West Virginia awards 16 schools for efforts preparing students for college

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The “Champion of College Access and Success” recognition awards are honoring principals, counselors and staff members from 16 high schools across the Mountain State. The schools have been selected for the awards for their efforts to educate students about higher education opportunities after graduation.

Each year, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission presents the awards to select schools that “go above and beyond to help students and their families plan for college.”

The schools that received the award have exceeded expectations in helping their students learn about the opportunities available after they complete high school, Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education, said.

Armstrong Tucker also said that all schools in the Mountain State have been “working diligently” to help West Virginia reach its goal of hitting a 60% post-secondary education attainment rate by 2030. West Virginia Gov.ernor Jim Justice set this goal in 2018 through a campain called “West Virginia’s Climb” to ensure at least 60% of the state’s workforce has a formal education.

“These 16 Champion schools have worked hard to help students prepare for a certificate or degree after graduation,” Armstrong Tucker said. “We must all work together to help students pursue their academic goals and ensure our state’s workforce remains competitive. I want to thank these schools for going the extra mile to help their students discover the many education and training opportunities they have right here in West Virginia.”

Schools that earned Champion recognition for this year are:

Bluefield High School – Mercer County
Bridgeport High School – Harrison County
Cross Lanes Christian School – Kanawha County
Doddridge County High School – Doddridge County
Heritage Christian School – Harrison County
John Marshall High School – Marshall County
Liberty High School (Raleigh) – Raleigh County
Meadow Bridge High School – Fayette County
Morgantown High School – Monongalia County
Paw Paw High School – Morgan County
PikeView High School – Mercer County
Poca High School – Putnam County
Scott High School – Boone County
Tug Valley High School – Mingo County
Van Junior/Senior High School – Boone County
Winfield High School – Putnam County

The WV HEPC says to be considered a Champion of College Access and Success, high schools must participate in three college-planning milestone events during the school year: