MEADOW BRIDGE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Mac Warner made his way to Fayette County on Tuesday to present the Jennings Randolph Award to the senior class of Meadow Bridge High School.
This wouldn’t be the first instance of Secretary Warner having made the journey to Meadow Bridge for this purpose, however. In fact, the ceremony has become something of a tradition for both Warner and the school itself, the latter of which has established a remarkable record of 29 consecutive Jennings Randolph Awards.
The Jennings Randolph Award, first established decades ago by WV Secretary of State Ken Hechler, acknowledges schools in which at least 85% of eligible seniors are registered to vote.
Meadow Bridge High has always taken things a step further, however, as each year the school not only meets the 85% registration requirement but manages to consistently reach 100%.
“This is the way to affect positive change at the federal, state, and local levels,” says educator Corey Woodrum who, for several years, has led the schools Civic Engagement program.
“So often we hear people complain about the outcome of elections yet have not taken the time to vote,” he says. “I believe at this point; students realize the importance of this award for our school as well as the importance of voting. That tradition carries us through each year of earning this prestigious award.”
This year Meadow Bridge partnered with the office of Secretary of State Mac Warner, as well as Fayette County Clerk Michelle Holly and chief deputy Sara Tucker. The Office of the Fayette County Clerk paid a visit to the school to register students to vote and to conduct a voting machine demonstration.
Honorary Secretary of State designations were presented Tuesday by Secretary Warner to Alyson Riffe and Michael Simmons, who were essential in the organization of the class-wide voter registration drive.
Secretary Warner addressed the students of Meadow Bridge on Tuesday, posing for photos and displaying a t-shirt reading “AXELSTRONG” in support of Axel Perdue, a community Pre-K student battling Franconia Anemia who is currently set to receive a transplant in Cincinnati.
LOOTPRESS caught up with Secretary Mac Warner after the ceremony to get his thoughts on the remarkable achievement attained by the students.
“It is a remarkable, remarkable story. 29 years down the road, they have had the participation to get the Jennings Randolph Award. It just speaks volumes for the community civic engagement,” said Secretary Warner, commending the students on their enthusiasm regarding the process.
“We would ask question after question, and they were right on top it, [including] the history behind Jennings Randolph from the 26th Amendment that gave 18-year-olds the right to vote. I just couldn’t be more proud of Meadow Bridge, and it’s really set a high standard for the rest of the high schools across the state. I’m thrilled to go back there year after year.”
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for the Fayette County area can be found here.