During this past winter while playing varsity basketball for the Parkersburg High School girls team, Lauren Flanagan also coached a second and third grade girls youth basketball team at the In Step Center.

PARKERSBURG – “Constant energy” best describes Lauren Flanagan.

Whether she was out in the field taking photos for the yearbook, serving as president of Key Club, visiting residents at the Colonial House or playing varsity basketball, the 2026 Parkersburg High School graduate is constantly visible within the community.

The culmination of her accomplishments was recognized recently at a Wood County Board of Education meeting where she was the recipient of the Ami-John Crawford/J.J. and Harriet C. West Prize given through the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.

“This is such an honor,” Flanagan said. “I just couldn’t believe it. I was so surprised.”

The award goes to the best all-around student of any Parkersburg middle or high school as selected by the Board of Education. Flanagan, who also serves as class president and is active in the women’s club, was praised for balancing her athletics with a 4.24 grade-point average while completing multiple AP and dual credit courses.

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Nominators highlighted her integrity, honesty and thoughtfulness — describing her as someone with a strong moral compass who is motivated by a desire to improve the lives of those around her.

The selection was well-deserved and something in the making since her days as a student at Emerson Elementary School when she participated in Kids Club. The Kiwanis Club of North Parkersburg also took notice of the whole body of work and presented her a check for $1,000.

“I love to stay involved and I think community involvement is very important,” Flanagan said. “It shaped me into the person I am today. I think that everyone should get involved. Kiwanis was a great club to join to give other people the opportunity to stay involved, do different things and help people out.”

Trying to keep tabs on Lauren Flanagan’s day-to-day activities could wear people out. In addition to her studies, she put in endless hours on the basketball court as the Big Reds’ starting point guard then darted to the In Step Center where she coached an AAU team of second and third grade girls basketball.

“After practice at the high school, I would go straight to In Step — I would come in all sweaty and tired,” Flanagan said. “But it didn’t matter because I wanted to be there. They are still so young, but I want to make an impact on their lives.

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“This was actually my first year being an official coach — we won a big tournament when one of our girls hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer. It was crazy. I love these girls and I want to stay with them until they are older.”

Flanagan’s presence reaches an array of age groups. Whether she brings a group of students from her Kiwanis Club or goes on her own, residents at the Colonial House Senior Independent Living retirement community are cheered by the company.

“We would go there to play games, do crafts,” Flanagan said. “For Halloween, I made goodie bags for them. Sometimes, I’ll just go to play games with the residents because they really enjoy it.”

Flanagan’s parents (Sarah and Rudy Flanagan) recognized their daughter’s bundle of energy from the start.

“They always said I had a gift,” Lauren said. “My parents are very outgoing people. My dad’s restaurant (Flanagan’s Place) — I mean he is like the mayor. He is shaking people’s hands. It’s like he is kissing babies. He is the most outgoing person.”

Among her community endeavors, Lauren Flanagan rang the bell for the Salvation Army.

Within the community, Lauren Flanagan made even the simplest gestures seem important. In addition to being a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, she volunteered at Vienna Field Day. With her role on the PHS Kiwanis Club, she worked alongside the National Honor Society at Parkersburg South High School and organized a stuffed animal pile-up at a basketball game where the stuffed animals were donated to the police department.

“I had seen it done at basketball games, but we had never done it at the high school,” Flanagan said. “There were actually way more animals than I expected. I was proud of everyone. Officer Ryan, who is our resource officer at the school, took all those animals to the station.”

Flanagan has her career path planned out after college. She plans to major in biomedics and do her undergrad at Ohio University. Eventually she wants to become a dermatologist.

Her best friend, Anna Floyd, will be her roommate.

“I kid you not, Anna is like a role model for me — even though we are the same age,” Flanagan said. “She is very intelligent and very logical. She keeps me on track in everything I do.”

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In the process of choosing a college, keeping family within earshot remained an important issue.

“While everyone else is so excited to go away for college and get out of the area, I actually feel the opposite,” Flanagan said. “I love our town and the dynamic. I love spending so much time with my family. I want to see my little sister grow up. I think OU is great, and it’s beautiful. And it’s close to home.”

Among Flanagan’s proudest achievements as a student at PHS is serving as photo editor for the yearbook. Hear it in her voice when she describes the final product of the 101st edition of the Parhischhan.

