Editorials

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

UP: To the Parkersburg High School choirs that received multiple awards at last month's 2023 WorldStrides Heritage Festival in Atlanta. With 75 students participating, it is impressive that each of the four ensembles competing -- Women's Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Men's Ensemble and A Cappella -- received gold ratings. In fact, the A Cappella Choir received a near perfect score and was named Outstanding Choir. "I am incredibly proud of the success we were able to achieve in Atlanta and am impressed with the students' conduct and demeanor throughout the trip," Director Joshua Dubs said. "They are the best group to work with and represent our school and community so well." Well done, folks!

UP: To Kyle Jones of St. Marys High School and Payton Woodard of Williamstown High School, who will receive the 2023 Donna Campbell Award for Excellence, established by Parkersburg native Maestro Luke Frazier and administered by Artsbridge. Jones is a horn player who plans to attend West Virginia University to pursue a bachelor's in music performance; and Woodard is a violinist who plans to attend Ohio University and become a music therapist. It is encouraging to see so much Mid-Ohio Valley fine arts talent being recognized and shared with the world.

UP: To West Virginia University at Parkersburg's Phi Theta Kappa chapter, which last month sponsored an Adopt A Highway cleanup that yielded nine large bags of litter. "Fourteen volunteers came out to pick up litter from the edge of the roadways around campus, including Nicolette Road, Swisher Lane, Woodberry Lane and Campus Drive," said Marie Butler, PTK adviser. Thank you, to those who took an interest in improving our environment and our community.