(Photo provided) Paden City High School seniors pose with their certificates of achievement. Front row, from left are Brook Gray and Brenna Clark. Back row, from left, are Riley Blake, Aaron Trader, Akira Burchard, Rrita Dani and Grace Hoagland.

The Fourth Annual Wetzel County Schools Academic Awards ceremony for grades 9-12 was held on April 8.

All seniors had the opportunity to win several cash prizes to assist with their future endeavors. Two students won $500 each – Rrita Dani from Paden City High School and Angelina Warren from Magnolia High School.

Any senior who earned their place in the top 15% of their class since their freshman year received special recognition by being inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame. Their names now appear on a plaque located at each respective high school.

The 2025 inductees included Shelby Price from Hundred High School; Sienna McKeever, Joellen Witschey, Kadyn McClure, Mackenzie McNeil, Caroline Heil, Mallory McDiffitt, Bethany Thomas, and Trinity Martie from Magnolia High School; Riley Blake from Paden City High School; and Gavin Derby from Valley High School.

The Senior Hall of Fame inductees had the chance to win one of the four $1,000 rewards. The winners of those cash prizes were Sienna McKeever (Magnolia High), Shelby Price (Hundred High), Gavin Derby (Valley High School) and Riley Blake (Paden City High School).

The ceremonies and cash prizes would not have been possible without the generous support from our sponsors: Antero Resources Corp., MLPX, EQT, Paden City Development Authority, Westlake Natrium , Anderson Orthodontics, Dr. Randy Zink, Sprouse Building Products, JW Tire, Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union, Pasco’s Pizza, David W. Harshberger, OD, New Martinsville Parks & Recreation Commission, Dailey Corporation, The Flower Basket and Gift Shop, Lisa Shepherd Insurance Agency, Riesbeck’s Food Markets, Sistersville Eye Care Center, The Paul Wissmach Glass Company, James S. Campbell, OD, Fahey-Leavitt Insurance Agency.

“Thank you all so much for supporting the academics of Wetzel County Students,” said Tammy Chambers, elementary director for Wetzel County Schools. “Congratulations to all participating students and their parents for their dedication to academic achievement.”