“I’m telling you, this book could win awards,” Flanagan said. “It is a phenomenal book. Our theme is what makes it stand out. Basically, it’s what people don’t see PHS is, but we know it. We know all of the things that go on in our school.”

At an early age, Flanagan had a camera in hand. Her grandfather, Doug Hall, gave her the push to learn the trade. Taking sports photos was her passion.

Photo by Bryan Cox Photography Lauren Flanagan, left, receives her diploma from Parkersburg High School principal Jason Potts during the graduation ceremony.

“When a good sport is played, it’s beautiful to watch,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan speaks from experience. This past winter the Big Reds girls basketball team won the WVSSAC Class AAAA state championship in Charleston.

“Oh my gosh, I literally look at photos and videos of the state tournament constantly,” Flanagan said. “It still gives me chills to watch. It brings tears to my eyes. There are so many other things that just made the season the best ever. The relations that I built. We had those in past seasons — this season we were friends off the court. We hung out all the time. We were just very close.”

Flanagan remembers “The Pass,” which allowed PHS to pull out an overtime win over University in the quarterfinals. Otherwise, the story ends there.

“I talked about the press conference after the University game,” Flanagan said. “I trusted my teammates. I trusted my underclassman Amaya Lewis. We did this every single day at practice, so why was this game any different? We prepared for this moment.

“I pushed the ball down the middle of the floor. I saw her running in that tiny little gap. I said to myself, ‘OK, I’m throwing.’ All she had to do was put it in the basket.”

In a semifinal win over Morgantown, PHS led nearly wire-to-wire. Next up, Parkersburg South — a team Flanagan grew up playing with and against in travel ball.

“That matchup was legendary,” Flanagan said. “That will never happen again.

“The South girls knew my moves and I knew Lindsey Logston was a really good defender. They had got us twice during the regular season, but we got it together. It all worked out.

“I was so happy afterward that I had the urge to cry. There were all the emotions and anxiety throughout the week. It was having a heavy shoulder because we all wanted to win.”

PHS defeated Parkersburg South and gave the Flanagans a second state championship ring — duplicating what her mother accomplished as a starter with the 1996 Big Reds.

Flanagan’s first hug when the clock hit zero came from her sister, Anna, who was a member of the PHS cheerleading squad. Nearby was her father, who served as an assistant coach for PHS.

“Anna is the opposite of me — she was super shy and tried a few sports when she was younger,” Flanagan said. “One day, she said she wanted to be a cheerleader. Mom and dad got her into cheerleading and she fell in love with it. She is good.

“She is a huge supporter of mine. I love her so much. When I graduated, she was the first hug I received.”

Flanagan admits she has quite the competitive side. Her father might be partly responsible for that gene.

“He is very competitive,” Flanagan said. “And I am even more competitive.”

Reflecting back to the state tournament experience, her grandfather was able to see her play. He died this past April.

“My Papa was so sick, but he came to watch me play,” Flanagan said. “I truly did play for him. I played for Jesus and for my Papa.”

Her other biggest supporter was also in attendance.

“My Nana is like my best friend,” Flanagan said. “I’m incredibly blessed to have a very close family.”

As closure to her time spent at Parkersburg High School, Flanagan was one of the speakers at the graduation ceremony. Nerves weren’t an issue. After all, she played basketball on the big stage in front of hundreds — sometimes thousands — of people.

“I was more worried I wasn’t going to reach my peers with my speech,” Flanagan said. “I wanted my speech to be emotional and I wanted them to feel something. I kind of talked about growing up — like nostalgia.

“I felt that I needed to speak to everybody in the class of 2026. I included things about what our class did this year and how crazy it is that we are taking this first step into our life. Like this is a huge milestone.”

Flanagan felt like it was mission accomplished. A fitting end to her high school experience.

“I enjoyed being a student-athlete — I have a lot of pride being a Big Red,” Flanagan said. “It was so awesome to represent this school. With all the work and energy I gave, I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish.”

Photo by Bryan Cox Photography Lauren Flanagan delivers a speech to the 2026 graduating class at Parkersburg High School.

2026 graduate of Parkersburg HIgh School.

Members of Lauren’s Flanagan’s family gather after she was named a homecoming queen. Pictured are, from left: Sarah Flanagan (mother), Lauren Flanagan, Anna Flanagan (sister) and Rudy Flanagan (father).

Photos Provided Members of Laura Flanigan’s family gather following an announcement by the Kiwanis Club of North Parkersburg.