 (see “InvenTeam Demonstrates Caver Locator” at wvdn.com/28559), the team has continued to refine the design of their caver-finding device.
This includes a 3-D printed case design for the device, made in part by biodegradable filaments, extended battery life better fitted to the new case design, and LED lights making the device more visible in the dark.
The team continues to fundraise for travel expenses to present the project in June at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Eurekafest. So far, about $20,000 has been raised, and approximately $5,000 remains.
“I don’t know if you all realize that one of [Mr. Kevin Warfield, the InvenTeam instructor]’s classes created the original design for the aquatic center that just opened,” Wyatt said. “Not only are they contributing [with the device], they’re contributing back to our community. We are so proud of all of you all.”
The board celebrated their achievements with several rounds of applause during their presentation.
 |
| The GEHS InvenTeam |
***
The board continued on to honor the 2021-2022 State Math Field Day winners and participants.
This includes:
Fourth grade: Sean Clendenen of Lewisburg Elementary; Tayton Martin of Lewisburg Elementary; and second place winner Arabella Webb of Lewisburg Elementary.
Fifth grade: Emma Vincent of Lewisburg Elementary; Ellie Burns of White Sulphur Springs Elementary; and Ava Taylor of Frankford Elementary.
Sixth grade: sixth place winner Ben Butler of Western Greenbrier Middle School (WGMS); Noah Ramos of WGMS; and second place winner Drew McClung of Eastern Greenbrier Middle School (EGMS).
Seventh grade: first place winner Bhavya Patel; Russell Reynolds of EGMS; sixth place winner Elijah Smailes, homeschooled student.
Eighth grade: Nathaniel Vincent of EGMS; fifth place winner Noah Edwards of EGMS; and Andrew Holt of EGMS.
Ninth grade: first place winner Sophia Nguyen of Greenbrier East High School (GEHS); third place winner Mollie Pack of GEHS; fourth place winner Jakob Tomlinson of GEHS;
Tenth, 11th, and 12th grades: third place winner Kendra Culyer of GEHS; fifth place winner Jonathan Nguyen of GEHS; Evan McClure of GEHS; Rylee Norman of GEHS; Reyton Norman of GEHS; Ian Hamilton of GEHS; Abby Dilley of GEHS; Carmen Fogus of GEHS; and Elizabeth Bishop of GWHS.
Teacher Jenna Banton-Knisely also noted some students would be continuing on to the next competition, saying, “we wish all of these kids the best of luck when they go to Morgantown” to compete at the next level.
 |
| Some of the Math Field Day Winners |
Finally, the Greenbrier East High School Future Health Professionals (HOSA) students were welcomed with a round of applause from the board and the crowd.
“The GEHS HOSA students, under the direction of Margaret Dodd, traveled to Marshall University on March 18 and 19 to compete in the WV State HOSA Leadership Conference Competition,” reads the meeting agenda.
The team is also working on creating lesson plans for both the middle school and high school, including activities on the dangers of vaping for the middle schoolers and an escape room for the high schoolers.
The winners include:
Spirit award: first place; vet science: first place winner Alexia Tipton; public health; first place winner Madeline Carver and first place winner Sheridan Tolley;
MRC: first place winners Josi Ervin, Grace Hylton, and Jonathan Nguyen; prepared speaking: second place winner Lauren Smith; researched persuasive speaking: first place winner Julia Smith.
Health career display: third place winners Sara Whitt and Daisha Summers; creative problem solving: first place winners Abigail Adkins, Elyza Crane, and Halianna Holliday.
Forensic science: first place winners Olivia Plybon and Heather Jones; cultural diversity: first place winner Shania Davis and second place winner Sophia Nguyen.
HOSA happenings: first place winner Grace Hylton; health issues exam: first place winner Elyza Crane, second place winner Halianna Holliday, and third place winner Grace Hylton.
“Thank you all,” Wyatt said. “You always represent Greenbrier County schools well, and we appreciate all your efforts.”
 |
| GEHS HOSA students |
