Education News

Posted: May 7, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Debi O’Dell

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia announced recently that, as part of its fifth annual Ks for Kids program, the company will donate $5 to Elk River Backpack Blessings for every strikeout thrown by a West Virginia Power pitcher this season at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston.

The Elk River Backpack Blessings program provides food to elementary school students in the area who face a food shortage by providing them with a backpack of nutritious, child-friendly food at the end of each week. Since 2012, Elk River Backpack Blessings has grown to serve 500 children in seven schools in the Elk River community. The program is designed to help ease the hunger of children in need so that they can attend school regularly, have better health and are more successful in their classwork and overall daily lives.

“Through our annual Ks for Kids program, Highmark West Virginia and the West Virginia Power have the opportunity to spotlight an outstanding program in our community that is making a difference in the lives of our children,” said Highmark West Virginia President Jim Fawcett. “We all have a stake in creating healthier communities, and our support of Elk River Backpack Blessings is just one of the ways we can help give back.”

“Elk River Backpack Blessings appreciates the support of Highmark West Virginia and the West Virginia Power baseball team to help provide healthy, nutritious, child-friendly foods to put in weekend backpacks,” Elk River Backpack Blessings Director Debi O’Dell said. “It takes the whole community to keep our kids healthy and happy.”

Since 2014, $10,000 has been awarded through Ks for Kids to four different organizations.

“The West Virginia Power baseball team is excited to be partnering with two great organizations – Highmark West Virginia and Elk River Backpack Blessings – for the Ks for Kids program all season long at Appalachian Power Park,” said Tim Mueller, general manager of the West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness about child hunger in our community.”

The 2018 West Virginia Power baseball season got underway on April 5 with the squad’s first home game against the Greenville Drive. This year marks the 14th season for the West Virginia Power.

According to the Elk River Backpack Blessings website, a vendor sale to benefit the food program is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. The sale will be held at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church at 401 Church Road in Pinch.

Vendor registration is $20 per table plus at least one item from the vendor wares to be offered as a raffle prize. Only one vendor per company is permitted. To register or learn more, contact Jennifer O’Dell at 304-389-0393.

Hot dogs and barbecues will be available for purchase at the sale.

More information regarding the Elk River Backpack Blessings program — including how and where to make donations to the effort — is posted at www.elkriverblessings.org

Information is also available by sending email correspondence to erbpblessings@gmail.com, visiting the Elk River Backpack Blessing Facebook page or calling 304-767-0699.

By: Ali Barrett, News Editor | Posted: April 25, 2018 | Source: The Daily Athenaeum

Starting May 4, Mountaineers will be headed off in all directions to pursue their summer vacations, jobs and internships and other fun plans. We talked to several students about their plans for the summer. Here is what they said:

llse Turner

Ilse Turner, a junior international studies and political science student from Virginia Beach, Va., said, “I got a really amazing opportunity; I got accepted to study at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan this summer,” Turner said.

Turner will be spending a month in Japan to study the Japanese language, culture and political science.

“When I’m not in Japan, I run a summer camp for adults and children with physical and intellectual disabilities,” Turner said. The camp is called Camp Horizon and is in Norfolk, Va.

Aurora Beth Harper

Aurora Beth Harper, a senior criminology student from Ivanhoe, Va. said she planned to go back to her hometown to work at a historical mansion, called Fort Chiswell Mansion.

“I’m [also] going to the beach three or four times,” Harper said.

She also plans to go to New York for a week.

Ally Supple

Ally Supple, a freshman journalism student from Barberton, Ohio, said, “I’m going back home for the summer and working at a local restaurant that I worked at before I came to college,” Supple said.

Supple said she had two big plans: Going to a Logic concert and traveling to Myrtle Beach with her boyfriend’s family.

Supple said she’d never gone to Myrtle Beach before, so she was “really excited.”

Jocee Chapman

Jocee Chapman, a junior geology student from Elkview, W.Va., said, “I might be going to the beach with my boyfriend and probably camping a few times with my family,” said Chapman.

“My family usually goes to this place in Burnsville, like you take a camper there and everything, but we recently sold our camper,” Chapman said.

Because of this, Chapman said her family is considering a stay in a Greenbrier cabin.

Chapman said she also plans to work at Wendy’s this summer.

Byron Querrey

Bryon Querrey, a senior marketing student from Ripley, W.Va., said had to take a class over the summer, but was also hoping to get a job.

“I had an internship over the spring, and they offered me a job at the beginning of summer,” Querrey said.

He work involved marketing campaigns and video work for Morgantown businesses.

“I think it’s cool making something that people will enjoy,” Querrey said.

Querrey said he may be going on vacation, but his main goal was making money.

Posted: April 24, 2018 | Source: Clay County Free Press

On Thursday, April 12, members of the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, along with parents, grandparents, and community members, facilitated Get a Life for the eighth grade students at Clay County Middle School. (more…)