Bridgeport students receive ‘Pen’ honors
By KIM NORTH, Times Leader Staff WriterTHE ADAGE that the pen is mightier than the sword proved to be true for half-a-dozen Bridgeport Middle School students.
Those six competed in a "Power of the Pen" competition and were honored for their accomplishments during a state-wide event held recently in Medina.
Wednesday night during the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District's regular monthly board of education meeting, those students were presented with a certificate of appreciation for student achievement by board president Roger Stewart.
The honorees include Amanda Barath, Cheyenne Flowers, Kayln Gray, Erika Kurner, Sarah Piccin and Brandi Rutan. Barath and Kurner advanced to further competition.
"You did a fantastic job," Stewart told the honorees and family members who gathered inside the administration building's meeting room. "We are very, very proud of you."
Said teacher Amy Vavrock, "It was nice to see a lot of different students from different schools. Our students represented themselves, the district and their families very well."
Also receiving certificates of appreciation were Shayna Fischer and Ryan Smith.
Fischer was just one of 88 students around the Buckeye State to receive the Franklin B. Walker All-Scholastic Award. Each county in Ohio is allowed to nominate one student and Fischer was Belmont County's representative.
Smith earned his Eagle Scout badge by constructing a 20x24 stage for his project. He will receive his award Saturday night during a banquet.
In other news:
- Stewart was nominated to represent the district at the annual Belmont Technical College Caucus.
- Free senior citizen passes for all athletic events will be available for the 2010-11 school year. Anyone residing in the district over the age of 60 years old are urged to stop by the school and show the proper documents.
- Renewed the contract of Middle School Principal Kamaron Sabinski.
- Accepted the retirement of Steve Wojcik, effective at the end of the school year. He has taught social studies for 35 years and retired from coaching baseball after last season.
- An after-prom fundraiser will be held Saturday at Applebee's in St. Clairsville. It will be a pancake breakfast and runs from 7-10 a.m.
- The next regular board meeting is set for April 21 at 6 p.m.
North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com
