The evening of January 15th, a cold winter had settled in on the community of Pine Grove. Patches of snow covered the ground and for the most part it appeared the 352 residences had hunkered down for the night. But in reality, nearly 300 of the residents were gathered in the Byrd Center for a special recognition of the town’s finest students.

Ms. Jacqueline Shepard, Principal of Valley High School along with her staff had gathered together parents and students to recognize their achievement in the first half of the school year. Ms. Shepard stated, “We asked the teachers to look at students for not only academic achievements, but include students who have shown great improvements in their personal growth.”

Teachers and staff came back with 101 students who met the requirements to be recognized in their first semester. Valley currently has an enrollment of 173 students. With that information, it shows that 58.3% of the students are striving to utilize the education in the system.

Mr. Morris, assistant Principal explained, “This program is in step with the changes the Board of Education members established last year to look at student achievements, not in the traditional way of the past, salutatorian and valedictorian, but to recognize more students that meet the new guidelines with High Honors and Highest Honors.”

Students of the Month: September – Kennedie Coen, Jocelyn Chipps. October – Dakota Hickman-Dotson, Julian Conaway. November – Luke Beaty, Savanna Burdine. December – Trevor Martin, Alexis Smallwood.

Teacher Recommendations: CTE / Electives: Mr. Morris – Excellence in Animal Processing – Sam Brown, Coy Scyoc, Ethan VanCamp:

Mr. Blair – Excellence in the Funky Florist – Savannah Burdine, Julian Conaway, Aliyah Shreve.

Mr. Miller – Excellence in Health – Mazie Harrison, Alexis VanDyne.

Ms. Dennison – Excellence in Art – Savannah Anderson, Savanna Burdine, Julian Conaway, Jocelyn Chipps, Abby Derby, Kimberly Howard.

Mr. Clemons – Excellence in Music – Abby Derby, Emma Gump, Ellie Johnston, Adam White, Rylee Harrison, Arien Partridge.

Mr. Randall – Excellence in Business – Rylan Adams.

Ms. Lopez – Spanish Award – Isabella Baker, Jocelyn Chipps Academics.

Mr. Spicher – Excellence in English – Kylie Lemons, Sunni Irvin, Ruthie Edgell, Jocelyn Chipps.

Mr. Carson – Excellence in English – Savanna Burdine, Brady Reese, Ashlynn Smith. Mr. Fluharty – Excellence in English – Jailyn Brown, Abby Derby, Jearold Fordyce, Dustin, Haught, Tripp Ice, Julie Yoho.

Excellence in Math – Jailyn Brown, Erin Mason, Jearold Fordyce, Abby Derby, Julie Yoho. Excellent Work Ethic – Kyndra Greathouse. Most Improved – William Willis.

Ms. Kitko – Excellence in Math – Laiden Stevens, Emma Wade, Trevor Martin, Cason Haught, Emma Bumgardner, Aubrey Gump, Alanna Hendershot, Alisha Bassett, Michaela Miller, Jocelyn Chipps.

Ms. Stackpole – Excellence in Math – Elynn Derby. Most Improved – Marissa Derby, Aydan Shaw.

Mr. Derby – Excellence in Math – Aidan Feils, Isabella Stillwagoner, Graycen Wichterman. Excellence in Chemistry – Aubrey Gump, Brady Reese.

Ms. Wildman – Passed AP Pre-Cal exam – Brady Reese. Excellence in Coding – Brady Reese. Excellence in Science – Kaden Ueltschy.

Mr. Wright – Excellence in Science – Zane Fluharty, Mazie Harrison. Excellence in History – Elynn Derby, Trevor Martin.

Ms. Johnson – Excellence in History – Aliyah Shreve, Gracie Rogers, Cason Haught, Jocelyn Chipps, Zane Fluharty, Kylie Lemons. Excellence in Mythology – Lincoln Tennant.

Mrs. Lloyd – Excellence in ELA – Kaitlynn Harris, Dakota Hickman-Dotson. Excellence in Math – Keaton Barr. Helping Hands – Arionna Kuhn, Jacob Harrison, William Willis

Honors: Freshmen – Gabriel Barnes, Cori Bates, Ellie Johnston, Kendall Loy, Camden Tirpak

Sophomores – Madison Clayton, John Fordyce, Brooklynn Jones, Anime Mason, Devin Miller, Emmy Neff.

Juniors – Zane Highley, Koleton Kinkade, Ethan Kuhn, Addyson Larue, Aubree Mason, Camden Sapp.

Seniors – Gryffith Briggs, Alexis Highley, Brady Reese, Gracie Rogers, Alexis Smallwood, Emily Willey.

High Honors: Freshmen – Jailyn Brown, Kylie Lemons, Demi Long. Sophomores – Alisha Bassett, Hailee Dulaney, Aliyah McGlumphy. Juniors – Emma Bumgardner, Ruthie Edgell, Rylee Harrison, Cason Haught, Jacob Myers, Teagan, Pevarnik, Ava Tuttle. Seniors – Sam Brown, Savanna Burdine, Michaela Miller, Coy Scyoc, Aliyah Shreve.

Highest Honors: Freshmen – Luke Dallison, Aidan Feils, Zane Fluharty, Elyza Greathouse, Mazie Harrison, Christian Hickman, Sunni Irvin, Rhylan Mackey, Emily Postlethwait, Isabella Stillwagoner, Lincoln Tennant, Alexis VanDyne.

Sophomores – Isabella Baker, Troy Byard, Cash Ice, Madison Marshall, Trevor Martin, Carley Pittman, Wyatt Rogers, Ashlynn Smith, Konner Watson.

Juniors – Samantha Burdine, Jocelyn Chipps, Kynnedi Dallison, Aubrey Gump, Ruthie Lemley, Laiden Stevens, Mary Summers.

Seniors – Rylan Adams, Julian Conaway